INDIA'S "GRAND OLD MAN"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 10

INDIA'S "GRAND OLD MAN"

The death was recently announced of Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji, w'lio was familiarly known as the "G.0.M." of, India. Born in Bombay on September 4, 1825, Dadabhai Naoroji, whose father was a Parsee priest, was educated at Elphinstone College, where lie iiad a distinguished career. He left that institution in ISID, but subsequently returned and became Professor of Mathematics, an appointment which lie held till 1555, when he came to England as a partner in the firm of Cama and Co. Some years afterwards lie started a commercial undertaking ou his own account, but from that business he retired in 1881. Prior to his leaving India in 1855 lie had been instrumental in organising or aiding several important institutions for the furthering of social, educational, and political reform. Ou coming to England, Mr. Naoroji identified himself closely with the work of promoting the canse'of his unlive country. In 187-1 he became Dewan or Prime Minister of Baroda, which was at that time in a chaotic condition. But despite the many difficulties with which he was confronted he was extremely successful in that oltice. lu 1885 Lord Keay niade him a. member of the Bombay Legislative Council, an appointment Which secured the continued representation of the Parsee community in the Legislature, but Mr. Naoroji came back to England in the following year, aud resolved to enter the House of Commons. At the General Election of 188 li he unsuccessfully contested the Holborn Division of Finsbury in the Liberal interest. In iS!)2 lie was elected for Central Finsbury, aud had the distinction 61' being the first Indian member elected to Parliament, continuing to represent the division till t'he Liberal rout of 181)5. That his services to India had been appreciated by his fellow-countrymen was proved by the reception accorded to him there in 18M, when ho was, as he had been in ISBII, President of the National Congress, lie was a member of Die Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure, the first Indian to isifc oil such a body. In 11HKI a full-size portrait of him was unveiled in tho Framji Cowasji Institute ill Tiombny in recognition of his public services. The closing yciirs of Mr. Naoroji's life were spent in his native land: In .September, J914, soon after the outbreak"of tlic European War, he published a loiter on the duty which ho felt devolved upon [julia. "Fighting," he said, "as the British people are at present in a righteous cause to the. good and glory of human dignity and civilisation, and,'moreover, being the beneficent, instrument of our own progress and civilisation, our duty is clear—to do, everyone, our best: to support the British light with our life and property."