>PQR01 at 08:51, 9 January 2022

2022-01-09T08:51:20Z

New page

{{short description|Social reformer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Padma Shri]]
| name = Akshara Santha Harekala Hajabba
| image = Hajabba Harekala.jpg
| image_upright =
| nationality = Indian
| known_for = Social Service
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Harekala]], [[Mangalore]], [[Dakshina Kannada]], [[Karnataka]]
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2020)
}}

[[Padma Shri]] ''' recipient Harekala Hajabba''' is an Indian social activist and [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] vendor living and working in the city of [[Mangaluru]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. He saved money from his business to build a school in his village.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sachin |first=Aswathy |url=http://fantoosy.com/school-built-by-an-orange-seller/ |title=School Built by an Orange Seller : Story of Harekala Hajabba |publisher=Fantoosy.com |access-date=2017-03-28}}</ref> In 2020, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian award, for his initiative and achievement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2020 Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=The Hindu Net Desk |title=Full list of 2020 Padma awardees |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-list-of-2020-padma-awardees/article30656841.ece |work=The Hindu |date=26 January 2020 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Biography==
'''Harekala Hajabba''' was born into a Muslim family of very modest financial means, he dropped out of school at an early age in order to earn money and contribute towards family expenses. Many years ago, when a foreign tourist asked him the price of an orange in English, he did not understand what had been said and felt embarrassed. He had not had the privilege of any kind of formal education. That day he vowed to make a school in his village, which was deprived of school. He kept part of his savings from selling oranges, to start a school in his village, Newpadapu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=244694 |title=Mangalore: DC releases book on Harekala Hajabba, says he deserves Padma Shri |publisher=Daijiworld.com |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/book-highlights-hajabbas-school-saga/article6157678.ece |title=Book highlights Hajabba's school saga |publisher=Thehindu.com |date=2014-06-28 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref> He was able to start a small school. Today, the school, which has grown with government support and donations from private individuals, is known as Hajabba School. He is affectionately known as 'Akshara Santa' (letter-saint).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php/news/73130-harekala-hajabba-in-hard-times |title=Harekala Hajabba in hard times |publisher=Coastaldigest.com |date=2015-02-27 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref> He is known for the extraordinary contribution he made, despite his own relatively constrained circumstances, to the cause of education in his native village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/hajabba-opens-a-high-school-in-his-village/article3530739.ece |title=Hajabba opens a high school in his village |publisher=Thehindu.com |date=2012-06-15 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150101/nation-education/article/one-man%E2%80%99s-orange-revolution-harekala-hajabba |title=One man's orange revolution: Harekala Hajabba |publisher=Deccanchronicle.com |date=2015-01-01 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref> Hajabba's next dream is to build a Pre-University college in his village.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|title=Karnataka: Hajabba hopes Padma award will help realize PU college dream for Harekala {{!}} Mangaluru News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/hajabba-hopes-padma-award-will-help-realize-pu-college-dream-for-harekala/articleshow/73642703.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-04|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Recognition and honours==
*Social activist and writer Ismath Pajeer has published a book on Hajabba's life, titled ''Aparupada Samaja Sevaka'' (Life story of Harekala Hajabba).
*A life history of Hajabba has been included in the syllabus of [[Mangalore University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php/news/55113-life-of-harekala-hajabba-comes-as-lesson-to-mangalore-university-students |title=Life of Harekala Hajabba comes as lesson to Mangalore University students |publisher=Coastaldigest.com |date=2013-07-07 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://twocircles.net/2013jul09/harekala_hajabbas_life_lesson_mangalore_university_syllabus.html#.VX_L3fmqqko |title=Harekala Hajabba's life as a lesson in Mangalore University syllabus |publisher=TwoCircles.net |date=2013-07-09 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref>
*The [[BBC]] published an article on Hajabba with the title "Unlettered fruit-seller's Indian education dream" in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pandey |first=Vikas |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20043751 |title=Unlettered fruit-seller's Indian education dream - BBC News |publisher=Bbc.com |date=2012-11-12 |access-date=2017-03-28}}</ref>
*Hajabba was conferred with the Real Heroes Award by [[CNN IBN]] and [[Reliance Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/a-fruit-seller-builds-a-high-school/article3424335.ece |title=A fruit seller builds a high school |publisher=Thehindu.com |date=2012-05-16 |access-date=2015-06-18}}</ref>
*Hajabba was named Person Of The Year by [[Kannada Prabha]], a leading [[Kannada]]-language newspaper.
*In 2020, the [[government of India]] conferred the nation's fourth-highest civilian award, the [[Padma Shri]], on Hajabba.

[[File:Harekala Hajabba.png|thumb|265x265px|President [[Ramnath Kovind]] (''right'') presents Padma Shri to Hajabba (''left''), 2021.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hajabba, Harekala}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:People from Mangalore]]
[[Category:Activists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:1956 births]]

Harekala Hajabba - Revision history

>PQR01 at 08:51, 9 January 2022