His resolve was fulfilled on Friday with the Chhattisgarh government launching MCB as the 32nd district of the state.

Ramashankar Gupta, a resident of Manendragarh, is an RTI activist.

Gupta shaved his beard after 21 years after the announcement of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur as a new district in August last year. Gupta kept his resolution of not shaving his beard for another year.

However, his resolve ultimately got fulfilled on Friday inspiring him to have a clean shave look.

Gupta also submitted the first memorandum to the collector of the MCB district.

“The resolution was that I will not shave my beard till Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur does not become a district. If Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur would never become a district, I would not have shaved my beard either. It was a struggle for 40 years. The actual people who fought for the recognition of the district have all passed away. Now their souls will rest in peace,” Gupta said.

 “I thank Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for this. I hope Manendragarh will become a model district not just in Chhattisgarh but also in the country,» he added.