While staying in England, Dadabhai Naoroji was regarded as an unofficial ambassador of India fighting for the rights and cause of the countrymen.
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917)
- Dadabhai Naoroji is commonly known as ‘Grand Old Man of India’. He was born in a Parsi family. After teaching at Elphinstone College in Mumbai, he went to England.
- He returned to Mumbai in 1869 and was elected to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Town Council. He also started a magazine called Dharma Marg Darshak.
- He started movements against the Vernacular Press Act and the suppression of peasants by the zamindars.
Contributions of Dadabhai Naoroji
- While staying in England, Ddabhai Naoroji was regarded as an unofficial ambassador of India fighting for the rights and cause of the countrymen.
- He brought important matters related to India to the notice of the House of Commons. The House of Commons passed the resolution of holding the Indian Civil Service Examinations in India and England simultaneously largely because of his efforts.
- He took an active part in the foundation of the Indian National Congress. The four resolutions of self-government, boycott, swadeshi and national education were passed by the Congress under his presidentship.
- He did a pioneering work in exposing the root causes of the economic ills of India. He compiled a book titled Poverty and Un-British Rule in India in which he explained how Indian wealth was drained to England.
Beliefs of Dadabhai Naoroji as Early Nationalists
- Dadabhai Naoroji had faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.
- He believed that the British would grant ‘Home Rule’ to Indians.
- Dadabhai naoroji believed that the British rule had positively influenced Indian society by banning sati, female infanticide and by raising the minimum marriageable age of girls and boys.
- He believed in agitating through constitutional and peaceful methods like writing petitions.
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Programmes and Achievements of the Early Nationalists
The Indian National Congress from its inception in 1885 to 1905 was dominated by the early nationalists. These early nationalists were eminent personalities. They were lawyers, barristers, teachers, and officials. Because many of them were educated in England, they believed in the British sense of justice and fair play. Read more