Mangaluru: Orange seller who built school gets Padma Shri

Each crease on his sun-wizened face tells a story. In the worldly sense, orange seller Harekala Hajabba is illiterate. A visit to his village Harekala, Mangaluru, will make anyone doff his hat in admiration for his contribution to the children there — as his efforts have materialized in the form of a school.
When Hajabba, 65, received Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on Monday, he walked towards the dais to receive it barefoot. “My humble request to the government is that a PU college be sanctioned to my village. Setting up this college is my dream ,” said Hajabba.
“I am happy that a poor man like me has been honoured by the Prime Minister and President. The Prime Minister shook my hand,” he added.
With his dream of building a school, Hajabba kept aside a portion from his meagre earnings for establishing one at Harekala.
Born in a poor family, Hajabba’s aspiration to get educated could not be fulfilled as there was no school nearby. His father used to work as a sand miner and mother used to roll beedis. Hajabba started selling oranges in 1976 at the age of 16, which continues even today.
He borrowed15 to 20kg of oranges from a wholesale merchant and sold them at Hampankatta. At the end of the day, his earning amounted to a meagre Rs 75 at the maximum, after paying the wholesaler. With this money he managed his family of five. Whatever little remained used to go to the school fund. Through help from local villagers and the madrasa committee, a small beginning was made to start a school at the local madrasa in 1995. The school was shifted from the madrasa to the new premises on July 1, 2001, he said.