M. D. Nanjundaswamy
Prof. Mahantha Devaru Nanjundaswamy (13 February 1936–3 Feb 2004) was a Gandhian leader, scholar and India's leading activist, who advocated for the farmers' rights. He is one of the founders of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) in 1980. He was a strong critic of multi-national companies in India and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In 1996, Nanjundaswamy protested the opening of the first McDonald's in Delhi. He also led the ransacking of newly-opened Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Bangalore. He is an Indian rural activist and anti-globalization campaign leader. Early life 
Prof M. D. Nanjundswamy was born in Mysore to M. N. Mahantha Devaru and Rajammanni. His father was a farmer-turned-lawyer from Madrahalli village in T Narsipura taluka. He was the fifth child of the couple. He was credited to be the first post graduate from Mysore State. After finishing his B.Sc. in Life Sciences in the Mysore University, he pursued graduation in Law at Karnatak University but wanted to become a doctor like his brother, who later became an ENT specialist. As he failed to secure a seat, his parents sent him abroad to the Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands to complete his post-graduation in Law. Then he went on to study Constitutional Law in Germany and France before returning to Indian in 1964. Later, he became a professor of law at the University of Mysore and Bangalore University. Farmers' Movement 
As president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Karnataka State Farmers' Association) he led campaigns against agricultural patenting by multi-national corporations, which he called "Western biopiracy". On his birth anniversary on 13 February 2023, Prof Yogendra Yadav, founder of Jai Kisan Andolan, remembered Prof Nanjundaswamy and gave a speech about his farmers' movement led by the late leader in Chamarajpet District in Karnataka, where a main road in the central road was named after him. References

1936 births
2004 deaths
Indian anti-globalization activists
University of Mysore alumni
Politicians from Mysore
Activists from Karnataka