Twitter heaps praises for Karnataka orange seller who won Padma Shri for giving free education to children

A day before the 71st Republic Day the government announced the list of the 118 recipients of the Padma Shri Award 2020 and one name that created curiosity was Harekala Hajabba. 

A humble 68-year-old orange seller from Karnataka, Harekala Hajabba would have never thought of winning the highest civilian awards for the work he was doing selflessly for years now. 

IFS officer Praveen Kaswan took to his twitter and shared the inspiring story of Harekala. "This fruit seller from Dakshin Kannada is educating poor children in his village of Newpadapu from a decade in a mosque", he wrote. 

He further added that Hajabba received the news when he was standing "in a line on a ration shop and authorities informed him that he got #Padma Shri."

Harekala Hajabba was in a line on a ration shop when authorities informed him that he got #Padma Shri. This fruit seller from Dakshin Kannada is educating poor children in his village of Newpadapu from a decade in a mosque. Doing all the efforts including spending his savings. pic.twitter.com/rufL3RZ15o

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 26, 2020

The tweet has gone viral now. It has received more than 6.8k likes and almost 2k replies. 

According to a report on the BBC, there was no school in Harekala Hajabba's village, Newpadapu. He saved 2000 from his earnings to set up one in the mosque. As the number of students grew, he used all his savings and even took a loan to buy land for the school. 

Hajabba is uneducated and in conversation with The News Minute reveals that an encounter with foreign tourists led him to his decision. 

"The couple were asking me the price of oranges, but then I did not understand. Despite my best efforts, I could not talk in anything besides Tulu and Beary language. The couple walked away. I felt very bad and felt that at least the children of my own village should not be in a similar situation. I realised the manner in which communication can help one to progress in life, and at the same time bring people together," he said to The News Minute.

Karnataka: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader HD Devegowda today felicitated Harekala Hajabba, an orange seller from Mangaluru who will be receiving Padma Shri award, this year. Harekala Hajabba has been conferred the Padma Shri award in the category of social work. pic.twitter.com/O9BgSwCGDM

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2020

Hajabba's story has inspired many and people are praising him for his selfless act. 

He is the real influencer, the real hero and a deserved recipient of the recognition. M really happy to see today the country is recognizing the efforts of a common Indian in the likes of him and Tulasi Gowda ji.

— Akshay Shetty (@akkiiboye) January 26, 2020

This is the true art of giving to make education a part of their living. A real hero

— ramakrishna prasad (@luttufuttu) January 26, 2020

Hats off to Harekala Hajabba for the great dedication in the field of education. By sacrificing his personal life and working all day to develop the school himself nurtured for the cause of deprived children of society. He would have got the Padma Shri even earlier.

— ibrahim (@ibmkhobar) January 27, 2020

इनको दिल से सला

— Samiksha Neetu (@SamikshaNeetu1) January 26, 2020

A selfless unsung hero served this selfish society for a decade

I'm really really happy that, at last he got due recognition.

I take a Bow to this Superman's Nobel deeds

— P R E M (@_IamPrem_) January 26, 2020

Real hero.

— Rajesh (@IncRajukcm) January 26, 2020

What’s amazing is .... true celebrities are been getting these awards.... they totally deserve this

— Saraswati (@sara_13011990) January 27, 2020

This is a true INDIA.
आप को दिल से सलाम

— mohdmoinuddin (@mohdmoen) January 27, 2020