Mangaluru / Karwar: Gowda Tulanasi, 72, better known as “forest encyclopedia” and 65-year-old orange vendor Hajabba known as “Saint Letter” accepted Padma Shri, fourth highest civil honor, from the President of RAM Nath Kovind.
They were among 61 Padma Shri Awardees for 2020.
What attracted the attention of the nation was their humility in walking barefoot to receive awards, win millions of hearts after their photos together with Kovind and Viral PM.
“How I can?” Whether Retoris Haarekala Hajabba’s answer was in humility on the request why he went barefoot to accept the Padma Shri Award 2020 from the President.
Hajabba, who wasn’t even able to buy a pair of footwear to protect his legs before, had been seen Donning from the past few years.
But what surprised the nation was he went to the podium to receive a barefoot award.
“You have watched my background from where / from where I came from.
I am an ordinary person without a background born in a non-descriptive village called Harekala.
Such people go to receive one of the highest civil honor and who I see sitting there ? President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs and a number of officials.
Then all the thoughts suddenly about my parents came to my mind.
I remember them as people who had no rights.
Clothing, there was no footwear and almost Unable to pay two square foods.
So, how can I, but it doesn’t walk barefoot to accept an honor from the president himself with the Prime Minister, Vice President and all officials, “Hajabba said in all simplicity.
Tulanasi Procedi Indigenous Lookki Tribe in Uttara Kannada Regency from Blind Status Blind Hajabba Uttara Hajabba, opened his eyes to the fate of children in his village, Tulanasi, who also did not have formal learning, learn from his mother and use his innate knowledge and use his innate knowledge his default and use his innate knowledge towards protecting the environment.
Both are heroes in their own rights that contribute to the community without looking for any benefits.
Tulanasi belongs to Tribe traditional Halakki in Uttara Kannada Regency from Karnataka.
He gained a very big knowledge about plants while working with his mother when he was only 12 years old.
Now 60 years later, he has planted more than 30,000 puppies and involved in environmental conservation.