In the small municipality of Pandavapura in Mandya district stands Pustaka Mane — a massive public library housing nearly two million books. Built over decades by retired sugar factory worker Anke Gowda, the library is open to everyone free of cost. From rare editions of the Bible to school textbooks, literature, farming guides, and competitive exam materials, the collection is vast enough to satisfy almost any reader’s curiosity.
A Childhood Without Books
Anke Gowda grew up in a farming family in rural Karnataka, where books were considered a luxury. His childhood was divided between attending school and helping his father in the fields. Despite financial hardship, he remained fascinated by books and constantly longed to read more.
In interviews, Gowda described reading as an addiction, comparing it to tasting candy for the first time. Unable to afford books easily, he would save every possible coin to buy them. He often asked his parents, sister, and relatives for small amounts of money, sometimes even using food money to purchase books instead.
What began as personal curiosity slowly transformed into a mission. Gowda realized that children in villages lacked access to study materials and literature that could help them dream bigger and prepare for competitive exams. He decided that one day he would create a space where books would be available to everyone.
The Journey of Building a Library
After finishing school, Gowda briefly worked as a bus conductor. However, a chance meeting with his former teacher changed his life. Shocked that his talented student had stopped studying, the teacher urged him to resign and continue his education.
Gowda followed the advice and eventually earned a postgraduate degree in Kannada. Later, he joined a local sugar factory as a timekeeper. Even with limited income, he devoted nearly two-thirds of his salary to buying books, using the remaining amount to support his family.
Over the years, he attended conferences organized by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, where he purchased discounted books to expand his growing collection. To support his passion financially, he also raised cows, sold milk, and worked as an insurance agent.
Initially, the books were stored in trunks and stacked around his house. As the collection grew to nearly 50,000 books, space became a major challenge. Help eventually came from the late businessman Hari Khoday, who funded the construction of a large building for the library. Later, additional structures were added with support from former Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy.
Today, the sprawling library stretches across nearly 15,800 square feet, with Gowda, his wife, and son living in one corner of the building.
A Sea of Books
Unlike conventional libraries with strict cataloguing systems, Pustaka Mane has an organic and chaotic charm. Books are stacked on shelves, arranged in piles, and even stored in sacks waiting to be unpacked. Yet Gowda knows exactly where everything is.
Students, teachers, researchers, parents, and book lovers regularly visit the library. Frequent users have learned to navigate the maze-like arrangement, while newcomers rely on Gowda’s remarkable memory to locate books.
Associate professor Shilpashree Haranu once described the library as “a huge ocean of books.” Though it may appear messy to outsiders, Gowda can instantly identify where a particular title is hidden among the millions of pages.
Recognition and Legacy
In January 2026, Anke Gowda was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contribution to literature and education. The recognition celebrated not only his extraordinary personal sacrifice but also his lifelong effort to democratize access to knowledge.
Despite the honour, Gowda remains humble. Now advanced in age, he says he no longer has the energy to continue expanding the library alone. He hopes that the government and society will step forward to preserve and carry forward the legacy of Pustaka Mane.
His story is not merely about collecting books; it is about transforming dreams into reality for generations of readers. From a child who once struggled to afford a single book to the creator of one of India’s most remarkable personal libraries, Anke Gowda proved that passion, patience, and purpose can truly change lives.
