Dadabhai Naoroji was an influential Indian political leader, teacher, social reformer and early nationalist who played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Today, on his birth anniversary, 4th September, let us know some things through this article.
Dadabhai Naoroji was born on September 4, 1825 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He belonged to a Parsi family and received his early education in Bombay.
Naoroji became Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the Elphinstone College in Bombay.
Naoroji felt the need for reform in the society based on his experiences in the field of education. He started schools to provide opportunities to the youth to discuss various literary, scientific and social topics and to provide education to women and different sections of the society.
political journey
Indian National Congress: Dadabhai Naoroji was an early member of the Indian National Congress (INC), which was founded in the year 1885. He served as the President of the INC in 1886, becoming the first Indian to hold the position. As Congress President, he advocated Indian self-government and civil rights.
Political career in Britain: Naoroji was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) to the British House of Commons in 1892. He represented the Liberal Party and was elected as the MP for Finsbury Central. During his time in Parliament, he continued to raise awareness of the economic exploitation of India under British rule.
Strong advocacy of Indian side against British colonial rule
Economic Drain Theory: Naoroji is known for formulating the “Drain Theory” or “Economic Drain Theory”. He argued that India was being systematically impoverished by the British colonial administration. According to his theory, India’s wealth and resources were being diverted to Britain, causing economic hardship in India.
Poverty and un-British rule in India: He wrote a book titled “Poverty and un-British rule in India” published in 1901. In this book, he presented a detailed analysis of the economic and social consequences of British colonial policies. in India. The book was instrumental in bringing international attention to the issues facing India.
Heritage
Dadabhai Naoroji died on June 30, 1917. Due to the work done by him, he became famous as ‘Unofficial Ambassador of India’. Apart from this, he also became famous by the name of ‘Grand Old Man of India’.
Dadabhai Naoroji is widely considered a key figure in India’s freedom struggle and a pioneer in economic analysis regarding the impact of colonialism. His contributions laid the groundwork for the then future leaders and activists in India’s fight for independence.
Dadabhai Naoroji’s dedication to the welfare of India and his tireless efforts to expose the economic injustice of British colonial rule left a lasting legacy.
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