Anke Gowda’s library: Funds sought to protect rare book collections

The State government has initiated steps to safeguard the vast and rare book collection of Mandya’s famed ‘Akshara Santa’ and Padma Shri awardee Anke Gowda, following an appeal by Dinesh Gooli Gowda, MLC.

Responding to the request, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has directed officials to place a proposal for sanctioning funds to install bookshelves required for the preservation of the collection.

A resident of Haralahalli village in Pandavapura taluk, Mr. Anke Gowda has spent over four decades collecting more than 25 lakh books, creating one of the largest private book repositories in the State. Owing to the lack of adequate space and infrastructure, the books are currently stacked in heaps, raising concerns over possible damage to the invaluable collection, the MLC said.

During a meeting with the Minister on January 29, Mr. Gooli Gowda apprised him of the urgent need to install steel racks to properly store the books. Taking immediate note of the issue, Mr. Tangadagi instructed the secretary of the Kannada and Culture Department to submit a file for the early release of funds, a note issued by the MLC said.

The MLC also met Tourism Minister H.K. Patil, seeking official recognition of Mr. Anke Gowda’s book house as a ‘Rural Cultural Tourist Destination’. Highlighting the cultural importance of the site, which has been visited by several eminent personalities, Mr. Gooli Gowda sought special grants for infrastructure development, digitisation of books, and the establishment of a museum. “Mr. Patil has assured that he will personally visit the site soon and take a decision after inspection,” the MLC said.

In separate representations to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the MLC urged the government to announce long-term measures in the upcoming State Budget. He requested the allocation of five acres of land in Haralahalli and a ₹5-crore grant for the construction of a modern library complex. He also sought the construction of a new building for the library through the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam and support for large-scale digitisation to preserve the knowledge repository for future generations.