Besides a collection of books, Ashok Kumar Moolemajalu and K. Suneetha, who subscribe to 13 newspapers, have preserved newspaper clippings as part of the library collection at their residence in Parvatamukhi, Kukke Subrahmanya.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Ashok Kumar and K. Suneetha’s deep love for reading, learning and literature prompted them to convert the entire first floor of their residence at Parvatamukhi in Subrahmanya into a library, housing a collection of more than 12,000 books, besides newspaper clippings, coins, and stamps, to name a few.
While Mr. Kumar retired as principal of the Middle Level Training Centre of the Women and Child Development Department at Ujire, Ms. Suneetha retired as librarian of Kukke Sri Subrahmanyeshwara College, Subrahmanya.
Having developed a taste for reading and collecting books from his school days, Mr. Kumar expanded his interest in many fields, including stories, novels, general knowledge, literature, history, religion, politics, science, and sports. His habit of preserving the books he read led to the creation of the library.
Mr. Kumar said there are more than 12,000 books on the shelves of the library. Works in various languages, including Kannada and English, are carefully collected there. Books on a wide range of subjects, from literature to research, are also part of the collection. Of the 14 major religious scriptures in the world, his collection includes seven, he said.
Ashok Kumar Moolemajalu, who has converted the entire first floor of his residence at Parvatamukhi in Kukke Subrahmanya into a library, poses with part of his collection.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Other collections
Along with books, Mr. Kumar and Ms. Suneetha have also collected important articles, political analyses, sports articles, and special reports published in newspapers over many years. They read seven to 13 newspapers every day.
There is also a collection of coins and currency notes. These include coins from various periods, starting from 1 paise, 43 types of one-rupee coins and silver coins from the British era. Besides books, coins and stamps, the couple has also collected more than 600 pens of different brands, 560 audio cassettes and over 600 compact discs. There is also a collection of a few old and rare musical instruments.
Mr. Kumar said their daughter Sahana and son Shreyas have always been supportive in collecting and maintaining the collections. He said: “Books are an integral part of my life. Reading is not just about gathering information but also about expanding one’s thoughts. A good book has the power to change our perspective on life. Therefore, the habit of reading should never be abandoned.”
Published – July 02, 2026 07:50 pm IST
