Anke Gowda (Pustaka Mane)

Anke Gowda is a name that shines quietly yet brightly in the world of books. Known as the man behind Pustaka Mane (House of Books), he has built one of the largest private libraries in India. His journey is not about wealth or fame but about passion, sacrifice, and love for knowledge. In 2026, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri Award in the “Unsung Heroes” category, recognising his lifelong dedication to preserving literature and culture.

Born in a small village in Karnataka, Gowda grew up with limited resources but unlimited curiosity. He spent most of his earnings on books, often sacrificing personal comforts. Today, his library houses more than eight lakh books in multiple languages, making it a treasure for students, researchers, and ordinary readers.

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Anke Gowda Age, Wife, Family, Caste, BIO

Early Life & Background

Anke was born in 1947 in Haralahalli village, Mandya district, Karnataka. His family were farmers, and life was simple but tough. As a child, he often worked in the fields, but his heart was drawn to books. In those days, books were rare in rural homes, and libraries were far away. Gowda’s first inspiration came from reading about Swami Vivekananda, whose words shaped his thinking and gave him courage to dream.

Growing up in a farming household, Gowda understood the value of hard work and sacrifice. His parents, Marigowda and Ningamma, taught him honesty and discipline. These values later became the foundation of his life’s mission. Even as a boy, he believed that knowledge was the real wealth, and he wanted to share it with others.

Education Journey

Despite financial struggles, Gowda pursued education with determination. He studied at Maharaja’s College, Mysore, where he completed his B.A. and M.A. in Kannada Literature. His love for Kannada language and culture grew stronger during these years. He was deeply influenced by his teacher K. Anantharamu, who advised him to live with ethics and serve society.

Balancing studies with part-time work was not easy. Gowda often worked during the day and studied at night. He believed that education was not just about degrees but about building character. This belief later guided him when he started collecting books for his library.

Professional Career Before Library

Before becoming known as the “Book Man of Karnataka,” Gowda worked in ordinary jobs. He started as a bus conductor, then worked as a security guard, and later became a timekeeper at the Pandavapura Co-operative Sugar Factory.

What makes his story remarkable is that he spent almost 80% of his salary on books. While others saved for houses or luxuries, Gowda invested in knowledge. To support his passion, he also worked in insurance and dairy farming. Every rupee he earned was carefully planned so that he could buy more books. His colleagues often wondered why he lived so simply, but Gowda’s dream was bigger than personal comfort.

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Family & Personal Life

Behind every great man is a supportive family, and Gowda’s family stood by him through his journey. He is married to Vijayalakshmi, who has been his constant support. His son, Sagar, plays an active role in maintaining the library and helping his father with daily tasks. Together, they live inside the library building, surrounded by books instead of luxuries.

Gowda’s family life reflects simplicity and dedication. They cook in a small corner of the library and spend most of their time among shelves of books. For them, the library is not just a workplace but a home. His wife and son understand that his mission is larger than personal gain, and they share his vision of serving society through knowledge.

Foundation of Pustaka Mane (House of Books)

The story of Pustaka Mane began with a young man’s dream. In his twenties, while working as a bus conductor, Anke Gowda started buying books with whatever little money he could save. At first, he stored them in metal trunks and wooden shelves at home. His collection grew slowly, but his determination never faded.

Over time, the number of books became too large for his small house. Gowda then decided to dedicate his life to building a library. He received support from people like liquor baron Khoday, who helped him with funds, and later from Karnataka’s Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. But most of the sacrifices were his own. He donated his house in Mysuru and even used his pension savings of nearly Rs 40–45 lakh to expand the library.

Growth of the Library

What started with a few shelves has now grown into one of India’s largest private libraries. Today, Pustaka Mane stands tall in Pandavapura with a 1,500 square metre building. The library houses more than eight lakh books, covering almost every subject imaginable. From rare manuscripts and dictionaries to novels, magazines, and religious texts, the collection is vast and diverse.

The library is unique because it holds books in more than 20 languages, including Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and English. Special sections are dedicated to the Mahabharata, Gandhi, Bhagavad Gita, Jainism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Gowda has also collected rare editions of the Bible and newspapers dating back to the 1800s.

Awards & Recognition

Anke Gowda’s lifelong dedication has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, he has received several awards that celebrate his contribution to literature and society. In 2009, he was honoured with the G. P. Rajarathnam Sahitya Paricharika Award. In 2011, he received the Alva’s Nudisiri Award, followed by the Rajyotsava Award in 2014, one of Karnataka’s highest civilian honours.

His work also entered the Limca Book of Records in 2016, recognising the scale of his private library. The biggest recognition came in 2026, when he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in the “Unsung Heroes” category. This award placed him among the nation’s most respected personalities, proving that true service to society is always remembered.

Daily Life & Dedication

Despite the size and fame of his library, Gowda lives a very simple life. He and his son personally clean, sort, and maintain the books every day. They live inside the library building, cooking in a small corner and spending most of their time among shelves of books. For Gowda, the library is not just a workplace but his home and his life’s mission.

He has gathered books from each of the 37 Kannada Sahitya Parishat conferences he has visited in Karnataka. His daily routine is filled with tasks like cataloguing, repairing old books, and guiding visitors. Even at his age, Gowda works tirelessly, showing that passion can keep a person young at heart.

Interesting & Lesser-Known Facts about Anke Gowda

• He spent nearly 80% of his salary from his job at the Pandavapura Co-operative Sugar Factory on books instead of personal luxuries.
• Gowda donated his entire pension savings of Rs 40–45 lakh to expand his library, showing unmatched dedication to his mission.
• He gave away his own house in Mysuru to support the growth of Pustaka Mane.
• His library holds more than eight lakh books in over 20 languages, including rare manuscripts, dictionaries, and religious texts.
• He has attended 37 Kannada Sahitya Parishat conferences, collecting books from each event to add to his library.
• Gowda owns rare editions of the Bible and newspapers dating back to the 1800s, carefully preserved in his collection.
• He lives inside the library building with his wife and son, cooking in a small corner and spending most of his time among books.

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