Mangaluru: Harekala Hajabba, who was chosen for the Padma Shri Award 2020, received the prestigious award from President of India Ram Nath Kovind at the awards ceremony held at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi this morning (8 November 2021). According to Hajabba, this award will be added to the over 500 awards/felicitations he has received in the past, but the prestigious Padma Shri Award will be displayed prominently in his home.

Hajabba and his nephew left Mangaluru on Sunday, November 7 for Delhi, where he was accommodated at the Five Star Hotel Asoka. Dakshina Kannada district administration and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel were in charge of the duo's trip. Hajabba, an orange seller, started a revolution in education by using his savings to open a school in his hometown of Harekala and contributing to its growth year after year. The Padma Shri award for Hajabba was announced on January 25, 2020, but due to the Covid pandemic, the ceremony was cancelled.

Hajabba, a 65-year-old illiterate fruit vendor known as 'Akshara Santa' (Saint of Letters), was successful in establishing a school for the children of his village in New Padpu, Harekala, about 35 kilometres from Mangaluru. He was so frustrated that he couldn't study because his village lacked a school that he decided to take it on as a challenge, and his journey to build a school in Harekala began in 1995. He went to great lengths to secure school land and obtain approval from the education department. When the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat approved a school in 1999, his dream became a reality.

Padma Awards: Here's a list of 141 padma awards awardees

Leaders demand Padma Shri to Puneet Rajkumar after his death

From Kangana to Adnan Sami honored with Padma awards

Padma Vibhushan was also conferred on Pandit Chhannulal Mishra and Adnan Sami