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.
Kiran Shetty, a notorious criminal, attacked Mustafa with a lethal weapon in the morning, sources said.
Comments
It is pre-planned murder,,,tmrw musthafa is to be released from jail
Those who r congratulating for the murder, please go and do it by yourself and feel proud. No... you cant do and u will never do it bcoz it will spoil ur future and your family.
Yererna ammana mage jaild kuriyinda kuriyad nank daane atthe.
Be a human first
Some ppl r happy for the above news..Now kiran will meet d same fate by someone else.
Its easy to type and comment congratulating kiran, but saddna tho kiran ko hai.
Kiran wait for your turn...
This is expected.........Accused considered as culprit.......
In reality culprit ruling the nation...........
falsehood bound to persish.truth prevails.....
For a Mumin if die in the cause of Truth or win both same..... both considered as victory
Indeed great news ... tax payer money saved ,billawa youth prashanth pujari atmakke shanthi sikthu ... good job kiran ... terrorists and criminals must meet the same fate ...
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon
God is great, he dispensed justice inside the jail.
60% Cops are to be considered as terrorist.
Strange, encounter in jail.......Muslims have to suffer everywhere in the name of terrorism.....
Strange, How the criminals get lethal weapons in the Jail????
why the jail is providing them entertainment channel, So, this is the reason people do not hesitate to commit crime. Because they are getting everything in the Jail and leading a lavish lives over there.
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