[2][3] He founded the Desa Bandhu Youth Association and led protests against the British.

He died from injuries sustained from a police assault on the banks of Noyyal River in Tiruppur during a protest march against the British government on 11 January 1932.

At the time of his death, he was holding the flag of the Indian nationalists, which had been banned by the British giving rise to the epithet kodi Kaatha Kumaran in Tamil which means "Kumaran who protected the flag".

[4][5] A commemorative stamp was issued by India post in October 2004 on his 100th birth anniversary.

[6][7] A statue has been erected in Tirupur in his honor which is often used as a focal point for public demonstrations.