Anke Gowda - Organiser

Anke Gowda

Anke Gowda, a 75-year-old Padma Shri awardee from Karnataka, has spent over five decades building one of India’s largest free-access libraries

Padma Awards 2026: Anke Gowda, once a bus conductor, now guardian of India’s free library of 20 lakh books

The unsung heroes of Bharat awarded this year by the President of Bharat

Who are 45 unsung heroes honoured with Padma Shri 2026?