Rupak was born into a Christian family, attended church regularly and even helped his father in ministry, but it was not until he was 15 years old and heard a preacher explain that salvation is an individual decision and that being born into a Christian family is not enough, that he accepted Christ.

After high school, Rupak went to Bible college in south India where God began to place a desire in his heart to reach the people of Nepal and Bhutan. It was there also that he met a Nepali classmate, Angela, whom he married after graduation. They moved to northeast India and began ministry right away. God has blessed the Shankar family with two daughters and a son.

Rupak and his family live in Siliguri, West Bengal. This city is located in the small sliver of India that runs between Nepal and Bhutan. This location is strategic in reaching both of those nations. They began Frontier Care Ministries which focuses on leadership training, evangelism, church planting, Bible correspondence courses, and is using adult literacy programs as a way of reaching the remote villages with the Gospel.

Rupak has worked with Hope and Help International in coordinating the Timothy Leadership Institute for Nepali-speaking pastors who are ministering throughout northeast India, Nepal and Bhutan.