Dada Bhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Nooroji, a Parsi educationist, reformist and business man, was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress and was thrice elected to the post of the president of the Indian National Congress. He believed in keeping the nationalist movement on a moderate course during the formative years of the Congress. He had great faith in the British government and believed that the British could bring reforms and modify the rule.

During his stay in England, Dadabhai Naoroji tried to educate the British people about their government’s responsibilities as rulers of India. He delivered several lectures and published many articles, which contained his arguments regarding the unjust and oppressive regime of the British colonial rule.

In 1867 he established the East India Association, which kept the British government aware of the plight of the Indians. He got elected to the British Parliament in 1892 from Finsbury Central becoming the first ever Indian and Asian to do so. He delivered many speeches in the House of Commons highlighting the need for political reforms and justice for India.

He asked the British government to stop the drain of wealth from India, promote modern industries, and check unfavourable balances of trade through the policy of protective tariffs, reduce land revenue, abolish salt tax and reduce military expenditure.

One of the greatest contributions of Dadabhai Naoroji was the Drain Theory which contained facts and figures to illustrate the systematic drain of wealth and resources from India to Britain without any adequate return.

Dadabhai Naoroji wrote several books  and articles, prominent among them being – The Manners and Customs of the Parsees; The European and the Asiatic Races, The Wants and Means of India; and Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.