Born in 1902 to Ullal Manjunath Mallya and Rukma Bai, Ullal Srninvas Mallya was born in Mangalore and completed his studies there.
Gandhiji’s Khilafat visit to Mangalore in 1920 had a great influence on young Srinivas Mallya and he decided to plunge into the freedom struggle. He became a volunteer of Indian National Congress, and due to his immense capabilities, intellect and dedicated work, he was nominated as the Secretary of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee. He was also patronized by Kalamadevi Chattopadyaya, another Mangalorean. Due to his active involvement in the freedom struggle in the 1930s he had to even gone underground on many occasions. Mallya was involved in Salt Satyagraha and during Quit India Movement he underwent imprisonment. He took an active part in promoting Gandhiji’s programmes like Khadi and Village Industries, entry of Dalits to temples, implementation of Hindi as a national language, eradication of untouchability etc.
Srinivas Mallya was appointed as Constituent Assembly Member of the Delhi committee and he was also given the post of Chief Whip which he held from 1948 till his death. In 1952 when the Nation faced its first general election, he was appointed Party Secretary along with Lal Bahadur Shastri and later he was nominated for the Mangalore North Seat as a Member of Parliament.
Mallya is best known for his work as an architect. He has been called "Father of Modern Dakshina Kannada District"