Nation / Mon, 15 Jun 2026 News18

He Sold His House To Buy Books; Decades Later, This Karnataka Man Built A 2-Million-Book Library And Won A Padma Shri

Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 12:47 IST1 / 8 A 75-year-old bibliophile from Karnataka, Anke Gowda, has spent more than five decades dedicating his income, savings, and pension to collecting books instead of accumulating personal wealth. ADVERTISEMENT3 / 8 What began as a modest personal library has now evolved into a massive public knowledge centre housing more than 2 million books, international journals, and research publications. ADVERTISEMENT5 / 8 The collection features rare books in over 20 Indian and foreign languages, including Tamil and Kannada. His library has become an important destination for scholars and researchers seeking rare reference material. ADVERTISEMENT7 / 8 Recognising his exceptional contribution to education and public service, the Government of India honoured Anke Gowda with the prestigious Padma Shri award.

Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 12:47 IST

1 / 8 A 75-year-old bibliophile from Karnataka, Anke Gowda, has spent more than five decades dedicating his income, savings, and pension to collecting books instead of accumulating personal wealth.

2 / 8 His unwavering commitment to preserving knowledge eventually pushed him to sell his house in Mysuru when he could no longer afford the cost of acquiring and maintaining his ever-growing collection.

3 / 8 What began as a modest personal library has now evolved into a massive public knowledge centre housing more than 2 million books, international journals, and research publications.

4 / 8 Located in Haralahalli village near Srirangapatna in Karnataka's Mandya district, the library is regarded as one of the country's largest self-funded public libraries.

5 / 8 The collection features rare books in over 20 Indian and foreign languages, including Tamil and Kannada. Readers can access material spanning literature, science, technology, philosophy, history, religion, and mythology, making it a valuable resource for students, researchers, and book lovers alike.

6 / 8 Remarkably, Gowda continues to offer access to this vast repository of knowledge completely free of charge. His library has become an important destination for scholars and researchers seeking rare reference material.

7 / 8 Recognising his exceptional contribution to education and public service, the Government of India honoured Anke Gowda with the prestigious Padma Shri award.