Padma Shri Anke Gowda's Monumental Book Collection Faces Critical Space Crisis in Mandya
In the quiet village of Haralahalli in Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district, a cultural treasure of immense proportions is facing an existential threat due to severe space constraints. Padma Shri awardee and renowned bibliophile Anke Gowda, 75, is struggling to preserve his extraordinary collection of over 25 lakh books and magazines, raising alarm about the future of what is arguably Karnataka's and India's most unique private library.
Five Decades of Dedication Transforms Home into 'Pustaka Mane'
Over the past fifty years, Anke Gowda has painstakingly built this monumental collection, transforming his residence into the iconic 'Pustaka Mane' (House of Books), which operates as a free public library serving the community. What began as a personal passion has grown into a repository of knowledge that has become indispensable to students, scholars, writers, and researchers from across Karnataka and beyond.
Critical Storage Crisis Exposing Priceless Collection
The current situation has reached a critical point, with approximately 15 lakh books stored inside Gowda's house while an equal or even larger number remain outside, exposed to the elements and potential damage. This precarious arrangement stems from the library being confined to just 33 guntas of land, creating an impossible storage dilemma for such an expansive collection.
The collection represents a bibliographic marvel, featuring:
- Rare and out-of-print books spanning more than 20 Indian and foreign languages
- Historical newspapers and research journals of significant academic value
- Over 7,000 dictionaries and approximately five lakh rare foreign publications
- 35,000 international magazines alongside 2,500 Kannada periodicals
- Substantial collections on Mahatma Gandhi (2,500 books), the Bhagavad Gita (2,500 titles), and the Ramayana (nearly 3,000 volumes)
- More than 100 religious texts, including the Bible and other significant works
Government Appeals and Financial Struggles
Despite repeated appeals to government authorities and elected representatives for land allocation and financial assistance to establish a proper public library facility, no concrete support has materialized. Gowda continues to maintain this cultural institution with his modest monthly pension of Rs 1,280, which proves woefully inadequate for the collection's preservation needs.
In a conversation with media, Anke Gowda emphasized the urgent requirement for at least 10 acres of land and financial assistance of approximately Rs 100 crore to properly house and preserve this priceless repository. The current cramped conditions not only threaten the physical integrity of the books but also limit public access to this extraordinary resource.
A Cultural Legacy at Risk
The 'Pustaka Mane' represents more than just a collection of books—it embodies decades of dedicated curation, cultural preservation, and community service. As one of India's most significant private libraries, its potential loss would represent an irreplaceable cultural setback for Karnataka and the nation. The space crisis facing Anke Gowda's collection highlights broader challenges in preserving India's intellectual heritage and supporting cultural custodians who have dedicated their lives to knowledge preservation.
