Archive · 22 Sep 2025
Karnataka Man Builds Free Library from Bus Conductor Days
Anke Gowda, who used to be a bus conductor, built a huge library with almost two million books!
He started collecting books when he was 20 and spent most of his money on them.
He even sold his house to buy more!
His library, called Pustaka Mane, has books in many languages and is free for anyone to use.
He wants everyone, from students to judges, to have access to knowledge.
He lives in the library with his family, and they work together to keep it running.
Anke Gowda started collecting books at age 20 while working as a bus conductor.
He used most of his income to build a large book collection.
Gowda sold his house to buy more books for his library.
Pustaka Mane holds nearly two million books in over 20 languages.
The library is free and open to all, without membership or fees.
- Who
- Anke Gowda, a former bus conductor.
- What
- Built a free library called Pustaka Mane with nearly two million books.
- When
- Started buying books at age 20 and continues today.
- Where
- Haralahalli village, near Mysuru, Karnataka.
- Why
- To make knowledge accessible to everyone.
- Name
- Anke Gowda
- Former Occupation
- Bus Conductor
- Library Name
- Pustaka Mane (Book House)
- Location
- Haralahalli village, near Mysuru
- Book Count
- Nearly two million
- Languages
- Over 20, including Kannada, Sanskrit, English
- Features
- Free entry, no membership or fees