Gaya (Bihar) [India], June 6: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Dashrath Manjhi’s family in Gehlaur village, Gaya district, Bihar, on Friday, paying tribute to the legendary ‘Mountain Man’ and reigniting focus on social justice and caste census.
Rahul Gandhi met Anshu Kumari, granddaughter of Dashrath Manjhi.
“He came to see Baba’s house and asked how he had carved the mountain. He also talked about how my grandmother died crossing the mountain. We told him about our struggles,” said Anshu.
Dashrath Manjhi, a labourer from Gaya, carved a 110-metre-long, 30-foot-wide, and 25-foot-deep path through a mountain using only a hammer and chisel over 22 years, after losing his wife to a tragic accident while crossing the hill. His effort reduced the distance between Atri and Wazirganj blocks from 55 km to 15 km. He passed away on August 17, 2007, and was given a state funeral by the Bihar government. His life story has since become a symbol of determination and resilience.
The state government recommended him for a Padma Shri in 2006, and in 2016, India Post issued a commemorative stamp in his honour as part of the ‘Personalities of Bihar’ series.
Rahul Gandhi in Bihar: Caste Census Call Reiterated
Later in the day, Rahul Gandhi addressed the ‘Samvidhan Sabha’ in Rajgir, Nalanda, where he again demanded a nationwide caste census, taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.
“PM Modi says he is OBC, but when we demand a caste census, the BJP claims caste doesn’t exist in India. If there is no caste, how is he OBC?” Gandhi questioned during his address.
Gandhi reiterated his commitment to pushing for a caste-based census and claimed he had directly confronted Modi about it in Parliament.
“I told Narendra Modi to his face in Lok Sabha – there will be a caste census. And he has a habit of surrendering,” Rahul Gandhi posted on the Congress X handle.
Significance of the Visit
Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Dashrath Manjhi’s family holds both emotional and political significance, aligning with Congress’s focus on social justice, representation, and uplifting backward classes. The symbolic outreach highlights Manjhi’s legacy as well as Gandhi’s renewed push for inclusive policies rooted in data.
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