🖋️ Imran Qureshi

Karnataka

In a large building, two million books are available for everyone to borrow and read.

This is the legacy that Anka Gowda, a retired sugar factory worker in the Indian state of Karnataka, has accumulated over the past 50 years. During this time, he provided a unique collection of books and turned it into a public library, freely available to all.

79-year-old Anka Gowda made news when he received the "Padma Shri" award for his significant role in promoting literacy and reading culture; One of the civilian awards given by the Government of India to people with outstanding services.

Gowda, whose impressive collection includes rare copies of Jerusalem and books on almost every subject imaginable, grew up in a farming family; A family where a book is considered a luxury item.

He said in an interview with the BBC: "I grew up in the village. We never had books to read, but I was always curious about them. I kept thinking that I should read, collect books and learn knowledge.

📷 ALPHONSE VIMULRAJ