Retired Karnataka worker builds 2 million-book library, lets people read for free
Aradhana Jha | Times Life Bureau | Feb 11, 2026, 17:13 IST
Retired Karnataka worker builds 2 million-book library
Anke Gowda, a 79-year-old from Karnataka, spent 50 years collecting two million books. He now offers this vast collection for free to everyone. His home has become a library with books on diverse subjects. Students and villagers regularly visit to read and borrow. Gowda's dedication to promoting reading earned him the Padma Shri award.
Anke Gowda, a 79-year-old retired sugar factory worker from Karnataka, has done something most of us can’t even imagine, he’s spent the last 50 years collecting close to two million books. And the best part? He lets anyone read them for free. (Photo Credit: BBC News)
Gowda grew up in a farming family at a time when owning books was a luxury. Getting even one book was tough, and reading material was hard to come by. But his love for learning started early. What he couldn’t have as a child, he promised himself he would one day make available for others.
After he started working at a sugar factory, he began picking up books wherever he could find them. Slowly, shelf by shelf, his collection grew. What began as a personal hobby turned into a life mission. He wanted to make sure that no one who wanted to read would ever be turned away because they couldn’t afford books.
Today, his home-turned-library has books on just about everything - literature, science, history, philosophy, religion, and even rare editions of the Bible. Students, researchers, and people from nearby villages regularly visit to read and borrow books. There’s no membership fee. No charges. Just open shelves and open doors.
“My aim has always been simple - to promote reading and help people learn,” Gowda has said.
Last month, his decades-long effort was recognised at the national level when he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours. It’s a well-earned nod to a man who quietly spent his life building something for everyone.
From growing up with barely any books around him to creating a library that holds millions, Anke Gowda’s story isn’t just about collecting books. It’s about believing in the power of reading, and making sure others get to experience it too.
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Gowda grew up in a farming family at a time when owning books was a luxury. Getting even one book was tough, and reading material was hard to come by. But his love for learning started early. What he couldn’t have as a child, he promised himself he would one day make available for others.
After he started working at a sugar factory, he began picking up books wherever he could find them. Slowly, shelf by shelf, his collection grew. What began as a personal hobby turned into a life mission. He wanted to make sure that no one who wanted to read would ever be turned away because they couldn’t afford books.
Today, his home-turned-library has books on just about everything - literature, science, history, philosophy, religion, and even rare editions of the Bible. Students, researchers, and people from nearby villages regularly visit to read and borrow books. There’s no membership fee. No charges. Just open shelves and open doors.
“My aim has always been simple - to promote reading and help people learn,” Gowda has said.
Last month, his decades-long effort was recognised at the national level when he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours. It’s a well-earned nod to a man who quietly spent his life building something for everyone.
From growing up with barely any books around him to creating a library that holds millions, Anke Gowda’s story isn’t just about collecting books. It’s about believing in the power of reading, and making sure others get to experience it too.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!