Patna: The Bihar government has recommended the names of five persons, including Dasrath Manjhi, the man who literally moved a mountain with a chisel and a hammer, for the presitigious Padma award in the social service sector.
Manjhi, a resident of Gauhluar village in naxalite-affected Gaya district of Bihar, after failing to take his ailing wife to the nearest hospital in time to save her life, had cut a three-km passage through a hillock in 22 years - all alone with primitive tools like chisel and hammer.
The passage was wide enough for the people of his village to reach the nearest hospital in an hour instead of six hours taking a circuitous route.
State Cabinet Secretary Ashok Chouhan told PTI on Wednesday that besides Manjhi, Bihar has recommended four others for the Padma awards in various categories.
Those whose names have been recommended are Gajendra Narain Singh, Pundit Shyamdas Mishra (both classical music), an exponent of Mithila painting, Munni Kumari (arts) and Dr Vinay Karak (medicine).
He said the recommendations had been sent to Union Home Ministry which would take a decision after considering the recommendations made by the states.
Manjhi had arrived at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's favourite Janata Ke Durbar Mein Mukhy Mantri a public interface programme, on July 24 seeking possession of the land promised by the erstwhile RJD government and had offered it for construction of a government hospital.
Kumar acknowleged Singh's spirit of service and had him take the Chief Minister's chair for a while.
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