Karnataka Fruit Seller Wins Padma Shri For Opening School For Children In His Village

When this year’s Padma Shri awardees were announced last week, the list included a surprising winner - a humble fruit-seller from Karnataka who has been striving for the cause of education.

harekala hajabba padma shriPicture Credit: @ParveenKaswan/Twitter

Residing in Mangalore’s Newpadapu village and selling fruits for a living, 68-year-old Harekala Hajabba might never have dreamt of being chosen for the country’s fourth-highest civilian award. A celebrity of sorts in the hood, the man has been covered by the likes of BBC and even received awards for his contribution to educating children in his village. It all began with an interaction with some foreign tourists. Unable to understand what they were saying in English, he decided that the kids in his village shouldn’t have to go through something like he had to.
harekala hajabba padma shri karnatakaPicture Credit: The Times Of India

Hajabba began with a simple primary school at a local mosque, way back in 2000. Ask anyone in the area and they’ll tell you how the man used to sweep the place and boil water for the kids, just to help run the place. Scraping together his savings and taking loans, he went on to get some land for a school and even strove to convince the officials for the same. Finally, in 2008, the village got the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School and a high school was added to the campus, four years later. While overjoyed at the recognition he has received for his selfless efforts, Hajabba doesn’t intend to stop. In fact, he hopes the authorities will open a pre-university college as well so that students can continue education after 10th standard. Now, these are the kind of heroes we need more of! 

News Source: The News Minute

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