Manjhi Cremated with Full State Honors
Gaya: Aug. 18, 2007
Dashrath Manjhi, the man who built a 360-foot long road across the Gahlaur Mountain in Gaya district by using simple tools for over 22 years, was cremated in Gahlaur valley with full state honors in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, senior officials, and thousands of his admirers.
The body of Manjhi, who died battling cancer at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Friday, was brought to Gaya by Purushottam Express. Encased in an ice box, the earthly remains of Manjhi was carried by state police officials to a pandal near the Gaya railway station where thousands of people paid respect to the man, a symbol of dedication, hard work, and sheer doggedness.
The funeral rally began from Gaya at around 3:15 pm with Manjhi's admirers chanting 'long live Dashrath Manjhi'. His body was brought to his village where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Speaker of the state Assembly Uday Narain Chowdhary, and other top officials including Director General of Police (DGP) Ashish Ranjan Sinha, Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah, and a number of ministers from the Nitish Cabinet, paid homage to Manjhi calling him an 'eternal source of inspiration' for all 'who would be remembered for generations to come'.
"Manjhi has again confirmed that a man becomes great not by the caste he was born in but by his work," the Chief Minister said.
Kumar reiterated the state's resolve to name the road and the new hospital after Manjhi.
The administration gave Rs. 10,000 for the funeral of Manjhi and also announced its decision to build a community hall, also to be named after Manjhi.
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