Dadabhai Naoroji, despite being a member of the British Parliament, became one of the fiercest critics of British economic policies in India. What ethical values are reflected in his actions and how can such values be applied in public life today?

Answer: 

Approach to the answer: 

Dadabhai Naoroji’s contributions as an economic criticism of British imperialism in India are discussed in the question. Here, we list Dadabhai Naoroji’s economic accomplishments and support our claims with facts and instances. 

Overview: We can start the response by identifying Dadabhai Naoroji. Alternatively, in the introduction, we could emphasize some of his economic contributions.  

• In addition to being a patriot, freedom fighter, and Parsi social reformer, Dadabhai Naoroji was most known for his economic criticism of British imperialism in India. His research (drain of wealth) and conclusions had a significant influence on the development of early Indian nationalism. 

Body: Since the instruction is to “elaborate,” we must go into additional detail to clarify the question’s requirement, which in this case is to enumerate Dadabhai Naoroji’s contributions to economic critique. The arguments need to be supported by evidence.

• Naoroji compiled data and created arguments about India’s extreme poverty that British officials could not ignore. For example, Naoroji showed how loans with exorbitant interest rates, particularly for railway projects, impoverished the Indian exchequer.
• Indian taxpayers footed the bill for British military expeditions, as Naoroji pointed out in British Imperial Glory at Indian Cost. For instance, India’s defense did not require the British expedition to Abyssinia in 1868 or other expensive frontier conflicts fought by the British, who were thirsty for imperial glory.

Conclusion: We can either state the significance of Dadabhai’s contribution to the Indian freedom movement or summarize the points made in the body of the text. 

• The ugliness of British imperialism in India was shown by Naoroji’s research on the drain theory and poverty in India. Other economists (M.G. Ranade, G.V. Joshi, R.C. Dutt, K.T. Telang, G.K. Gokhale, and D.E. Wacha) added to and followed Naoroji’s writings, which in the end brought Indians together against British economic exploitation.

Practice Question:

Question: The early phase of Indian nationalism was economic rather than political. In this context, assess the role of Dadabhai Naoroji and other moderate nationalists in exposing the economic dimensions of colonial exploitation.

Note: To take practice tests on Daily current Affairs MCQs, click the link that is attached.

Mains PYQs 

Question: Evaluate the contributions of Dadabhai Naoroji to the Indian nationalist movement. (UPSC IAS 2016)

MCQs

Note: To take Daily UPSC mains tests on GS Mains Q & A, click the link that is attached.

Question: With reference to Dadabhai Naoroji’s economic critique of British rule in India, consider the following statements:

1. He was the first to estimate the per capita income of Indians using statistical methods.
2. He argued that the British wars of imperial expansion were often funded by Indian taxpayers.
3. He supported the gold standard system for stabilizing the Indian rupee.
4. He believed infrastructure projects like railways increased agricultural productivity in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1, 2, and 3 only
3. 1, 2, and 4 only
4. 2, 3, and 4 only

Answer: A

UPSC General Studies Paper Preparation