Quick Info
| Profession | Timekeeper, Security Guard, Bus Conductor |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 01/01/1947 |
| Age | 79 years |
| Birthplace | Haralahalli village, Srirangapatna, Mandya, Karnataka, India |
Latest News about Anke Gowda
25/01/2026
Anke Gowda was awarded the Padma Shri 2026 in the Unsung Heroes category for his lifelong contribution to Literature and Education through Pustaka Mane, India's largest free-access library. The 75-year-old former bus conductor from Haralahalli village, Mandya district, built a repository of over 2 million books in 20+ languages, including rare manuscripts, to promote literacy among remote and marginalized communities.
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Bio/Wiki
| Famous for | Making one of the largest libraries in India |
|---|---|
| Library Name | Pustaka Mane (House of Books) |
| Library Collection Size | Over 2 million books in 20+ languages |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 9" (175 cm) |
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| Weight | 65 Kg (143 lbs) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Salt & pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Highest Degree | Master’s degree in Kannada literature |
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Personal Life
| Religion | Hinduism |
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| Languages | Kannada |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
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Family
| Wife/Spouse | Vijayalakshmi | ||||
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| Children | Sagar | ||||
| Parents |
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| Siblings | 1 |
Career
| Awards, Honours, Achievements |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Anke Gowda was born in a farming family at Haralahalli village. | |
| 2. Books were scarce in the village, and he was drawn towards books from childhood. | |
| 3. He had to juggle farm work with his reading and used food money to buy books. | |
| 4. He became a bus conductor at around age 20 and started collecting books. | |
| 5. His library, Pustaka Mane, has around 800,000 books, including rare manuscripts and documents. | |
| 6. His library, Pustaka Mane, has around 2 million books, including rare manuscripts and historical texts in over 20 languages. | |
| 7. He founded Pustaka Mane to make books accessible to people from remote and marginalised communities. |