This library has something for everybody.

That's because after collecting for more than 50 years, Anke Gowda has amassed India's largest library of books and magazines.

Now he's appealing for the public's help so that he can maintain and classify his collection.

Gowda, 72, has collected more than a million titles in 22 Indian languages and several foreign languages.

He says that his first book cost him 25 paise (around a quarter of a penny) and today his book collection has made him the largest personal book collector in India, being certified by 2016's Limca Book of Records, the reference book documenting world records held by Indians. His collection numbers approximately 1.05 million works.

Gowda displays his eclectic collection at the Pustaka Mane (House of Books) in Mysuru city in southeastern Karnataka state.

Among the collection are 56,000 international magazines, 10,500 magazines in the local Kannada language, 2,500 titles on Mahatma Gandhi, 2,500 books on Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, several hundred versions of the Bible, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, fiction and non-fiction in various Indian and international languages.

It also includes the works of William Shakespeare, with one of Gowda's most prized books being an eight-volume 1832 William Shakespeare collection, with a buyer approaching to offer £110,000 for the set, but Gowda refused to sell.

Gowda's personal favourite book is a history of England.

Gowda says he buys at least 1,000 books every month from different sources, including book shops, publishers and second-hand book-sellers,

However, the Pustaka Mane requires a lot of work to help support it - and he's appealing for help. Although businessman L. Hari Khode invested in a building to house the collection, it requires maintenance including fire-fighting measures, dust-resistance window shutters and other facilities to protect the volumes from termites. Gowda is also appealing for help to classify his collection.

A 72-year-old has been able to create the largest library after having collected books for the last 50 years.

72yrs old Mr Anke Gowda has in the last 50 years collected over 10.5 lakh titles in 22 Indian languages and several foreign languages.


His first book cost him 25 paise, but that was over 50 years ago. Today, his book collection has made him the largest personal book collector in the country.
Mr. Ankegowda displays his eclectic mix at Pustaka Mane in the Sri Anke Gowda Jnaana Pratishtaana at Haralahalli which comprises 56,000 international magazines, 10,500 Kannada magazines, 2,500 titles on Mahatma Gandhi, 2,500 books on Bhagawad Gita, several hundreds of the Bible and holy books of other religions, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, and fiction, and non-fiction in various national and international languages.

People come from far and wide to leaf through the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in different languages.
“Every week, at least a handful of Ph.D. students and research scholars visit ‘Pustaka Mane’ for referral material or to enhance their knowledge,” the collector said.
He buys at least 1,000 books every month from different sources — book shops, publishers and second-hand book-sellers,

The ‘Pustaka Mane’ is craving for facilities. Though businessman L. Hari Khode had constructed a building, it requires fire-fighting measures, dust-resistance window shutters and other facilities to protect his precious collections from termites.
Mr. Ankegowda has won numerous awards such as the Rajyotsava Award in 2014, and the G.P. Rajaratnam Sahitya Paricharika Award given by the Kannada Book Authority in 2009.

His astonishing achievement has got him a place into the Limca Book of Records in 2016 under the ‘Largest Personal Book Collection’ category.