Dadabhai Naoroji was a pioneer in many domains as the first Asian to be elected to the British Parliament. He was a scholar and educator who was the first Indian to be appointed as a professor at Bombay’s Elphinstone Institute, where he taught mathematics and natural philosophy. He had a strong passion for mathematics, but he also had a variety of other interests. He was born into a poor Parsi family and struggled greatly as a child, as his widowed mother reared him on her own. He moved to London as a young man to become a partner in Cama & Co, the first Indian company to open in the United Kingdom. However, he became dissatisfied with the company’s unethical methods and resigned. Later in life, he founded his own cotton trading enterprise and became heavily involved in politics. He believed the British were exploiting India, therefore he established the Gyan Prasarak Mandali to educate the adult male population. He contributed to the foundation of the Indian National Congress by writing articles and giving lectures about India’s misery.
Childhood and Adolescence
In 1825, he was born into an impoverished Parsi family in Bombay. When Dadabhai’s father died when he was only four years old, the family went through a tough period.
Maneckbai, his mother, reared her entire family on her own and did so admirably. She was illiterate herself, but she wanted to provide her kid with a good education. She had a significant influence on Dadabhai’s development as a person.
His marriage to Gulbaai was planned when he was 11 years old, as was the usual in India at the time.
He earned his primary education at the Native Education Society School before enrolling at the Elphinstone Institute to study international literature.
When he was 15 years old, he was chosen for Clare’s scholarship and was already regarded a scholar.
A Career of Dadabhai Naoroji
He joined the Elphinstone Institute as an Assistant Professor when he was only 25 years old.
On August 1, 1851, he created the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha in an attempt to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its former splendor.
He was born into an Athornan (priestly household). In Bombay, this society still exists (now Mumbai).
In 1853, he established the ‘Rast Goftar,’ which means ‘truth teller,’ as a fortnightly journal to explain Zoroastrian beliefs to the average man.
In 1855, he was assigned to the Elphinstone Institute as a professor of Mathematics and Philosophy, making him the first Indian professor at the college, which had previously solely had English professors. He was also a member of the Student Literary and Scientific Society’s Treasurer.
In June 1855, he moved to London to become a partner in Cama & Co., the first Indian company to open in the United Kingdom. Despite his hard effort, he became disillusioned with the company’s immoral methods and resigned.
He founded his own cotton trading company, Naoroji & Co., in 1859.
He actively began working for the upliftment of Indians in the 1860s. He was a vociferous opponent of the British colonial rule in India.
He presented the British with the “Drain Theory,” in which he explained how the British had methodically depleted India’s riches and resources while rendering the country poorer.
In 1867, he became interested in politics and helped to found the East India Association. This organization would have been one of the forerunners of the Indian National Congress.
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda was his patron, and he began his official career as the Maharaja’s Dewan (Minister) in 1874. From 1885 to 1888, he was also a member of Mumbai’s Legislative Council.
In 1886, he was chosen president of the Indian National Congress.
He migrated to London in the late 1880s and was elected as the first British Indian Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party in Finsbury Central in the 1892 general election.
He spent the rest of his life writing essays and giving speeches about the British exploitation of India, laying the groundwork for the Indian Nationalist Movement.
Major Projects of Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji, often known as the Grand Old Man of India, was a philosopher, educator, and politician who strove to promote the Zoroastrian religion and Indian culture. By giving lectures and writing articles about the British exploitation of India, he became a driving force behind India’s independence movement.
Personal History and Legacy
His mother planned his marriage to Gulbaai, a seven-year-old girl, when he was eleven years old. After that, the couple had three children: one son and two daughters.
This freedom warrior, social reformer, and educator lived for nine decades and accomplished a lot. At the age of 91, he died in 1917.
In his honor, the Dadabhai Naoroji Road was built.
He joined the Elphinstone Institute as an Assistant Professor when he was only 25 years old.
On August 1, 1851, he created the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha in an attempt to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its former splendor.
He was born into an Athornan (priestly household). In Bombay, this society still exists (now Mumbai).
In 1853, he established the ‘Rast Goftar,’ which means ‘truth teller,’ as a fortnightly journal to explain Zoroastrian beliefs to the average man.
In 1855, he was assigned to the Elphinstone Institute as a professor of Mathematics and Philosophy, making him the first Indian professor at the college, which had previously solely had English professors. He was also a member of the Student Literary and Scientific Society’s Treasurer.
In June 1855, he moved to London to become a partner in Cama & Co., the first Indian company to open in the United Kingdom. Despite his hard effort, he became disillusioned with the company’s immoral methods and resigned.
He founded his own cotton trading company, Naoroji & Co., in 1859.
He actively began working for the upliftment of Indians in the 1860s. He was a vociferous opponent of the British colonial rule in India.
He presented the British with the “Drain Theory,” in which he explained how the British had methodically depleted India’s riches and resources while rendering the country poorer.
In 1867, he became interested in politics and helped to found the East India Association. This organization would have been one of the forerunners of the Indian National Congress.
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda was his patron, and he began his official career as the Maharaja’s Dewan (Minister) in 1874. From 1885 to 1888, he was also a member of Mumbai’s Legislative Council.
In 1886, he was chosen president of the Indian National Congress.
He migrated to London in the late 1880s and was elected as the first British Indian Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party in Finsbury Central in the 1892 general election.
He spent the rest of his life writing essays and giving speeches about the British exploitation of India, laying the groundwork for the Indian Nationalist Movement.
Personal History and Legacy
His mother planned his marriage to Gulbaai, a seven-year-old girl, when he was eleven years old. After that, the couple had three children: one son and two daughters.
This freedom warrior, social reformer, and educator lived for nine decades and accomplished a lot. At the age of 91, he died in 1917.
In his honor, the Dadabhai Naoroji Road was built.
Estimated Net Worth
Estimated Net Worth of Dadabhai Naoroji is unknown.