4 Sept 2025 : From Anil Nauriya : Article on Dadabhai Naoroji

[Anil Nauriya]

Dear friends

Today, 4 September 2025,  it is 200 years since the birth of Dadabhai Naoroji.(1825-1917)

I hope the day would be observed throughout India  with readings from his writings. Not only is his role in the emergence of India's national movement pivotal, but  he was also the progenitor of Poverty Studies in India and spoke on behalf of the poorest labourers of India.. 

Dadabhai had an immense influence over our freedom struggle. Gandhiji referred to him as Hindna Dada or Hind ka Dada as he was hailed in 1893.. 

His concept of  a plurally constituted India  with its people nurturing fellow-feeling towards one another, as he put it in his Presidential address at Lahore in 1893, has an obvious relevance in these times.

Naoroji is important also in the history of Indian Socialism. He attended the International Socialist Conference held in Amsterdam in August 1904 where he was given a standing ovation and where he made a memorable speech.. It was the first time that a leading representative of India's primary national movement was represented at such a conference.

Please find attached a recent article by me on the Grand Old Man.

It is published in the Summer 2025 issue of the IIC Quarterly.

I am sorry for any cross posting.

With best wishes

Anil Nauriya