[2] Gowramma was born in 1912 to N.S Ramayya and Nanjamma in Madikeri[3] and married to B. T. Gopal Krishna of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu, then known as Coorg, a province in British India.

[4] She invited Mahatma Gandhi to her family house, during his campaign in Coorg,[1] and donated all her gold ornaments towards the Harijan (Dalit) Welfare Fund.

[2] Her stories, such as "Aparaadhi Yaaru" (Who is the criminal), "Vaaniya Samasye", "Aahuthi" and "Manuvina Raani", were modern and progressive.

[4][6] A volume of Gowramma's stories was published as Mareyalagada Kathegalu and prefaced by Kannada writer Vaidehi.

Kannada critic and writer MS Asha Devi has said, "She was completely influenced by Gandhi and believed that it was possible for people to change society through love, sacrifice and non-violence.