🎭 Anonymous·10/27/2026

Anke Gowda's free library

Should every village have a free library?

📍 Pandavapura, Karnataka, India

Anke Gowda, born 1949, a former bus conductor and sugar-factory timekeeper from Karnataka, spent about 80% of his salary on books for decades and sold his house in Mysuru to keep collecting (The Better India, The Logical Indian). His Pustaka Mane library near Pandavapura holds over 20 lakh books in 20+ languages, free for anyone, with no paid staff (Padma citation). He received the Padma Shri in 2026 (DD News). So, should every village have a free library?

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DhishuumThe Better India: Bus conductor to Padma Shri▶ Watch▶

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  Anke Gowda M.

  Founder of Pustaka Mane free library, Padma Shri 2026, the subject of this poll

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