Hyderabad, May 25 -- Ankegowda, an extraordinary bibliophile from rural Karnataka, is set to receive the prestigious Padma Shri award from President Droupadi Murmu today.

Recognised under the 'Unsung Heroes' category, his national accolade celebrates an exceptional lifelong contribution to librarianship and the preservation of literary heritage. As the founder of Ankegowda Pustaka Mane (House of Books), he has built one of India's largest free-access libraries, single-handedly turning a personal passion into a public treasury of over 15 lakh books.

Ankegowda's love for books

Ankegowda's journey began in financial hardship. Born in 1949 to a farming family in Pandavapura taluk, he was pulled from school after Class 5 to herd sheep. Unde...