Dadabhai Naoroji was born at Bombay on 4 September 1825, in a priestly Parsi family. His father was Naoroji Palanji, and his mother Manekbai, who shaped and moulded Dadabhai’s mind and character from his early childhood. Manekbai became a widow when Dadabhai was barely four years old. Despite her misfortune and in the face of several hardships, she gave of her best to bring up and educate her son. She gave him the best education and thus moulded him into the type of man Dadabhai later grew to be.
Dadabhai has himself stated, “ She made me what I am.” Dadabhai married early when he was only in his eleventh year. His wife, Gulabi, who was barely seven at the time, was the daughter of Shorabji Shroff. He had three children, one son and two daughters.
Dadabhai had his early schooling in a primary institution run by a Mehtaji at Bombay. On its completion, Manekbai, as urged by Mehtaji, sent her son to the Elphinstone Institution, Bombay, for his secondary education. This was followed by a course of studies at the Elphinstone College. Dadabhai’s performance here was outstanding, and in 1840 he obtained the Clare Scholarship. He became a graduate in 1845.
At age 20, he became the first Indian professor (of Mathematics & Philosophy) at Elphinstone Institute.He along with other society members laid the foundation of female education in Bombay, by going door to door urging parents to send their girls to school (at that time girls were not allowed to go to school)
He volunteered to teach free at the first girl's school opened by the Society in a cottage loaned by Jagannath Shankar Sheth, a member of the Board
He was the moving spirit and Founder of the Indian National Congress, which had its first meeting in 1885, at the Gokuldas Tejpal Pathshala, at Gowalia Tank. This was the institution that started the task of gaining Indian independence. 1886 known as the "Grand Old Man of India", was a Parsi intellectual, educator, cotton trader, and an early Indian political leader. His book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India brought attention to the draining of India's wealth into Britain. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British House of Commons between 1892 and 1895, and the first Asian to be a British MP. He is also credited with the founding of the Indian National Congress, along with A.O. Hume and Dinshaw Edulji Wacha.Elected for the Liberal Party in Finsbury Central at the 1892 general election, he was the first British Indian MP
In his political campaign and duties as an MP, he was assisted by Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the future Muslim nationalist and founder of Pakistan. In 1906, Naoroji was again elected president of the Indian National Congress,for the 3rd time
Naoroji was a mentor to both Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Naoroji was the paternal uncle of famous industrialist J. R. D. Tata
Mahatma Gandhi:
On lst September 1888, Gandhi sailed from Bombay with a letter of introduction to Dadabhai. Mahatma Gandhi wrote "...you will, therefore oblige me greatly if you will kindly direct and guide me and make necessary suggestions which shall be received as from a father to his child". Gandhi further wrote: "The story of a life so noble and yet so simple needs no introduction from me or anybody else. May it be an inspiration to the readers even as Dadabhai living was to me". "And so Dadabhai became real DADA to me"
1906
● In 1906, at the age of 80, Dadabhai was invited for a third time to be president of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta, and he helped to patch up a conflict between the moderates and the extremists. In his keynote speech he demanded "Swaraj" or Self-Rule from the British, which delighted the Congress attendees and the Indian public. He said "Be united, persevere, and achieve self-Government, so that the millions now perishing by poverty, famine, and plague may be saved, and India may once more occupy her proud position of yore among the greatest and civilized nations of the world". | |
● He returned to England but had an attack of bronchitis. His two grand-daughters, Mrs. Nargis and Gosi Captain attended to him and he recovered. | |
● In October, he returned to India, where at his house in Versova, Dr. Maneckbhai, his daughter and grand-daughter Dr. Mehrbanoo looked after his health. Foreign dignitaries, such as Sir George Clarke, Lord Harding ● At age 91, Bombay University bestowed the honorary degree of L.L.D. on him as well as on Phirozeshah Mehta. Mr. Dadabhai, in his ripe old age ofninetyr two, lived in complete retirement at Versova^ Only once in his last twelve years did he come to Bombay to receive the tribute of * the University. 1916 It was a case of general debility, but caused a grave concern. Dadabhai was removed from his house in Versova to Palitana House, Cumbala Hills, Mumbai, the residence of Mr Maneck Captain. Here, on June 30, 1917, the greatest of the great Indians of the day passed away peacefully, surrounded by all the members of his family, except his two daughters who were in Kashmir. {The Yoga Institute, a government recognised non-profit body, was established by Shri Yogendraji (earlier known as Manibhai Haribhai Desai) on December 25, 1918 at ‘The Sands’, the residence of Dadabhai Naoroji at Versova. In 1948, the institute was permanently shifted to Santacruz (E), which is the current location of the yoga institute. Hansaji Jaydeva, director of the Yoga Institute at Santacruz} |
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