Who was called 'Grand Old Man of India'?

The correct answer is Dadabhai Naoroji.

Key Points

• Dadabhai Naoroji is known as the 'Grand Old Man of India' for his significant contributions to the Indian freedom struggle.
• He was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
• Naoroji was the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament, serving as a Liberal Party member from 1892 to 1895.
• He authored the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India', which highlighted the economic exploitation of India by the British.

Additional Information

• Indian National Congress
  • The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Dinshaw Wacha.
  • The Congress played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
• Economic Drain Theory
  • Dadabhai Naoroji is known for propounding the 'Drain Theory', explaining how wealth was being drained from India to Britain.
  • This theory laid the foundation for the economic arguments against British rule.
• Liberal Party
  • The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties in the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Dadabhai Naoroji represented the Finsbury Central constituency as a Liberal Party member in the British Parliament.
• 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'
  • This seminal work by Naoroji analyzed the economic conditions in India under British rule.
  • It argued that British policies were leading to the impoverishment of the Indian population.