UPSC Prelims 2012 Q66: Modern History – Key Personalities & Ideologies
Consider the following statements:
The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he
1. exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British
2. interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians
3. stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Dadabhai Naoroji's most effective contribution
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British | Correct | He put forward the Drain of Wealth theory |
| 2. Interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians | Incorrect | This was the work of Dayanand Saraswati and Vivekananda |
| 3. Stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else | Incorrect | This was the line of social reformers; Naoroji gave first place to the economic and political question |
About Dadabhai Naoroji, the 'Grand Old Man of India':
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book | Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901) |
| Parliament | First Indian elected to the British House of Commons (1892) |
| Congress President | 1886, 1893 and 1906 |
| 1906 Calcutta session | Declared Swaraj as the goal of the Congress |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. He exposed the economic exploitation of India through the drain theory.
- (b) Incorrect. He neither interpreted ancient Indian texts nor put social evils first.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 3 is false; he did not stress social evils before everything else.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 3 describe other leaders, not Dadabhai Naoroji.
Key point
Dadabhai Naoroji: Drain of Wealth theory; Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901); first Indian in the House of Commons (1892); Congress President 1886, 1893, 1906 (Swaraj).
Remember
Naoroji = Drain of Wealth.
Common mistakes
- Crediting him with the revival of ancient texts, which belongs to Dayanand and Vivekananda.
- Confusing early nationalists with social reformers such as Ranade.
- Forgetting that the drain theory became the economic basis of the national movement.
Exam tip
One leader, one headline. Naoroji means the drain of wealth.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 7 (An Economic Critique of Colonialism)
- Dadabhai Naoroji — Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901)