Quit The Cabin, Built A Cabinet Of Books: Mysuru Man’s 15 Lakh Volume Library Becomes A Quiet Revolution

A Life Rewritten Around Books

After years in government service, he chose the far less trodden path: leave a secure job and pour time, savings and energy into collecting books across genres, languages and disciplines. His house steadily transformed into a living library, with every room, corridor and spare corner converted into stacked reading spaces. For local students, competitive exam aspirants, teachers and book lovers, this is now a go-to destination when the public library system falls short.

Building A Free Library Ecosystem

What makes this Mysuru library stand out is its open door philosophy. Anyone can walk in, browse the shelves, sit down and read without paying a fee or buying a membership. Over time, the collection has grown to an estimated 15 lakh books, ranging from classics and regional literature to academic texts, reference works and children’s stories. The founder’s daily routine revolves around cataloguing, maintaining and guiding readers, effectively making librarianship his full-time vocation. He also encourages donations of books and small contributions to help with upkeep, but the core principle remains unchanged: access should be free, especially for those who cannot afford expensive bookstores or coaching material.

Community Impact Snapshots

• Free access to an estimated 15 lakh books for students and general readers
• Home converted into multi-room library and reading space in Mysuru
• Collection spans regional literature, classics, reference titles and exam prep books
• Library offers quiet study space for aspirants from low and middle income families
• Founder sustains the model through personal sacrifice, small donations and book gifts
• Initiative showcases how individual passion can fill gaps in public library infrastructure

Sources: Times Of India, BBC, Indian Express, The Hindu