We often see people who have achieved immense success in life, people with great wealth, participating in or contributing to several charity initiatives to further the development of a country. They might help with education by building a hospital or by providing basic amenities like food and shelter to the underprivileged. But sometimes even a very ordinary person can bring about an extraordinary change which may have a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of people.
In fact, I believe that the impact is greater when it comes from a person at the grassroots level, he/she who has personally experienced the grassroots issue, as they tend to understand the real effect it has on the people of that region.
One such remarkable example is that of Harekala Hajabba, a man from a small village in Karnataka who took upon himself the task of transforming the lives of thousands of young minds.
Who is Harekala Hajabba?
Hajabba, a mere fruit seller from the village of Harekala, situated on the southern bank of the Netravati River in the Dakshin Kannada district of Karnataka, encountered a small moment that changed his life and the lives of the villagers entirely.
One day, when he was selling oranges on the streets of Mangaluru, a foreigner came up to him and enquired about the price of an orange. The man spoke in English, and Hajabba could not comprehend what he asked. A minute interaction, a simple moment that would be dismissed by most people, affected him in a way that it stayed with him for the rest of his life.
A small interaction can spark a big change.
Hajabba grew up in poverty. He did not have access to education; he never went to school. He had spent most of his life selling oranges to make a living for himself. He was a pretty well-known face in the streets of Mangaluru.
But that one moment made him realise the importance of education and its utility in everyday life. He soon turned this moment into a mission. He planned to set up a school in his village so that no children remained uneducated.
Because of a lack of schools in the Harekala village, the children had to commute long distances to attend school. This eventually led them to drop out, and they were unable to complete their education.
A School founded by a fruit seller
He took this issue very seriously and, without approaching the government or any authoritative body for help, he began setting aside money from whatever little that he earned. But some time later on, he did appeal to the local officials for the need to set up a school in the Harekala Village.
Finally, he was able to turn his vision into reality after founding a primary school in Newpadapu, Harekala, in Dakshin Kannada in the year 2000. He urged the families of the village to send their kids to the school and not deprive them of their basic and fundamental right to education. He kept putting in efforts, and the institution slowly grew. Students from across the village and beyond got themselves enrolled in the school. The number kept increasing, and now it has imparted education to almost 2000 students.
Honoured with Padma Shree
His contribution is commendable,e and he was honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 2020 by the Government of India. He received this under the category of social work for Karnataka.
He got to know that such a prestigious award had been bestowed upon him while he was standing in a queue at a ration shop. This shows that pride never took over him, and he kept living a simple life, from being a fruit seller to being a recipient of such an award. His simplicity and humility amaze the country today.
His inspiring story reminds us that bringing about a change isn’t that difficult. A small step can also lead to something huge and create a lasting impact. A village that once did not have a school now has hundreds of students coming out with flying colours.
Recent reports indicate that there have been discussions on the introduction of a bilingual medium of education in the school. Another initiative of establishing a building for higher secondary level is also under discussion.
He has been affectionately given the title of ‘Akshara Santha’ for his invaluable contribution to education. The words ‘akshara’ stand for letters or education, and ‘santha’ stands for saint.
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