For most people, a language barrier is a small inconvenience. For Harekala Hajabba, one such moment became the beginning of a mission that would change the lives of hundreds of children. Hajabba was selling oranges near a bus stand in Mangaluru when a foreign tourist approached him and asked him something in English. He could not understand a single word. He could not answer the question either. That moment made him think about his own life. Hajabba had never gone to school. He knew what it meant to grow up without education, and he did not want children in his village to face the same disadvantage. So, an orange seller with very little money decided to build a school. What followed was a remarkable journey of saving small amounts from his daily earnings, facing doubts and criticism, finding support and eventually turning an impossible-looking dream into reality. His efforts later earned him the Padma Shri.
He had no education, but he understood its value
Hajabba grew up in Harekala village near Mangaluru, Karnataka, in a financially difficult family. He could not attend school and started working at a young age. For years, selling oranges was his livelihood. His earnings were modest, but he continued saving whatever he could. The encounter with the foreign tourist made him realise how deeply his lack of education had affected him. He could not speak English, but the incident was about more than one language. It reminded him that education could open doors that poverty had kept closed. Instead of simply feeling helpless, Hajabba decided to do something for children in his village. His idea was ambitious: build a school so that children would not have to grow up without access to education as he had.It was not an easy dream for an orange seller. There were people who laughed at his plans and did not believe that someone with so little money could build a school. But Hajabba continued with his efforts. He saved money from his business and approached people for help. Slowly, the idea that had once seemed impossible began taking shape.
An orange seller kept saving until his dream became a school
Hajabba’s journey was not about suddenly receiving a large donation and building a school overnight. It was built through years of persistence. His efforts to establish a school began in the 1990s. Initially, classes were held in a madrasa building. Eventually, the school moved into its own premises, giving children from Harekala and nearby areas an opportunity to study closer to home. The school’s development was a major achievement for someone who had never experienced formal education himself. But perhaps the most powerful part of his story is that Hajabba did not stop at simply creating a building. His focus remained on ensuring that children from his village had access to education.He continued selling oranges even after his work became known beyond Karnataka. His story also challenged a common idea about who can create social change. Hajabba was not a wealthy businessman or an influential politician. He was an ordinary man who earned a modest living and decided to put his savings towards something he believed his community desperately needed. One small decision followed another. One saved rupee became part of a larger contribution. One conversation became a campaign. And one personal disappointment eventually became an opportunity for an entire village.
From a bus stand vendor to Padma Shri awardee
Hajabba’s work eventually attracted national attention. In 2020, he was selected for the Padma Shri for his contribution to social work. The recognition brought his extraordinary journey into the national spotlight. For someone who had once been unable to understand a tourist’s question, receiving one of India’s highest civilian honours was a remarkable turn in his life. But the award was never the real purpose of his work. The school was. Hajabba’s story continues to resonate because it is not simply about overcoming poverty or receiving recognition. It is about what happens when someone turns a personal struggle into a reason to help others.He could have remembered that encounter with the tourist as an embarrassing moment and moved on. Instead, he asked himself what could be done so that children in his village would have opportunities that he never received. That question became bigger than him. Today, Harekala Hajabba is remembered not only as the man who sold oranges at a Mangaluru bus stand but also as the man who used those earnings to invest in education. His journey carries a simple message: you do not always need wealth, power or a privileged background to create change. Sometimes, all it takes is the decision to turn one difficult experience into a purpose. For Hajabba, one unanswered question became the beginning of a school. And that school became a legacy.
