Manjhi’s kin yearn for a monument in his name
VARANASI: After a cursory glance at Vinod Manjhi, plying a boat in the Ganga at iconic Dashashwamedh Ghat, most people would dismiss him as an ordinary boatman. Small wonder, for few know that he is a descendant of freedom fighter Vishwanath Manjhi who was shot dead by a British officer on August 13, 1942. Manjhi may not be a very well known name today but his contribution to the freedom struggle is immense.
“A British officer reached Dashashwamedh Ghat and ordered Vishwanath to ferry him across the Ganga. The officer wanted to catch some revolutionaries hidden in the bushes on the other side. My uncle Vishwanath somehow guessed the officer’s plan and disobeyed him,” Vinod told HT.
“He even asked his fellow boatmen not to ferry the officer across the river. Enraged over his refusal, the British officer shot Vishwanath dead at Dashashwamedh Ghat,” Vinod said, adding that though Vishwanath died, the sound of the gunshot alerted the revolutionaries on the other side of the river and they escaped.
Vinod is the son of Srinath Manjhi, younger brother of Vishwanath. Srinath, very old now, has narrated the story of his brother’s bravery to Vinod, whose only source of earning is the boat. However, he manages to make both ends meet. “I earn enough to meet the expenses of my family. Plying the boat is a legacy that my uncle left behind. Carrying the legacy forward is our responsibility and we are doing it sincerely,” Vinod said, adding that the government should build a monument in the name of his uncle so that the new generation may know about his contribution to the freedom struggle.
He said boatmen played a crucial role in the independence movement and it should be recognised. Every year on August 13, Vinod organises an event in the memory of freedom fighter Vishwanath, to commemorate his martyrdom.