Among the Padma Shri Awardees 2026, one particular individual stood out, gaining huge social media attention. It was a man who dedicated almost all of his lifetime assets to build an adobe of knowledge. Yes, it was Anke Gowda who created the country’s largest free-access library named Pustak Mane, containing over 2 million books, through decades of efforts and accumulated wealth. The government paid homage to Gowda- who was once a bus conductor- by gifting him the honour of Padma Shri 2026 under the category of the “Unsung Heroes.” Lets learn more about this wonderful human being and also about his “gift to the coming generations.”
