U Ottama (1879-1939) was a Buddhist monk who was active in the Burmese independence movement. He traveled and taught throughout Asia, ultimately returning to colonial Burma to seek independence nonviolently. He wrote articles for The Suriya, a nationalist newspaper, including an open letter of protest to Reginald Craddock, the then-British governor, entitled, “Craddock, get out!” He was eventually imprisoned for his political activity and died in jail, becoming a martyr for the cause of independence.
Sources
“Anniversary of Monk Leader’s Death,” The Irrawaddy, December 28, 2009, accessed July 11, 2013.
Michael Mendelson, Sangha and State in Burma (London: Cornell University Press, 1975).