Orange fruit seller Hajabba, an uneducated man from Harekala village, had to face rebuke of the people and was ridiculed when he went to seek funds to start a government school in his village in 2000. He had to face the ire of his wife Maimoona for saving money out of his earnings for the school as it denied their three children three meals a day.
These incidents feature in the book ‘Aparoopada Samajasevaka Harekala Hajabba’, a book written by activist and writer Ismat Pajir, which chronicles the efforts put by Hirekala Hajabba in building a school his village. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim released the book published by Talent Research Foundation on Friday.
Mr. Hajabba’s dream began to take the shape of a primary school on the premises of a masjid on June 6, 1999. Hajabba worked hard to get government aid and then to upgrade it to a secondary school. He is now putting efforts to get a Pre-University College on the premises.
The author starts the book by introducing Mr. Hajabba as young child, who like his peers was driven to earn money by rolling “beedis” while nursing the dreams of doing business in Mangalore town, 23 km away from his village. He saved money and started selling oranges in the central part of the city in the ‘90s. The book refers to an incident where Mr. Hajabba found it difficult to communicate the price of oranges to a British couple, which inspired him to work towards constructing a school in his village. Before Mr. Hajabba built his school, students from Harekala had to walk 3 km to reach the nearest aided schools.
Speaking on the book, educationalist Krishnashastry Balia said the book brings out the concern Mr. Hajabba had for education. “Unfortunately we are not seeing the same among institutions that are running schools here without having social concern.” Mr. Ibrahim said there was a need for more persons like Mr. Hajabba in the field of education, which was still not available for the economically weaker sections. Mr. Hajabba’s efforts deserved a national acclaim like Padmashri, he said.
Mr. Hajabba continued to be his modest self at the ceremony. “I am an asker (for funds and assistance). I am not a giver,” he said. He thanked two Kannada newspapers for recognising the work early on. Mr. Hajabba thanked all those who had donated towards the school. “I can only pray for the well being of the families of donors,” he said.
