[2] He was born in Handattu, Udupi District, Karnataka, and raised in Rourkela, Orissa, India.

[4][5] He then went to the United States to do his master's degree and later PhD in energy engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

[9] In 2007, SELCO INDIA again won the Ashden Award, this time for "Outstanding Achievement" in energy sector.

[10] The award was presented by Al Gore, former vice president of the United States of America.

In 2011 he was awarded the Magsaysay Award for "his passionate and pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor, through a social enterprise that brings customized, affordable, and sustainable electricity to India’s vast rural populace, encouraging the poor to become asset creators.”.