Harekala Hajabba, the orange seller who set up school for underprivileged, chosen for Padma Shri 2020

News Network

January 25, 2020

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.

Comments

A big Salute to him!

Great effort,

Where there is will, there is way

May God help him.

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Kalladka man jumps into river; Muslim youths' bid to rescue him amid lockdown on Eid wins hearts

coastaldigest.com news network

May 24,2020

Mangaluru, May 24: A youth committed suicide by jumping into River Netravati from the old bridge at Panemangaluru on the outskirts of the city.

The deceased has been identified as Nishant, son of Chandrahasa Moolya, a resident of Kolakeeru, near Kalladka in Bantwal taluk.

When Nishant jumped to river, a few Muslim youths - identified as Shameer Goodinabali, Mohammad, Tauseef, Mukhtar, Zahid and Arif - also jumped to river in an apparent bid to rescue him.

Though they managed to take an unconscious Nishant out of the water, he breathed his last without responding to any treatment. Jurisdictional Bantwal town police visited the spot later.

Meanwhile, a few locals captured the video of Muslim youths' attempt to rescue a Hindu youth on Eid al-Fitr amidst covid-19 lockdown. The video went viral within hours.

Social media platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook flooded with messages appreciating the courage of Muslim men, who endangered their lives to save a Hindu youth on Eid day.

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Dakshina Kannada records 90 new covid cases; total 915

coastaldigest.com news network

July 2,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 2: As many as 90 persons have tested positive for covid-19 in last 24 hours in Dakshina Kannada district.

With this, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in the district mounted to 915.

Out of the 90 positive cases, fifteen persons had returned from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. A BJP MLA, DHO and a pathologist are also among those who infected.

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Evacuation flights from Muscat, Doha to Mangaluru via Bengaluru on May 20, May 22

coastaldigest.com news network

May 12,2020

Mangaluru, May 12: Air India will operate two flights - one each from Doha and Muscat - to bring back stranded Kannadigas from Qatar and Oman to Mangaluru next week.

The flight from Muscat to Mangaluru will be operated on May 20 via Bengaluru. It will depart from Muscat International Airport at 1.15 pm local time and reach Bengaluru at 6.15 pm. After the layover at Bengaluru airport, the flight will take off at 7.15 pm and land at Mangaluru International Airport at around 8.10 pm.

Doha – Bengaluru – Mangaluru flight is will be operated May 22. The flight will take off from Doha at 1.30 pm local time and will land at Bengaluru at 8 pm. It will take off from Bengaluru at 9 pm and land at Mangaluru airport around 9.35 pm.

Comments

Hi my dear Indian,

Im ready to pay for my flight and corantine, I wish to go back my country India, im facing many challenges in Muscat. My parents both r diabetic patients they my support pls help me to go back india, I wish to go to manglore on 20th may I saw flight. pls do the needfull.