Uma Charan Patnaik

Uma Charan Patnaik (ଉମାଚରଣ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ) (1902-1961) Umacharan Pattnaik was born on 19 October 1902 in Russelkonda presently known as Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district to Abhimanyu Pattnaik and Sriya Debi (Odia). His father was a district collector in Madras presidency. After being matriculated in Russelkonda High school, Umacharan completed his intermediate in Khallikote College, Berhampur, and graduated from Presidency College, Madras. Then he completed his M.A. and B.L. in Ravenshaw College Cuttack.

As a follower of the Gandhian path he from 1922, devoted himself to the services of the Harijans in Ganjam. He was able to create consciousness among the Hadi, Bauri, and Dandashi subcastes in the Harijan community. He started his law business first in Aska in 1927 and later shifted to Berhampur in 1929. He was a successful lawyer who took his law business seriously though he also took interest in the Civil disobedience movement in 1930 along with Niranjan Pattnaik. When Gandhi visited Ganjam in 1928 he was accompanied by both Niranjan and Umacharan to various places in Ganjam where his speeches in Hindi were translated by both of them. Since Gandhi's visit to Ganjam, Umacharan made it a habit to wear Khadi covering his knee only and a gamchha hanging on his shoulder. He remained in this attire till his death. He also became a regular donor to the Swaraj fund. He also regularly purchased khadi clothes from Swaraja Ashrama in Berhampur which was looked after by Niranjana Pattnaik.