I was born into a farmer's family in Dighal. We had a little land, but very little money. In 1994, my father and his two brothers separated their household. After that, he started driving a truck to run the family. I studied at the village government school, from class 1 to class 12. Some time later, my father passed away. His kidneys had failed. My chacha ji took responsibility for my education and made sure I kept studying.

Around the same time, I started training at the akhada. My dream was simple. I wanted to join the army or the police. I wrestled for six years, and wrestling is what got me into the Border Security Force. I wrestled four more years there. Then I hurt my shoulder, and later my knee. Both needed operations. I knew a long career in the force would be hard after that, so I resigned.

I then moved into business. A friend in Delhi worked in finance and lent me money. I put it in the market and made a good profit. Then Corona came and I lost most of it. I started again, and the second time it worked. My sister and I got married in the same season. At that time, the government gave ₹21,000 for a daughter's wedding. I went round after round for those papers. The money came two months after the wedding, when the need was already over.

That one experience decided the rest of my work.