Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba arrives in Mangaluru

PTI, Nov 9, 2021, 11:26 AM IST

Mangaluru: Padma Shri Award recipient Harekala Hajabba, an orange vendor from Mangaluru was accorded a warm welcome at Mangaluru International Airport on Tuesday, November 9 upon his return from Delhi.

The 66-year-old orange vendor was felicitated with the award by President Kovid for bringing a revolution in rural education by constructing a school in Harekala-Newpadpu village in Mangaluru. The school, currently, has 175 underprivileged students from the village.

Harekala Hajabba was welcomed by Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner DV Rajendra.

Hajabba, who sells oranges at Mangaluru bus depot since 1977, is illiterate and has never been to school.

The desire to bring revolution in education in his village came to his mind in 1978 when a foreigner asked him the cost of orange.