The Picture That Shocked The World Poem by Asit Kumar Sanyal

He is Dana Majhi,
the marginal farmer
Known as a tribal of Kalahandi
Of Odisha state
carrying his wife's wrapped body
on his shoulder
Going back to his home for funeral
at Melghara village
65 kilometer away from hospital.

His wife was died on August 24
in the govt. hospital at Bhawanipatna
Hospital authority refused to give ambulance
The poor man could not hire a hearse
And had no option other than walking
Putting dead body on shoulder
Accompanied by teenage daughter.

Local media came to know the fact
After his 10 km walk
A journalist recorded video
of that man and his pathetic journey
And aired in TV
The journalist arranged a vehicle
that carried the body remaining 55 km
The video went viral
all the channels aired it
Including BBC, foreign channels
The world shocked.

The video gave a mild jerk
People astonished
Also the fate of Dana Majhi turned
Upside down
Help started pouring in.

District Administration of Kalahandi
Gave a quintal of rice
and Rs.30,000
State govt. gave four decimal land
The CEO …
Kalinga institute of Social Science (KISS)
A residential institute at Bhubaneswar
announced free education
for his three daughters
aged thirteen, seven and four.

A philanthropist from Maharahtra
Gave him Rs.80,000
PM Awas yojana gave Rs.75,000
Sulabh International gave him Rs.5 lakhs
and fixed it in bank
Started paying Rs.10,000 per month
To her elder daughter
And promised to pay till she gets marriage
Or employed.

Within a month a cheque of Rs 9 lakh
Came from the Prince of Bahrain,
The tiny Gulf kingdom
Dana Majhi came to New Delhi by air
To the Embassy of Bahrain
To receive the cheque.
He got another 9 lakhs in donations
from other organizations.