He belonged to Balmiki community living around Bithoor village of Uttar Pradesh.

Nana Saheb Peshwa then the king of Bithoor passed with his army from that place.

He was extremely impressed and asked Gangu Baba to join his army as he already had initiated a battle against Britishers at that time.

[1] According to oral traditions of Dalits in the villages near Bithoor, he alone killed 150 British soldiers with his sword.

This annoyed the Britishers who issued circulars to arrest him dead or alive.