The 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji on 4th Sept 2025 , known as ‘The Grand Old Man of India ‘was recently observed .
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917)
Born on September 4, 1825 into a Gujarati Parsi family in Bombay (now Mumbai), Dadabhai Naoroji’s upbringing instilled in him the values of education, service and reform. He attended Elphinstone College, Mumbai and soon became the first Indian to be appointed professor at the institution, teaching mathematics and natural philosophy. His academic successes were complemented by an innate curiosity about social and national issues, which motivated him to dedicate his life to India’s progress
- Dadabhai Naoroji was born in Bombay on 4 September 1825 in a priestly Parsi family.
- He was a pioneering figure in India’s freedom struggle.
- He was the first Indian to be elected to the House of Commons (1892).
Contributions:
Naoroji moved to England in the 1850s, where he joined debates surrounding colonial policy and Indian welfare. His immersion in public life was marked by the founding of the East India Association in London in 1867, created to present Indian concerns to the British public and challenge the injustices of imperial rule. He later helped establish the London Indian Society in 1865 and the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885 foundational organizations that united Indian voices against colonial exploitation
Naoroji was an instrumental figure in the creation of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885, serving as its president three times in the 1886 Calcutta, 1893 Lahore and 1906 Calcutta sessions. During his tenure, he pushed for constitutional reforms, self-rule for India and greater representation and equality in British-administered civil services. Naoroji’s powerful advocacy unified various socio-political groups and lent legitimacy to the nascent independence movement
- He formulated the famous drain-of-wealth theory, which became India’s cornerstone argument against British rule. He argued that British rule impoverished India by transferring wealth to Britain.
- He used statistics on wages, prices, trade and taxation to argue that British policies increased poverty in India , culminating in his seminal work Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901).
- He was the first to give expression to the demand for Swaraj from the platform of Indian National Congress (1906).
- He was an active member of the Bombay Association (1852), the first association in the western India to consider political issues
- In 1851, he founded Rast Goftar (Truth Teller), a Gujarati fortnightly with a Persian name.
- It was a progressive journal educating readers on duties of citizenship.
- In 1867, he founded the East Indian Association which was a political advocacy group for India having both British and Indians on its membership roll.
- It was the first political organization with members from different provinces of India.
- Two young law students viz. W.C. Bonnerji (1844-1906) and Pherozeshah M. Mehta (1845-1915) became his disciples
- Dadabhai Naoroji was appointed as Justice of the Peace in 1883, started a newspaper called ‘Voice of India’.
- He thrice served as the President of Indian National Congress (1886 , 1893 & 1906 ) besides representing India at the International Congress of Social Democrats at Amsterdam in 1905.
Death and Legacy
Dadabhai Naoroji’s legacy received recognition in both India and Britain. India Post issued commemorative stamps in his honor in 1963, 1997 and 2017. The British government instituted the Dadabhai Naoroji Awards in 2014 to honor those furthering India–UK relations. Social reformers and politicians continue to cite his pioneering work as central to the country’s path to democratic self-governance.
Mahatma Gandhi expressed his reverence for Naoroji by referring to him as a father-figure to Indian nationalists, while Bal Gangadhar Tilak praised Naoroji for his unwavering commitment to India’s welfare. Naoroji’s dedication to justice and equality remains a beacon for contemporary leaders navigating the challenges of social change and economic progress.
- He permanently returned to India from Britain in 1908 at the ripe age of 83.
- He passed away in Bombay on June 30, 1917 leaving a weighty bequest of experience and achievements behind.
- Dadabhai Naoroji’s legacy lies in combining intellectual rigor with political activism, laying the foundation for India’s nationalist movement . visit here
Dadabhai Naoroji’s extraordinary life and multi-faceted contributions established the pillars of India’s nationalist thought and provided a profound template for future struggles for freedom and justice. Through relentless advocacy, sweeping analysis and deep compassion, he united Indians across region, class, and religion in the pursuit of dignity and self-determination. His legacy continues to inspire not only policymakers and economists but also every individual who aspires toward national reconstruction rooted in justice, equality and integrity , for more link yourself here
