In a humble abode in Pandavapura, Mandya district of Karnataka, India, resides Anke Gowda, a retired factory worker who boasts an astonishing library housing over 2 million books. This vast collection, which spans across 15,800 square feet, has earned Gowda the Padma Shri, a prestigious civilian honor awarded for his extraordinary contribution to promoting literacy and learning.
Gowda's love affair with reading began during his childhood when he would often ask his parents and elder sister for money to buy books. After completing school, he worked as a bus conductor but eventually quit his job to pursue higher education. Inspired by a former teacher who encouraged him to build a collection of books for rural students, Gowda has since amassed an incredible repository.
The library's architecture is unconventional - it lacks the traditional library setup and instead features shelves stacked haphazardly with books. The sprawling complex houses not only books but also living quarters for Gowda and his family. Despite this unorthodox layout, visitors praise Gowda's exceptional ability to locate specific titles within the labyrinthine collection.
The establishment has inspired several educators who visit the library to study and organize their own book collections. One teacher, Shilpashree Haranu, lauds Gowda for knowing the location of each book despite its disorganized appearance. The library has also sparked a desire in others to replicate such endeavors, with Ravi Bettaswami citing it as an inspiration to construct his own substantial collection.
Gowda himself has expressed that he has fulfilled his responsibility in building and maintaining this remarkable repository but does not have the energy for further expansion. He entrusts its future to the government and public institutions, urging them to take over the legacy and continue promoting literacy and learning.
Gowda's love affair with reading began during his childhood when he would often ask his parents and elder sister for money to buy books. After completing school, he worked as a bus conductor but eventually quit his job to pursue higher education. Inspired by a former teacher who encouraged him to build a collection of books for rural students, Gowda has since amassed an incredible repository.
The library's architecture is unconventional - it lacks the traditional library setup and instead features shelves stacked haphazardly with books. The sprawling complex houses not only books but also living quarters for Gowda and his family. Despite this unorthodox layout, visitors praise Gowda's exceptional ability to locate specific titles within the labyrinthine collection.
The establishment has inspired several educators who visit the library to study and organize their own book collections. One teacher, Shilpashree Haranu, lauds Gowda for knowing the location of each book despite its disorganized appearance. The library has also sparked a desire in others to replicate such endeavors, with Ravi Bettaswami citing it as an inspiration to construct his own substantial collection.
Gowda himself has expressed that he has fulfilled his responsibility in building and maintaining this remarkable repository but does not have the energy for further expansion. He entrusts its future to the government and public institutions, urging them to take over the legacy and continue promoting literacy and learning.
I'm soooo impressed with Anke Gowda's 
library! 2 million books is crazy 
! I mean who needs a fancy library when you can just build a big collection of your fave reads? 
He's an inspiration to all the book lovers out there. 
The way he just gives away his knowledge and expertise to others is 
so cool. I wish I could visit his library one day 
, it would be like stepping into a dream world 
!
Anke Gowda's library is a game-changer - who needs fancy architecture when you've got a passion that knows no bounds? 
I'm kinda impressed by Anke Gowda's dedication to building such an epic library, but at the same time, I gotta say, 2 million books is just wild 
! It's like he's trying to single-handedly preserve human knowledge or something 
. But, you know, at some point, someone's gotta come along and help Gowda manage this behemoth of a library 
.
I mean, can you even imagine having that many books in your home? 
!! 2 million books in his house is insane!!! I mean, who has that much space for books? 
shilpashree haranu saying he can find any book is proof that gowda's got some serious skills 
Like, who wouldn't want to spend their days surrounded by 2 million books? I mean, that's like having your own personal book heaven... or a hoarder's paradise 
And it's awesome that people are inspired by his dedication to literacy and learning. Let's hope the government and public institutions can step up and take care of this amazing resource 
.
. I mean, think about it, he's just a factory worker who happened to collect a lot of books... that's not exactly what we should be celebrating in India. What about all the other people out there who are actually doing meaningful work to promote literacy and learning? Are they getting the recognition they deserve? 
I also don't get why his library is so sprawling and disorganized - can't he just put everything in neat little shelves like everyone else? 
And Anke Gowda's dedication to promoting literacy and learning is truly admirable. He's done an incredible job building this incredible repository and now he's passing the torch to others to carry on his legacy. Good luck with that, Govinda! 
. I mean, can we all learn from Anke Gowda's selflessness and dedication? Let's give it up for this amazing man! 
. He's proof that with dedication and passion, we can achieve something truly remarkable. I love how he's not just a book collector, but also a giver - inspiring others to start their own collections and promoting literacy and learning