Ramadevi was born in a middle class Zamindar family, in the Satyabhamapur region of
Cuttack district. Niece of Utkal Gourab Madhusudhan Das, Ramadevi got attracted to the national movement and along with her husband, took an active part in the freedom struggle. Ramadevi became the leader of Utkal Congress Committee in 1930 and held the post of Sampadika of Pradeshika Harijan Sevak Sangha. She was the organizer of the 'pad yatra' from
Puri to
Bhadrakh in 1934. During the freedom struggle, she was jailed many times between 1930 and 1942. An advocate of Swadeshi Movement, she wore only simple cotton
sarees woven out by Indian weavers. She was also averse to the concept of caste and creed. An idol of service and sacrifice, she was actively involved in nursing those injured during the China war and was a front runner in the struggle against alcohol and foreign goods.
Ramadevi led the Sarbodaya Andolan in Orissa and was actively involved in social work during calamities like floods, drought, epidemic and war. For her contributions towards the country, she was honored with Jamna Lal Bajaj Award.
