Q. Consider the following statements:The most effective contribution made by Dadabhaí Naorojì to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he - Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British
- Interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians
- Stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
1 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 only. Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the "Grand Old Man of India," was a pioneer in using economic statistics to challenge British rule.Analysis of the Statements:
- Exposed the economic exploitation (Statement 1 is Correct): This was Naoroji's most significant and "effective" contribution. In his seminal work, Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, he propounded the "Drain of Wealth" theory. He argued that Britain was systematically draining India's resources—through salaries of British officials, interest on loans, and trade—without any equivalent economic or material return to India. This shifted the narrative from moral grievances to a concrete economic critique of colonialism.
- Interpreted ancient Indian texts (Statement 2 is Incorrect): While this was a major theme of the Indian National Movement, it was the hallmark of Socio-Religious Reformers like Swami Dayanand Saraswati (who gave the call "Back to the Vedas") and Swami Vivekananda. Naoroji, a Parsi and a mathematician/businessman by training, focused on modern economic data and political representation.
- Eradication of social evils first (Statement 3 is Incorrect): Naoroji was a moderate who believed that political and economic reforms were the immediate priority to save India from poverty. The "social reform first" ideology was more closely associated with figures like M.G. Ranade (through the Indian Social Conference) and B.R. Ambedkar later on. Early Congress leaders generally avoided taking a hard stance on social issues to prevent division within the nationalist ranks.