Introduction Harekala Hajabba (b. 1950) is an illiterate fruit vendor from Karnataka who became a national hero by single-handedly funding and building a school for underprivileged children in his village. His extraordinary determination to promote education—despite his own poverty—earned him India’s Padma Shri (2020) and inspired millions. Early Life & Inspiration Born in Harekala (Mangaluru district), Hajabba grew up in extreme poverty and never attended school. As an adult, he sold oranges at a local bus stop to make ends meet. The Turning Point One day, a foreign tourist asked…