Nagpur: Bapurao Tajne, a poor Dalit labourer of Kalambeshwar village of Washim district has dug a well all by himself after his wife was denied permission to draw water from a well by the owner.

The insult of his wife by the owner made him so determined that he worked on the digging of the well for six hours daily for 40 days until he struck water. Normally, the work is done by four to five labourers. Now the entire dalit locality of the village is drawing water without depending on water sources of people from other castes.

Bapurao made up his mind that he would never beg for water after the well owner insulted his wife. He went to Malegaon and bought the tools and started digging as everyone made fun of him.

He went by instinct for the spot to be dug. “I prayed fervently to God before starting the job. I am thankful that my effort has been rewarded,” he said.

Bapurao, a final year BA drop-out, is a daily wage earner. He worked for four hours before leaving for work and two hours on return. No one including his family members helped him until he stuck water.

His wife Sangita regrets mocking him and says that now the whole family helps in digging deeper after he stuck water.

“The well is already 15 feet deep and Bapurao wants to dig 5 feet further. It is 6 feet wide at the top and he wants to make it 8 feet wide. We are hoping our neighbours will help us in this task,” she said.

The sarpanch and the tehsildar have visited Bapurao. Film actor Nana Patekar spoke to him over phone and promised to meet him soon. A social worker from Washim presented him Rs 5000.

The tehsildar asked Bapurao what sort of help he wanted. But he is too proud to ask for help and asked her to do whatever she think was required.