He was born in a common farmer's family in Bellary District and joined the students  movement when he was a student. He has been active in progressive people's movements for 4 decades.

On 27th July 2003, during a farmers protest in Hirebaganal Village, Koppala District he was arrested by police and was severely beaten-up. He fell sick, suffered from continuous vomiting and he underwent an abdominal surgery at City Central Hospital, Davanagere.

His health condition deteriorated as his kidneys were injured due to severe beating and his kidneys were infected. He was diagnosed with renal failure, he was put on dialysis for two years first, after that on CAPD dialysis and later he was diagnosed as suffering from gall bladder stones and underwent a surgery. Later he underwent very expensive kidney transplant surgery. Now he is diagnosed with a life-threatening and chronic kidney disease (Chronic glomerular nephritis-ESRD, Biopsy proven IgA nephropathy). He stayed for almost 4  years in the rest house in Victoria Hospital Campus for this purpose. He spent 42 Lakh Rupees of his money for the medical treatment (leaving aside another 2 Lakh Rupees that he received from the Government for the medical treatment) resulting in selling of all his agricultural land.