Real Heroes

!!!!

We all know about the brave and fearless tale of Dashrath Manjhi, who carved through a mountain to connect people to the other side of the mountain. His tale was beautifully depicted in Nawazuddin-starrer, Manjhi. Like Manjhi, there are so many other stories of courageous Indians that have remained untold and unheard by society.

Let us hope it doesn't take another 22 years for us to acknowledge these 10 unsung heroes that have worked

1. Gangadhara Tilak Katnam

White hair, bespectacled, born in a farmer's family in Yernaduem village in the West Godavari district. Sixty-six year old Gangadhara Tilak Katnam is a man on a mission.

Since 31st July 2011, the retired senior section engineer of the Southern Railways has been travelling the city and filling every pothole he spots. Tilak has filled a staggering 1,124 potholes so far.

Nandlal Master

This local weaver from a village near Varanasi has been on a mission to empower women and abolish child labor. Nandlal Master started a learning centre to educate children from villages around him because people end up getting their children married since they can't afford their education.His initiative now has over 500 students from less privileged homes. He has also been able to conduct more than 700 weddings to help out families. He is now trying to promote inter-caste marriages and breaking traditions like dowry.
3. Daripalli Ramaiah


Known as the "man who planted more than 10 million trees", Daripalli Ramaiah carries seeds in his pockets and plants on his cycle, planting the seeds in the hope that the entire area becomes green very soon.The motivation for this man to plant trees comes from his quest for sublime peace and no material benefit. Apart from planting so many trees, he also gives away plants for free to people. He had once requested a local MLA to plant a tree. When someone gifted him Rs. 5,000 during his son's marriage, he used that money to this cause!
4. Omkarnath Sharma


On a quest to start a free medicine bank for the poor and the needy, Omkarnath Sharma, popularly known as "Medicine Baba", walks around the streets of Delhi, knocking on the doors of relatively well-to-do households to collect free medicines for the needy.Sharma began this mission in 2008, when a bridge collapsed in Delhi and he saw many injured people being turned away from hospitals because they didn't have the required medicines. People suffered because of inadequate medicines and he began his quest. He wakes up every morning and walks 5-7 kms procuring non-prescription medicines. He has now gained some regular contributors.He has also begun an organization that focuses on women's safety - the Pink Whistle Project.
6. Chewang Norphel


This "Ice Man of India" has created 10 glaciers in Ladakh to help deal with water scarcity in the region. A civil engineer by profession, Chewang Norphel in 1966 was given the task to build schools, canals, roads, bridges, etc. in a remote district of Ladakh. He trained a number of villagers for this task because of the lack of skilled labour in this remote area.When he visited the district years later, he found that the villagers he had trained became proper labourers who earned enough!Because of the negligible rainfall in Ladakh, Norphel went on a mission to build these artificial glaciers that have helped locals in an incredible manner.
7. Pravin Tulpule


After serving in the Indian Navy for 17 years, this ex-naval officer now acts as "Pintoo" the clown magician while visiting pediatric wards and orphanages. After retiring, he began serving children in the hope to bring a smile on the face of a child who was suffering from deathly diseases.Apart from that, Pravin is a regular donor and has also conducted numerous hygiene-related campaigns in schools.
8. Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh


In Bhubaneshwar, a 60-year-old man survives despite extreme poverty. Most days, he sleeps hungry and doesn't get to eat even a bite. Despite all this, he feeds stray dogs on the roads everyday without fail.Even if he doesn't get to eat a grain all day, he makes sure that the dogs around him are well-fed. He has been a rag-picker all his life, but for the past 10 years, he has been feeding these stray dogs. He does not take charity and he survives with his selflessness.
9. Kalyansundaram


This 70-year-old librarian has donated every penny of his earnings towards charity. He ended up taking odd part-time jobs to earn some extra money to survive and never married. His pension of Rs. 10 Lakhs and an award of a whopping Rs. 30 Crores were also passed along to charity.He has been donating all his money to charity for the past 30 years and he has no misgivings. He has slept on railway tracks and pavements to experience the plight of the poor.
10. Sindhutai Sapkal


Commonly known as the "Mother of Orphans", Sindhutai Sapkal has adopted and taken care of over 1400 orphans and children who were abandoned by their parents.She had been abandoned by her husband when she was 9 months pregnant and she has often recalled how she gave birth to her daughter without anyone's help. She cut the umbilical cord with a stone. She also began begging when her own mother refused to shelter her during this time.Soon, she adopted those around her who couldn't earn and didn't have parents to take care of them. She has won over 500 awards, but have you even heard of her?

n_ramprasad

Great humans, thanks for sharing

fatsogamer

inspirational man