In the unassuming village of Pandavapura, Karnataka, India lies a humble abode of learning that has captured the hearts of thousands. Alphonse Vimulraj Anke Gowda, a 79-year-old retired factory worker, has amassed an astonishing collection of two million books within his sprawling library, making him a household name in the region.
For years, Gowda's passion for reading and collecting books remained a secret to his family and community, who never expected that he would become one of India's most prolific collectors. Born into a farming family where books were a luxury, Gowda used to beg money from his parents to buy books, eventually discovering the joy of learning at an early age.
In 2005, when Anke Gowda was 65 years old, he decided that it was time to share his love for reading with others. He asked Hari Khoday, a local liquor baron turned philanthropist, to build him a library where he could house and preserve his books safely.
Khoday agreed to help, and the construction of the huge building began. The grand opening took place in 2006 and is now a thriving hub for learning, attracting students and teachers from all over the state who come to study and explore Anke Gowda's incredible collection.
One professor at a local college has been inspired by the library and has begun building his own collection of thousands of books. Many others have followed suit, using the library as their primary resource.
However, not everyone is thrilled with this phenomenon. Some argue that the library lacks the organization and professionalism of other institutions. Nevertheless, they agree that Anke Gowda knows exactly where each book is and can tell you its location in an instant.
Today, Anke Gowda's legacy lives on through his incredible collection of two million books, which has become a source of inspiration for many others. When asked why he never hired a librarian, Anke Gowda says that no one ever suggested it to him. His humble and selfless approach has now been taken over by the government and public who will take his legacy forward.
Anke Gowda's journey from a poor farmer's son to an avid collector of books is truly inspiring. At 79 years old, he has shown us all that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing our passions and sharing them with others.
For years, Gowda's passion for reading and collecting books remained a secret to his family and community, who never expected that he would become one of India's most prolific collectors. Born into a farming family where books were a luxury, Gowda used to beg money from his parents to buy books, eventually discovering the joy of learning at an early age.
In 2005, when Anke Gowda was 65 years old, he decided that it was time to share his love for reading with others. He asked Hari Khoday, a local liquor baron turned philanthropist, to build him a library where he could house and preserve his books safely.
Khoday agreed to help, and the construction of the huge building began. The grand opening took place in 2006 and is now a thriving hub for learning, attracting students and teachers from all over the state who come to study and explore Anke Gowda's incredible collection.
One professor at a local college has been inspired by the library and has begun building his own collection of thousands of books. Many others have followed suit, using the library as their primary resource.
However, not everyone is thrilled with this phenomenon. Some argue that the library lacks the organization and professionalism of other institutions. Nevertheless, they agree that Anke Gowda knows exactly where each book is and can tell you its location in an instant.
Today, Anke Gowda's legacy lives on through his incredible collection of two million books, which has become a source of inspiration for many others. When asked why he never hired a librarian, Anke Gowda says that no one ever suggested it to him. His humble and selfless approach has now been taken over by the government and public who will take his legacy forward.
Anke Gowda's journey from a poor farmer's son to an avid collector of books is truly inspiring. At 79 years old, he has shown us all that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing our passions and sharing them with others.
Like, what's next? Starting a YouTube channel in your 70s? 
Anke Gowda's got skills, I'll give him that. And two million books is no joke! But seriously, can you imagine having that many books just chillin' in your living room? It's like a treasure trove of knowledge and dust bunnies 
. The fact that he built it himself without anyone suggesting it to him is pretty cool too. Like, the man's got confidence. And I gotta say, his humble approach is pretty refreshing after all the fancy-pants libraries out there. So yeah, Anke Gowda's legacy lives on and we're all winners 
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This guy is literally the ultimate minimalist... in his approach to sharing his collection 
I mean, who needs a fancy professional setup when you've got a clear head and a love for books? He's all about community and spreading knowledge, no fuss or drama 
It's amazing to see how his humble library has inspired others to follow suit. The two million book mark is insane, but it's not just the quantity that matters – it's the impact he's made on people's lives 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that he just kinda... started building this library on his own? No grand plans or anything, just a guy who loved books and wanted to share them with the world 
this dude's book collection is insane! two million books?! 
. and what's even crazier is that he just kinda started collecting all these books by himself, without anyone telling him to hire a librarian lol . it's like he just had an idea to share his love of reading with others, and voila! a whole library was born 
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I remember when I was like 10, my grandma used to take me to this old library in our neighborhood, and I got completely lost in the stacks for hours 
But what really gets me is how Anke Gowda didn't let his passion go unnoticed. I mean, who doesn't love books and learning 
? Anyway, it's awesome that he was able to make a difference in the lives of so many people with just his collection...
. The fact that he was inspired by reading from a young age, despite growing up in a family where books were scarce, is truly heartwarming 
. Nevertheless, its clear that Anke Gowda's humble approach has created a lasting impact on his community and will continue to inspire others for years to come 
they're like skyscrapers made of paper 
my mind would get blown trying to navigate all those shelves... anyway, kudos to this 79-yr-old factory worker for pursuing ur passion and sharing it with the world! 
I mean, can you believe this dude's got 2 million books? That's insane! He's like a superhero or something. I love how humble he was about it all too, never thought he'd be famous or anything. The fact that he just shared his passion with others and now it's inspiring people to start their own collections is amazing. I wish more people would follow his lead 
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I also think its interesting how his approach is so organic and selfless - no fancy setup or professionals needed, just someone who genuinely loves books and wants to share them
I wonder what will happen now that the government and public are taking over his legacy... will it continue to grow and inspire others? 
. i mean, two million books in one place? that's insane! 
. personally, i think the lack of organization is part of its charm - it's like stepping into a treasure trove 
. and the fact that he's still got so many people coming to study there? it's amazing 
A 2 million book collection at 79? That's like me trying to learn how to code at 40 
but with books instead of 1s and 0s! 
