Dadabhai Naoroji also known as the "Grand Old Man of India" and "official Ambassador of India" was an Indian Parsi scholar, trader and politician.
- He was a founding member and thrice president of the Indian National Congress (in 1886, 1893, and 1906).
Key Contributions of Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917)
- Social Reform
- Promoted Women’s Education: Founded Literary and Scientific Society (1848) which established 6 schools for girls by 1849.
- Spread reformist ideas: Founded Rast Goftar newspaper, Co-founded Rahnumai Mazdayasan Sabha (1851) to reform Parsi society.
- Economic Contributions
- Drain of Wealth Theory: Highlighted how British policies drained India’s wealth through taxation, salaries, pensions, and remittances.
- Major Literary works: Poverty of India (1876), Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901)
- Exposed colonial exploitation at forums like East India Association.
- Political Contributions
- Moderate leader: Advocated constitutional and peaceful methods like petitions, prayers, and protests.
- Founded the London Indian Society in 1865 and the East India Association in 1866,
- First Indian MP in British Parliament: Elected for the Liberal Party in Finsbury Central at the 1892 general election.
- Declared Swaraj (self-government): As concrete political goal of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1906.
- Mentorship: Naoroji played a crucial role in mentoring future INC leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Moderate leader: Advocated constitutional and peaceful methods like petitions, prayers, and protests.
