Orange Seller Saved His Daily Earnings To Build a School That Helped Hundreds of Village Children |
Harekala Hajabba knew what it meant to grow up without a classroom nearby.
In his village in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, children were growing up with limited access to education. For Hajabba, who sold oranges for a living, this was personal.
He had no wealth, no formal education, and no influence. But from his daily earnings, he began setting aside small amounts for a goal that seemed far beyond his means: building a school for the children of his village.
What began with one fruit seller’s savings would eventually grow into a school and earn him one of India’s highest civilian honours.
A childhood shaped by poverty
Born in Harekala village in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, Hajabba (now 69) grew up in deep poverty. He never had the opportunity to attend school and spent most of his life working to support himself.
Eventually, he began selling oranges at a bus stand in Mangaluru, where he became a familiar face to travellers and locals alike.
According to several reports, one particular incident........