Mangaluru, Oct 27: Despite widespread respect and dozens of awards and felicitations to his name, the man popularly known as "saint of letters" Harekala Hajabba has been living in dire conditions.
Stricken by the abject poverty Hajabba was living under, Mangaluru-based United Christian Association came forward to set up a cement house for the man and his family. Work on the construction of the house is going at a fast pace and it is expected to be ready by Christmas this year.
For the past several months, the condition of the house Hajabba was living in was deplorable, and required immediate attention. However, despite purchasing a 1.5 acre land to build a high school and receiving accolades and awards with cash prizes in lakhs, Hajabba selflessly continued to spend all his earnings and savings into the construction of the school without spending even a percentage of the money on his own dwelling.
Looking at the dwelling of the humble man who led a difficult life despite gaining popularity in the district and state, president of United Christian Association Alban Menezes decided to build a house of 865 square feet for Hajabba at the cost of Rs 15 lakh. The work has since commenced and is expected to be completed by Christmas.
During Christmas last year, the association had decided to felicitate Hajabba for his achievements. When the organisers contacted him to ask the whereabouts of his shop, they were shocked to find him selling fruits from a basket on the roadside.
A few months ago, Alban Menezes received missed calls from Hajabba on his mobile phone. When he returned the calls, he was informed by Hajabba's son that his father was unwell and admitted to the ICU in a hospital. Visiting the hospital, Alban Menezes and few friends enquired about his health and wellbeing. Thereafter, when they paid a visit to the school he built, they were astonished to find the dwelling of Hajabba in shambles.
Hence, it was decided then to build a good house made of bricks and mortar and hand it over to Hajabba by Christmas this year. The construction of the house is in full swing and the foundation work has been already completed.
Hajabba said that all construction works on the new house was being taken care by Alban Menezes. "From the past 30 years, I had been living in a small house while earning as a fruit seller in the market. The ones who came forward to build a better house for me are god-sent. The foundation of the house was laid by Kemaru Mutt swamiji, a priest and a masjid cleric. Most of the construction is ongoing at present," he said.
It can be recalled that in September 2009, Talent Research Foundation had come to the aid of Hajabba and spent nearly Rs 92,000 to make extensive repairs of the roof, walls, door and windows of the house that had become neglected over the years.
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