Life of Harekala Hajabba comes as lesson to Mangalore University students

coastaldigest.com news network
July 7, 2013

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Mangalore, July 7: Harekala Hajabba, an orange vendor from Mangalore who has become a harbinger of educational revolution in a remote village on outskirts of the city has another honour coming to him.

As a mark of respect to his selfless service first year B.Com of Mangalore University will include lesson on Harekala Hajabba after the academic council of Mangalore University approved revision of syllabus for Kannada and optional language subjects taught in the first year of under-graduation courses.

The lesson is an extract from budding writer Ismat Pajeer's Kannada work 'Harekala Hajabbara Jeevana Charitre'.

Hajabba, who is an illiterate, had dreamt of spreading education among children in his village. With money earned for selling oranges, he started 'Newpadpu ZP higher primary school'.

The 51-year-old man's unusual saga of struggle and success has already been included in the Kannada textbook for the students of the Davanagere and Shimoga universities.

The proposal of revised syllabus was accepted at a special meeting of the Academic Council of Mangalore University on Saturday. University Vice-Chancellor T.C. Shivashankara Murthy said poems, dramas, short stories, and excerpts of novels by writers such as M. Gopalkrishna Adiga, M. Vijaybhanu Shetty, B.A. Vivek Rai, S.V. Parameshwar Bhatta, and Na. D'Souza among others will find space in new textbooks alongside Ranna, Pampa, M. Govinda Pai, and Kuvempu.

He said that 11 textbooks have been prepared by the Kannada Board of Study. About 29 teachers from different colleges have worked in drafting the textbooks. The textbooks have been given the names of well-known poets hailing from the region. The textbooks are 'Beru Belli' —Kadengodlu Shankara Bhat (poems and collection of plays), 'Sobagina Balli'— Muliya Thimmappayya (collection of prose), 'Kendavare' —Gopalakrishna Adiga (poems and collection of plays), 'Surahonne'-Prof S V Parameshwar Bhat, 'Gilivindu'-M Govinda Pai (poems and collection of plays), 'Nudivani' - Kolamba Puttannagowda (collection of prose), 'Aikyagana' —Kayyara Kinhanna Rai (poems and collection of plays), 'Thenkanagali'— Panje Mangesharao (collection of prose), 'Kaveri'—Bharathisutha (poems and collection of plays), 'Huthari'- I Ma Muthanna (collection of prose) and 'Lokadeepa'—Sediyapu Krishna Bhat (poems, prose and collection of plays).

The 'Prasaranga' of the University had started publishing Kannada textbooks in 1992. However, after 1992, the publication of textbooks stopped. It was in 2002, the Prasaranga of the university once again started publishing Kannada textbooks for the degree colleges. Accordingly, 10 textbooks were published in 2006, seven in 2007, eight in 2010 and 11 in 2011-12.

Chief Editor of Kannada textbooks Dr Abhaykumar and Member Dr Sathyaranarayana Mallipattana said the editorial board collects best of all forms of literature. In all about 96 poems, 72 essay articles and six plays have been included. Priority has been given to the writers coming under the jurisdiction of Mangalore University.

The Academic Council also gave its nod to sanction additional 10 seats for M.Sc Chemistry course at St Agnes College, Mangalore with a condition for fulfilling the requirement.

The Local Inspection Committee (LIC) in its report had said that the library does not have adequate books and laboratory facilities needs to be improved to sanction additional 10 seats to the already existing 20 seats to the course.

The Council also declined to give nod for extending affiliation for starting BCA course at Government First Grade College, Kushalnagar, during the academic year.

The LIC in its report had said that there was no space in the college to start BCA course during 2013-14. However, an additional section for the B.Com degree can be granted. The government had sanctioned extending of the existing building. However, the construction work is yet to begin. Accordingly, the BCA course can be started in the next academic year.

Registrar Dr Yadapadithaya, Registrar (Evaluation) Dr B Narayana and Finance Officer Dr Pakkeerappa were present.

Also Read: “Akshara Santha” Hajabba's saga now a textbook lesson at two universities

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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