Padma Awards 2026: Meet 75 yr previous Anke Gowda, a bus conductor who constructed a library of two million books

In a transferring tribute to a lifetime of quiet sacrifice, 75-year-old Anke Gowda has been formally recognised within the 2026 Padma Awards for his inclusion within the “Unsung Heroes” class. This prestigious Padma Shri honours a person who transitioned from the routine of a bus conductor to the architect of a monumental literary legacy.

For over fifty years, Gowda channelled his ardour into Pustak Mane, an enormous, free-access library constructed on the muse of unbelievable private value. To fund this sanctuary for data, he funnelled roughly 80% of his profession earnings into e-book acquisitions and even made the last word sacrifice of promoting his household residence.

Who’s Anke Gowda?

Born right into a farming household in Mandya district, he had restricted entry to books throughout his childhood. His love of studying started on the age of 20 when his school professor impressed him to begin accumulating books whereas he was working as a bus conductor. 

After this, Anke Gowda started accumulating books whereas working as a bus conductor. He left his job to pursue a grasp’s diploma in Kannada literature earlier than working for round 3 a long time in a sugar manufacturing facility.

He arrange the world’s largest free-access library — Pustak Mane — housing greater than 2 million books in 20 languages, together with uncommon manuscripts. It additionally has round 5 lakh uncommon international books, and roughly 5,000 dictionaries throughout a number of languages.

The library is accessible to all — native college students to Supreme Court docket judges– with no membership charges. 

To keep up the gathering, Gowda and his spouse Vijayalakshmi stay throughout the library. Gowda manages the library together with their son, Sagar, and is working to formally organise it beneath the Anke Gowda Jnana Pratishthana Basis as his assortment continues to increase. 

“Researchers and college students primarily come to me. Even civil service aspirants and Supreme Court docket judges have come to discuss with the books right here. There isn’t any membership charge or admission cost. Anybody can come, learn, and acquire data,” he mentioned in a dialog with Mathrubhumi Information.