Shashiraj belongs to Mysore district in Nanjanpur Taluk. He completed his MSW from Bangalore University and has also done a course on Youth Work from Baduku Community College. At the moment he works as the Convenor of Samvada’s Kolar YRC. His work responsibilities mainly includes creating environmental awareness through Samvadas initiative called Green Futures. Shashiraj believes that he has learnt the most and built his value systems by working with people for the last 16 years. He has been part of groups working for farmers rights, rural development and labour movements. He has also worked towards ensuring that the MNREGA program reaches the people for whom it is meant. Committed to promote natural diversity, he has worked as a consultant with various natural resource organisations. He has guided the work of organisations like Balli Balaga and Beru Bevaru. Shashiraj has a flair for writing songs and has written songs about themes that are pro people, pro life and pro environment. He also enjoys reading books and listening to music.