Rai Umanath Bali belonged to the erstwhile family of Rampur-Daryabad Estate in Oudh. He was a Member of Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh and also represented Barabanki district as the Chairman of its District Board. He was an ardent Congressman and was affiliated to the Indian National Congress. He was a Member of the British Indian Association, Oudh (also called the Anjuman-e-Hind, Oudh) - an Organisation of the Taluqdars of Oudh.

He also established the Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapith [1] at Lucknow, an examining and affiliating body that conducts examinations and awards diplomas in Vocal, Instrumental and Indian Classical Dance and Music. Today, the Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapith is managed by his grandson, Rai Swareshwar Bali under the Presidency of Former Agriculture Minister & Several time Member of parliament, Raja Anand Singh.

Today, the Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium in Lucknow and Rai Umanath Bali Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Daryabad is named after him.