200th anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: FPJ
Subject: History
Context: India celebrated the 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji in 2025, honouring his legacy as a nationalist leader, economic thinker and early architect of the freedom movement.
About 200th anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji:
Who he was?
• Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917) was an Indian nationalist leader, economic theorist, social reformer, scholar, and the first Indian Member of British Parliament.
Early Life & Education:
• Born on 4 September 1825 in Bombay (some sources say Navsari), in a middle-class Parsi family.
• Educated at Elphinstone Institute, where he excelled in mathematics and English.
• Became the first Indian Professor at Elphinstone College, symbolising modern Indian intellectual awakening.
Contributions to the Indian Freedom Movement:
• Economic Contributions:
• Drain of Wealth Theory: Systematically demonstrated how British rule drained India’s resources through salaries, pensions, remittances, and unequal trade. Authored major works: Poverty and Un-British Rule in India Poverty of India His advocacy led to the creation of the Welby Commission (1895) on Indian expenditure, where he served as a member. Popularised economic nationalism and laid foundations for Swadeshi and fiscal self-reliance.
• Drain of Wealth Theory: Systematically demonstrated how British rule drained India’s resources through salaries, pensions, remittances, and unequal trade.
• Authored major works: Poverty and Un-British Rule in India Poverty of India
• Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
• Poverty of India
• His advocacy led to the creation of the Welby Commission (1895) on Indian expenditure, where he served as a member.
• Popularised economic nationalism and laid foundations for Swadeshi and fiscal self-reliance.
• Political Contributions:
• Founding member of Indian National Congress (INC) and its President in 1886, 1893, and 1906. Elected first Indian MP in British Parliament (1892) from Central Finsbury on a Liberal Party ticket. Advocated self-government, constitutional methods, and parliamentary democracy. Played a unifying role between Moderates and Extremists, presiding over the 1906 Calcutta Session that adopted the demand for Swaraj. Mentored future leaders including Tilak, Gokhale, and Mahatma Gandhi.
• Founding member of Indian National Congress (INC) and its President in 1886, 1893, and 1906.
• Elected first Indian MP in British Parliament (1892) from Central Finsbury on a Liberal Party ticket.
• Advocated self-government, constitutional methods, and parliamentary democracy.
• Played a unifying role between Moderates and Extremists, presiding over the 1906 Calcutta Session that adopted the demand for Swaraj.
• Mentored future leaders including Tilak, Gokhale, and Mahatma Gandhi.
• Social Reform:
• Champion of women’s education—helped run special classes at Elphinstone and supported girls’ schooling. Founded Rast Goftar, a Gujarati newspaper promoting social reform. Co-founded Rahnumai Mazdayasan Sabha (1851) to reform Parsi society. Led efforts for compulsory primary education, submitting recommendations (with Jyotiba Phule) to the Hunter Commission (1882).
• Champion of women’s education—helped run special classes at Elphinstone and supported girls’ schooling.
• Founded Rast Goftar, a Gujarati newspaper promoting social reform.
• Co-founded Rahnumai Mazdayasan Sabha (1851) to reform Parsi society.
• Led efforts for compulsory primary education, submitting recommendations (with Jyotiba Phule) to the Hunter Commission (1882).
• Organisational Building:
• Founded or co-founded key institutions to internationalise India’s cause: London Indian Society (1865) East India Association (1866) These groups later merged with the INC and served as platforms for India’s political diplomacy.
• Founded or co-founded key institutions to internationalise India’s cause: London Indian Society (1865) East India Association (1866)
• London Indian Society (1865)
• East India Association (1866)
• These groups later merged with the INC and served as platforms for India’s political diplomacy.
Unique Facts:
• Known worldwide as the “Grand Old Man of India.”
• Called the “Unofficial Ambassador of India” for championing India’s cause in Britain.
• Taught Gujarati at University College London, breaking academic barriers.
• Among the first to scientifically analyse poverty in India using data-based methods.
• His 1906 INC presidential address was the first to adopt “Swaraj” as the national goal.