Anke Gowda, a 75-year-old resident of Haralahalli village near Mysuru, Karnataka, has devoted over five decades to building one of India’s largest personal libraries, housing nearly two million books. Starting at age 20 while working as a bus conductor and later pursuing a Master’s in Kannada literature, he poured most of his income and even sold his Mysuru property to expand his collection.

Today, his library includes half a million rare foreign books and more than 5,000 dictionaries spanning multiple languages. Open to everyone without membership or fees, the library attracts researchers, students, civil service aspirants, and Supreme Court judges, as reported by Mathrubhumi. His wife Vijayalakshmi and son Sagar are his steadfast supporters in this lifelong mission.

A Monumental Collection Open to All

Anke Gowda’s personal library, known as Pustaka Mane (Book House), stands as a treasure trove of knowledge in Haralahalli village, near Srirangapatna in Mandya district. The collection comprises books in more than 20 Indian and foreign languages, featuring genres from literature, science, technology, mythology, philosophy to rare historical manuscripts dating back to 1832. Anke meticulously maintains the collection daily, cleaning and organising it despite limited resources and staffing.

Thanks to the support of industrialist Sri Hari Khoday, a large building was constructed on 22 guntas of land to house this vast assembly of books. Visitors come not only from Karnataka but from all over India, including Supreme Court judges, civil service exam candidates, researchers, and students, all enjoying free and open access, without any membership fees or charges.

Roots of a Lifelong Passion

Born in a humble agricultural family to Marigowda and Ningamma in Mandya district, Anke Gowda’s access to books was very limited in his early years. At age 20, inspired and encouraged by his college professor Anantharamu, he started his collection while working as a bus conductor.

Later, while pursuing a Master’s degree in Kannada literature and working at a sugar factory for around 30 years, he spent nearly 80% of his salary on buying books. His dedication was so unwavering that he sold his house in Mysuru to fund the expansion of his library. Anke lives modestly with his wife Vijayalakshmi in the library building, sleeping on the floor and preparing meals in a corner, emphasizing the selflessness behind his vision.

Together with his son Sagar, they manage and sustain this extraordinary repository, aiming to organise the ever-growing collection formally under the Anke Gowda Jnana Pratishthana foundation.

Challenges and the Path Forward

Despite housing one of the largest book collections in India, Anke Gowda faces pressing challenges such as lack of sufficient staff to catalogue the vast inventory, more than 250 bags of books still await sorting. The foundation hopes to acquire funding and support for digitalisation to preserve these physical books against natural deterioration.

Anke’s vision extends beyond mere collection; he aspires to cultivate a hub of learning and scholarship that democratises knowledge and nurtures curiosity and growth in all who visit. Both locals and tourists now see the library as a cultural landmark, and the continued support from his family and benefactors remains crucial to its survival and future development.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Anke Gowda’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and generosity. At a time when digital media overshadows traditional reading, his dedication to assembling and sharing knowledge stands for inclusiveness, education, and community spirit. The Logical Indian believes such grassroots efforts highlight the importance of access to education and knowledge as foundational for social harmony and progress. This changemaker’s work ignites hope that individual commitment can spark collective advancement.