India celebrated the 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji (born 4 September 1825), one of the founding pillars of Indian nationalism and modern economic thought. Known as the "Grand Old Man of India," Naoroji was a Parsi intellectual, educator, and political leader whose contributions shaped the early Indian National Congress (INC) and the Indian freedom movement.
Naoroji is best remembered for formulating the Drain of Wealth theory, which he articulated in his landmark 1901 work "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India." This theory argued systematically that British colonial policies were systematically draining India's resources, revenue, and wealth to Britain, impoverishing the Indian people. This economic critique became a foundational argument for Indian self-rule and inspired generations of nationalist economists and leaders.
In 1892, Naoroji made history by becoming the first Indian to be elected to the British House of Commons, representing Finsbury Central as a Liberal Party member. His election was a landmark moment demonstrating that Indians could participate at the highest levels of British political life while simultaneously advocating for Indian rights.
As a founding father of the Indian National Congress (established 1885), Naoroji served as its president three times (1886, 1893, 1906). He mentored future leaders including Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and his moderate but firm stance on Swaraj (self-rule) helped set the ideological direction of early Indian nationalism. On his 200th birth anniversary, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, with scholars emphasising the continued relevance of his economic critique in contemporary India.