Anka Goda, a retired worker from a sugar factory in Karnataka, India, has built a library with two million books for the public with exemplary effort and determination. This library, which has been collected over 50 years, has become one of the most important centers for promoting literacy and the culture of reading in the region.
The Difficult Path of a Curious Villager
Anka Goda, 79, was born into a farming family where owning a book was considered a luxury. He grew up in a village where no books were available for reading, but this deprivation never extinguished his passion for studying. He recalls in an interview: "I was always curious about books and eager to learn."
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During his childhood, Goda struggled to balance school and helping his father with farm work, receiving money from his parents to buy books. He became fascinated with culture and knowledge by reading books about India's freedom fighters and spiritual leaders, and decided to provide a collection of books for other students.
Efforts to Create a Public Library
After years of working in the sugar factory and collecting books, Anka Goda faced a serious challenge: finding a suitable space to store his ever-growing collection. He initially kept the books in large boxes and then installed shelves in his home, but soon realized he had no more space to store them.
Help arrived when he met Hari Khodai, a famous businessman in the alcohol industry. Goda asked him to build a library so he could present his collection to the public in a more organized manner. Khodai agreed to this request and took on the cost of constructing a large building.
Today, Anka Goda's library, covering an area of about 1467 square meters, has become one of the most important cultural centers in the city of Pandavapura. This library, which is open to the public daily without holidays, welcomes students, teachers, and book enthusiasts. Regular visitors to this place are well acquainted with it and know how to find the books they are looking for.
The Future of the Library and Continuation of Efforts
Although Goda's library is organized without a librarian and in an informal manner, he knows exactly where each book is and can find it at a moment's notice. He has never hired a librarian because no one has ever suggested it to him. Goda now reflects thoughtfully that it is time for others to continue his path. He says: "I have done my part. But I no longer have the energy I once had. Perhaps now the government and the people can continue this work."
Anka Goda's library is not just a physical space for storing books, but a symbol of effort, will, and love for knowledge. This place, with two million books, tells the story of a life dedicated to promoting literacy and the culture of reading.
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