An orange vendor who built a school with his earnings | Story of Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba

Harekala Hajabba, an orange vendor from Mangalore, built a primary school with his earnings of Rs 150 per day. On Monday, he received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind.

Harekala Hajabba, a 68-year-old fruit seller from Mangalore in Karnataka, built a primary school with his earnings of Rs 150 per day. On Monday, he received India's fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, from President Ram Nath Kovind for his efforts.

His motive? Many years ago, when a foreign tourist asked him the price of an orange in English, he did not understand what had been said and felt embarrassed. He had not had the privilege of any kind of formal education. "That day I vowed to make a school," he said.