Today, India lost a legend who helped to set up the base of India in different ways. The “Grand Old Man of Indian Nationalism” was born in Parsi family on 4 September 1825 in Bombay, his parents named him as Dadabhai Naoroji. He contributed to India with his professions like an intellectual educator, cotton trader. He named among one of the early political leader and social worker. In his respect, Indian Post has released stamp on 29th December 2017 to mark his 100th death anniversary. Dadabhai Naoroji Awards were also started by then Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg of the United Kingdom in order to improve India-UK relations.
Naoroji completed his education in Elphinstone Institute School and then started working as Dewan (Minister) in the reign of Maharaja of Baroda, Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1874. Later, he became first Indian to hold the prestigious academic post that is Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 1855 at Elphinstone College, Bombay. In the same year, he went to Britain as Partner in Cama & Co and resigned within 3 years. Post this he started his own Cotton Trading named Dadabhai Naoroji & Co in 1859. He also worked as Gujrati language professor at University College London. Later, he contributed for the foundation of The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, East India Association and Indian National Congress. Because of his influential English skills, he was appointed as British Parliament. Remarkably, after all this, he was appointed as Prime Minister of Baroda and was a member of the Legislative Council of Mumbai (1885–88). From 1892-1895, he also played role in British House of Commons. He became first British Indian MP by getting elected at 1892 general election. There he highlighted conditions of Indians under British Rule. Successively, in 1906 he became president of the Indian National Congress.
Naoroji work on drain theory and poverty, helped India to understand that we were losing our wealth under British Rule. He also stated 6 factors that were leading India to poverty. He emerged as a protester of and played a great role in India’s freedom. Great freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi termed him as their mentor.
While praising such a legacy Bal Gangadhar Tilak said: “If we twenty-eight crores of Indians were entitled to send only one member to the British parliament, there is no doubt that we would have elected Dadabhai Naoroji unanimously to grace that post.”
The Grand Old Man left his footprints in the form of such wonderful and admiring works and died on 30th June 1917. To respect him there are many street and building that were named after him. India respect his support as without him the history would have a different story.