Umesh Chandra Dutta Biography 
Umesh Chandra Dutta, a Sadhu was one of the pioneer Brahmos who established the Brahmo Samaj at Harinavi. He was one of the founders of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj and has played a major role in the social activities like education and women empowerment. He stood with women education and one of the leading reformers of Bengal in the late 19th century.
He was born on 16 December 1840 in Majilpur as the son of Haramohan Dutta. He passed entrance in 1859 from the London Missionary Society Institution at Bhawanipur. He joined Medical college for studies. But due to poverty he couldn’t complete his studies. In 1862 he took teaching as profession to earn a living. He graduated in 1867 as a private student. He shifted to Bharat Ashram after his marriage according to Brahmo rites the same year. The ideologies of Brahmo samaj was brought to his village by Shib Krishna Dutta and young Umesh used to read Tattwabodhini Patrika regularly. Thus he was drawn towards Brahmo samaj and became a member after his marriage.
He started a Brahmo Samaj there in 1866 while working as a teacher. He was assisted by a few people of his locality. It was during this time when Sivanath Sastri formally joined the Brahmo Samaj and removed his sacred thread. As Brahmo samaj opposed many of the traditional practices of Brahmin caste, obviously it received opposition from the same community. They even tried to get Umesh out of the school as they insisted that no Brahmo member can become a teacher. Umesh gave resignation according to his will.
He quit his job but did not forsake the Brahmo Samaj. He attended its meetings regularly. He later became one of the founding members of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in 1878. When City School was established in 1879 he joined as its headmaster and alter served as the principal of City College also. He has also served as the editor of Bamabodhini, Dharmasadhan, and Bharat Samskarak.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 10, 2014
