Mangaluru, Jan 25: Orange vendor Harekala Hajabba, popularly known as 'Akshara Santha' (the saint of alphabets), who went on to build a school at Newpadpu village on the city’s outskirts in 1999 is among this year’s Padma Shri awardees.
When Hajabba received the call on being nominated for the award, he was standing in a queue to buy rations.
As he is not fluent in Hindi, Hajabba handed over the phone to an auto driver, who conveyed the news that the Padma Shri award will be conferred on him.
The unlettered achiever set up a primary school from his meagre savings of Rs 150 per day, selling oranges in Mangaluru.
“The first time I felt bad for being an illiterate was when a foreigner enquired about the price of oranges in English. I did not know what he meant. So, I decided to start a school in my village,” Hajabba had said during a felicitation programme.
When Hajabba decided to start a school, he did not get any support. He started the school with 28 children.
The school today has been upgraded to a composite high school and is catering to the educational needs of hundreds of children in and around Newpadpu.
He ran from pillar to post in the Zilla Panchayat to make his dream come true. All cash awards he had received went into building the school. The United Christians Association, moved by the sight of his dilapidated house, built a 760-square-foot house costing Rs 15 lakh for him.
Hajabba’s life was prescribed for the syllabus of three universities - Davangere, Kuvempu and Mangalore. His success story is also included in a Tulu textbook.
He won the Karnataka Rajyotsava award in 2013, Real Heroes award from TV channel CNN-IBN.
Hajabba, when contacted, said he could not believe his ears when told about the award.
New dreams
The frail vendor, in his 60s, humbly declared that he could achieve all this because of the support of all. Hajabba now dreams of upgrading the school into a full-fledged PU college.
New Delhi, Feb 13: Condemning the prevalence of the illegal practice of “dedicating” young girls as Devadasis in Hindu society, the Supreme Court on Friday described the practice as an “evil” done to women, who were later even subjected to sexual exploitation and pushed into prostitution.
Comments
Now all like minded should unite and eradicate all the malpractices in the name of religion like :
- Caste system- Upper, lower, Dalit etc.....
- Praying multiple Gods, also praying to Devils, Ghosts
- Fortune telling like horoscope. These can be seen on many Indian TVs.
- Telling the man made stories - that God and giants fight and God is loosing.
- Madai snana in Karanataka,
- Devadasi system in most of the South Indian states
Generally, stick to Vedas and practice it. These are more convincing than man made other books.
The best thing is if you found practical and true, get and follow from other religions.
Where are Ram sena, Bajarangadal ,VHP,ABVP.......? Why not Hindu is ondu in this case. Why not crocodile tears in this case. Wake up fear real creator.
Prostitution Racket using God's Name.. Sick people. This is bcoz of false believes.. Gvt should enforce BAN on it. many poor girls are trapping under this false believes.
Would they agree with SC? May be the order has to come from Nagpur and its never going to happen.
TO those who are ARROGANT
ALLAH says in QURAN: O MANKIND, We have created YOU from a male and a female and have made YOU into nations and tribes for YOU to know ONE another. Truly, the noblest of YOU with God is most PIOUS. Truly, God is all KNOWING, All AWARE - QURAN 49:13
Islam REJECTS certain individuals or nations being favored b'cos of their wealth, power or RACE. ALLAH created human beings as EQUALS who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and PIETY.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh said : O people! Your God is ONE and YOUR forefather (Adam) is ONE. An ARAB is NOT better than a NON-ARAB & a NON-ARAB is not better than an ARAB, and a White person is not better than a BLACK person & a BLACK person is not better than a WHITE person EXCEPT BY GOOD DEEDS & PIETY.
Do YOU know even DALITS also should not be looked down.... If U guys continue to oppress people & did not recognise the true God surely HELL will be the destination. Please READ what God speaks its not just for high class.. everyone can access to GOD's word.
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