"I've been working for past 50 years without expecting any reward": Why this 75-year-old conductor was awarded the Padma Shri

In a remote village of Karnataka, where the fields stretch golden under the sun, one man's obsession with books has rewritten the rules of legacy. It is a story which needs to be told. Anke Gowda, a 75-year-old former bus conductor, stands tall among India's 131 Padma Awardees for 2026. He has been conferred the honour not for glamour or valor or power, but for turning his life's savings into a sanctuary of stories. He founded Pustaka Mane, the "House of Books" in Haralahalli village, Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district. This is said to be the biggest library in the world with 20 lakh volumes. It's more than shelves; it's a heartbeat, pulsing with the dreams of a man who chose pages over possessions.

Anke was born in Chinakurli and spent his life punching tickets on dusty buses, the world rushing by in a blur of faces and fares. Evenings found him in college, chasing a B.A., then an M.A. in Kannada -fuel for a fire that no paycheck could quench. He worked in a sugar factory for some time and used its salary along with the proceeds of his Mysuru plot that he sold and his retirement funds to buy books and build his library. Starting at 20, his collection kept on expanding: literature, science, mythology, and philosophy in over 20 languages; rare 1832 manuscripts; 5,000 dictionaries; 35,000 international magazines, 2,500 on Gandhi; another 2,500 on the Bhagavad Gita; and even the Bible and sacred texts from afar. Five lakh foreign rarities sit beside Kannada treasures, free for students, teachers, researchers-anyone hungry for words.

Gowda didn't hoard; he generously shared, fostering reading habits in a place where books once felt like distant luxuries. He was listed in the Limca Book of Records in 2016 for his staggering collection.

"I am very happy. I never expected any of this. My only intention was that books reach all children and that they get the books they desire. I have been doing this for 50 years, living a simple life and working without expecting any rewards. I am glad the government has recognised this effort," he told ANI.

On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled the official list of Padma awardees for 2026. The prestigious civilian honors recognize individuals from diverse fields, including arts, literature, social service, medicine, education, and public service, for their excellence, dedication, and long-term contribution to society.

The Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honours of India, are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of higher order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field of activity, for the nation and its people.