# Dadabhai Naoroji > Indian politician leader, scholar and writer (1825–1917) **Wikidata**: [Q10240](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10240) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadabhai_Naoroji) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dadabhai-naoroji ## Summary Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917) was an Indian politician, scholar, and writer who played a pivotal role in India's independence movement and economic thought. Known as the "Grand Old Man of India," he was a founding member of the Indian National Congress and the first Indian elected to the British Parliament, where he advocated for Indian self-rule and exposed the economic exploitation of India under British colonialism. ## Biography - **Born**: September 4, 1825 - **Nationality**: British Indian (citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) - **Education**: Elphinstone College (affiliated with the University of Mumbai), University College London - **Known for**: Pioneering the "drain theory" (economic critique of British colonialism), co-founding the Indian National Congress, and serving as the first Indian Member of Parliament in the UK - **Employer(s)**: University of Mumbai (as a professor), Indian National Congress (as a leader) - **Field(s)**: Politics, economics, education, journalism ## Contributions - **Drain Theory (1867–1901)**: Naoroji systematically argued that Britain was impoverishing India through economic exploitation, detailing how wealth was transferred from India to Britain through trade policies, taxation, and administrative costs. His work, including *Poverty and Un-British Rule in India* (1901), became foundational in anti-colonial economic thought. - **Indian National Congress (1885)**: Co-founded the organization on December 28, 1885, serving as its president three times (1886, 1893, 1906). The Congress became the primary platform for India’s independence movement. - **British Parliament (1892–1895)**: Elected as a Liberal Party MP for Finsbury Central, becoming the first Indian to serve in the UK Parliament. He used his position to challenge colonial policies and advocate for Indian representation. - **Journalism**: Founded and edited *Rast Goftar*, a Gujarati-English newspaper that promoted social reform and political awareness in India. - **Academic Work**: Taught at Elphinstone College and University College London, shaping generations of Indian intellectuals and activists. ## FAQs ### What was Dadabhai Naoroji’s "drain theory"? Naoroji’s "drain theory" was an economic critique demonstrating how British colonial rule systematically extracted wealth from India through unfair trade, high taxes, and administrative expenses, leading to widespread poverty. His 1901 book *Poverty and Un-British Rule in India* quantified this exploitation, influencing later independence leaders like Gandhi and Nehru. ### How did Dadabhai Naoroji contribute to Indian politics? He co-founded the Indian National Congress in 1885, providing a unified platform for nationalist demands. As its president three times, he shaped its early moderate phase, emphasizing constitutional reforms and economic justice. His leadership laid the groundwork for later militant phases of the independence movement. ### Why was Naoroji’s election to the British Parliament significant? In 1892, Naoroji became the first Indian MP in the UK Parliament, representing Finsbury Central. His tenure was groundbreaking as he directly challenged colonial policies, demanded Indian representation, and exposed Britain’s economic exploitation of India on an international stage. ### What role did Naoroji play in education? He was a professor at Elphinstone College (Mumbai) and later at University College London, where he taught mathematics, economics, and Gujarati. His academic work nurtured future leaders and intellectuals, bridging Indian and Western thought. ### What was *Rast Goftar*? *Rast Goftar* ("The Truth Teller") was a bilingual newspaper Naoroji founded to advocate for social reforms, political rights, and economic justice in India. It became a key medium for spreading nationalist and progressive ideas in 19th-century India. ## Why They Matter Dadabhai Naoroji was a bridge between India’s intellectual and political awakening. His "drain theory" provided the economic justification for anti-colonialism, directly influencing Gandhi’s *Hind Swaraj* and Nehru’s socialist policies. As the first Indian in Parliament, he shattered racial barriers, proving Indians could engage with British institutions on equal terms. The Indian National Congress, which he helped establish, became the backbone of the independence movement. Without his early leadership, the struggle for self-rule might have lacked its initial coherence and global credibility. ## Notable For - First Indian elected to the British Parliament (1892–1895). - Co-founder and three-time president of the Indian National Congress. - Author of *Poverty and Un-British Rule in India* (1901), which formalized the "drain theory." - Nicknamed the "Grand Old Man of India" for his lifelong dedication to the nation’s cause. - Professor at Elphinstone College and University College London. - Founder of *Rast Goftar*, a pioneering nationalist newspaper. ## Body ### Early Life and Education Dadabhai Naoroji was born on September 4, 1825, in Navsari, Gujarat, into a Parsi family. He received his early education at Elphinstone College in Bombay (now Mumbai), where he later became a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. In 1855, he moved to London to pursue further studies at University College London, becoming one of the first Indians to receive a Western education. His time in Britain exposed him to liberal political thought and economic theories, which he later adapted to critique colonialism. ### Economic Thought and the Drain Theory Naoroji’s most enduring contribution was his "drain theory," which he developed over decades. He argued that Britain’s colonial policies—such as high land taxes, restrictive trade tariffs, and the siphoning of Indian revenues to fund British administration—systematically impoverished India. His 1901 book *Poverty and Un-British Rule in India* presented empirical evidence, showing how India’s wealth was transferred to Britain, leaving its people in poverty. This theory became a cornerstone of Indian nationalist economics and was later cited by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. ### Political Career and the Indian National Congress In 1885, Naoroji co-founded the Indian National Congress (INC) alongside figures like Allan Octavian Hume. The INC’s initial goal was to demand greater Indian representation in governance through constitutional means. Naoroji served as its president in 1886, 1893, and 1906, steering the organization toward economic and political reforms. His leadership helped transition the INC from a elite-led body to a mass movement. ### Historic Election to the British Parliament In 1892, Naoroji made history by winning a seat in the British House of Commons as a Liberal Party MP for Finsbury Central. His election was a landmark for colonial subjects, proving Indians could participate in British politics. During his tenure (1892–1895), he relentlessly advocated for Indian self-rule, criticized the economic exploitation of India, and demanded civil service reforms to include Indians. Though his time in Parliament was short, it set a precedent for future Indian leaders. ### Journalism and Public Advocacy Naoroji founded *Rast Goftar*, a Gujarati-English newspaper, to disseminate nationalist and reformist ideas. The paper covered issues like women’s education, caste reform, and economic justice, becoming a vital tool for mobilizing public opinion. His writings in *Rast Goftar* and other publications helped shape early Indian nationalism. ### Later Life and Legacy After retiring from active politics, Naoroji continued to mentor younger leaders, including Mohandas Gandhi, who later acknowledged his influence. He passed away on June 30, 1917, in Bombay. His ideas on economic nationalism and political representation remained central to India’s independence movement, and his legacy is honored as a founding figure of modern India. ### Affiliations and Recognition Naoroji was affiliated with Elphinstone College and University College London, where he taught and studied. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress and the British Liberal Party. His signature and portraits are preserved in archives, and he is widely referenced in academic works on colonial economics and Indian nationalism. The title "Grand Old Man of India" reflects his revered status in the country’s history. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 3. Who's Who 4. BnF authorities 5. Hansard 1803–2005 6. International Standard Name Identifier 7. Virtual International Authority File 8. CiNii Research 9. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q452136) 10. SNAC 11. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 13. BBC Things