Rama was born at Cuncolim village of Salcete Taluka in South Goa District on 25 March 1936, the son of Tiru Desai. He was educated up to the Marathi secondary level and was a member of the Azad Gomantak Dal. He was handling the responsibilities of passing on confidential messages and holding underground meetings with the members of his organisation. On 13 April 1954, he along with other associates attacked the Cuncolim police outpost and looted six rifles along with a box of cartridges, escaped to Karwar District of neighbouring Karnataka State. This attack also led to the death of one of the police guards named Govind Mahadev Naik. Rama was arrested on 31 July 1955, while trying to blow off the Sanvarkatto bridge in his village with explosives. After arrest, he was totrured mercilessly, managed to escape but was rearrested soon and jailed for six months at Margao and Panaji police stations. Thereafter, he was lodged in Aguada jail for 34 months, and even after release, he was kept under severe police surveillance. Most of his associates were tried in absentia while the others were arrested and jailed at Aguada Fort. After the military court proceedings, one of his prime associates, Dattaram Deu Naique Dessai was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment, had to pay a fine of fifty escudos for two years and his political rights were suspended for two years. Others were acquitted and released.
Reference: TMT Files Order No.687 Process No.22