To What Extent Would You go For Love..??

Love is one word we do not quite understand. We find references to all sort of love around us. If you watch any movie, it will show you some or the other form of love. Love, which would make you strive to attain the loved one in any situation. Love, which would force you to sacrifice for the sake of loved one. The love for yourself, which would make you want to be the best. Love, whether it is for self or for others is the biggest source of motivation. Though, In most cases, love needs the presence of the loved one to reaffirm the motivation. Have you heard of that intense love, which could motivate a man to get up every single day; for 22 years, with a single resolve to work hard, for its own sake? 

Dasharath Manjhi, is that man who represents that higher form of love which went beyond pleasure seeking, physical proximity, intellectual identification, emotional dependency or even affirmation of self-worth. It is a story of a 25 year old man, whose love for his wife made him continuously toil for the common good for 22 years, all alone. It was a love, which turned to be a motivation for a resolve; as mighty & strong as the mountains to challenge their strength and break them apart. It was true love for one woman, which did not confine him to show some sacrificial act or to represent symbolically like Taj Mahal; but to express his love in his work for others. He did something which he would have done for her, for people around & showed the intense power of love.  It was a love which transcended self.

This man was the commonest of the commoners. He was an illiterate laborer, who lived in a village disconnected in every way from the least imaginable materialistic comforts. He had to toil every day to earn his bread or to see the night’s light where a candle was a luxury. His wife & other women in the village had to climb Rocky Mountain, even to bring water which could quench their thirst. It was during one of those days of toiling that Dasharath’s beloved wife, Falguni Devi tripped & injured herself badly. It made Dasharath Challenge Mountain of its mightiness & toughness. He had made a resolve to help the people out of their misery. A resolve which made him sell his only possession, the goats he had, to buy a chisel & a hammer. A resolve to break the mountain, one stone at a time to make a road. No one was with him in his resolve. People saw him as a lunatic to be stepping in for the impossible task, with a family including a young son to attend to. Here was a man who worked day & night to feed his family & also to work for love. Even his wife’s death did not make him stop his stint as the love now has led to a dream. A dream, bigger than himself. A dream, to prove the worth of one man’s resolve. A dream, to improve the lives of others, in a society which could not understand him & intern made fun of him. Mountain had become his companion in the deed & he had become true friends with it. He made a pact of inseparable companionship with mountain. It took several years for the people around him to appreciate his deed & to be with him in his mighty task. 22 years of singular resolve & hard work,by one simple man shaped a road 360 foot long, 25 foot deep and 30 foot wide in place of 300 Feet rocky mountain. Now, his people could access the nearest town, route for which was shortened to 15 KM instead of 55 KM. It wasn't needed anymore for women folks to climb a stony & dangerous mountain to get to the nearest well, every single day.What he did was neither for money nor for fame. It was just for the self satisfaction. It was for the common good. It was because he truly loved people around him. 

Dasharath might not be with us anymore, however he has left us with his legacy. The power of the inner strength which cannot be matched even by the strength of mighty mountain. The concept of love, going beyond the personal quest. The power of human will irrespective of the situations. This man shows us the worth of a life which is shaped out of true passion to get the impossible erased from dictionary. He represents the motivation, true love & passion can bring in. He earnt something beyond money or fame which is the love & respect of millions. He has set an example for all of us.  

Now ask yourself few questions. Do I have that passion..?? Do I love anyone or anything to the extent where my love becomes my strength, my path & my legacy..?? Do I love myself enough..??  Is my work expression of my love..?? 


Photo Credit : http://www.bloggang.com/data/r/ravio/picture/1350521930.jpg