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Praising Omprakash Sahu, a resident of Kumhari village of Gumla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that ‘sometimes the greatest light comes from where darkness has encamped the most’.
Gumla: Gumla district of Jharkhand falls in tribal dominated area. Most of the population here is dependent on agriculture. But, in the field of fish farming, Omprakash Sahu, resident of Kumhari village of Gumla district, has set an example in fish farming. For his achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned him in the radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast every month on All India Radio.
Praising Omprakash Sahu, a resident of Kumhari village of Gumla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that ‘sometimes the greatest light comes from where darkness has encamped the most’. The PM said that there was a time when Basia area of Gumla was known for extremist violence. But today more than 150 families of Basiya are working in fisheries. They have become an example of self-reliance in the field of fisheries. They have not only improved their economic condition but have also distanced themselves from extremism.
Om Prakash Sahu is one of these fish farmers, who has been specially invited for the 77th Republic Day celebration on 26 January 2026, on the occasion of Republic Day. He has been invited as a guest of honor to witness the 77th Republic Day parade on the duty path on 26 January 2026. Apart from this, visiting some major places of national importance in Delhi will also be included. There is an atmosphere of happiness and pride in the entire house and area due to this invitation received from the Prime Minister by a farmer from a small and backward district like Gumla.
Omprakash Sahu of Gumla has set an example in fish farming. Omprakash, who once held a gun in an area dominated by Naxalism, has left the path of violence and chosen the path of self-reliance. Now he is earning lakhs of rupees. Impressed by his success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned him in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, which brought him into the limelight overnight.
Omprakash Sahu told that in 1999, the influence of Maoists had increased a lot in his area. Due to lack of means of transportation and employment, many youth were getting involved in Naxal activities. He was also forced to support them. However, he soon realized that this path was not right for his family and society and surrendered.
At that time, the then DC of Gumla, Aradhana Patnaik, organized the local people and formed a peace committee and gave them licensed weapons. Omprakash, who became a member of this committee, also played an important role in the protest. Omprakash’s story today testifies to that changed Gumla. The guns have fallen silent and people are making life better in the wind of development.
Leaving the path of violence, Omprakash started fish farming in 2014. He started it by putting 40 kg of fish seeds in a small pond and today he is earning good profits by doing fish farming in four big ponds. His work got a boost from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Omprakash’s story is an inspiration for all those people who can change their lives by working hard in the right direction.
