The House of Lords recently turned into a space of remembrance and reflection as parliamentarians, diplomats and community leaders gathered to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji, a towering figure of Indian nationalism and the first Indian to win a seat in the British Parliament.
Often hailed as the “grand old man of India,” Naoroji’s life defied easy categorisation. A Zoroastrian priest, businessman, academic and pioneering politician, he first arrived in England in 1855 on business, before going on to carve an extraordinary place for himself in British public life. The commemorative reception was hosted by Lord Karan Bilimoria.
The evening opened with a special Zoroastrian prayer, led by Dasturji Ervad Yazad T Bhadha, invoking the name and spirit of Dadabhai Naoroji. The solemn ritual set the tone for an event that blended reverence with reflection.
Taking to the stage next, Lord Bilimoria shared a deeply personal account of Naoroji’s influence on his own journey and the parallels he shares with Naoroji. “In many ways, I have also followed in the footsteps of Dadabhai Naoroji. He was a businessman who initially came to the UK for business. He was also an academic, the first professor at Elphinstone College, and throughout his life, academia played an important role, as it has in mine. And, of course, he was a politician, being the first Indian, the first ethnic minority ever to be elected to this Parliament. I am privileged to follow in his footsteps”, he said.
He also quoted from his maiden speech in the House of Lords, in which he highlighted the community’s achievements in British politics. He said, “I'm so proud of what our tiny community has achieved, not only in India, but also in producing the first three Asian MPs in Britain. The first was Dadabhai Naoroji, a Liberal, in 1892, the second, Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree, a Conservative, and the third, Comrade Shapurji Saklatvala, a Communist and a Labour Party member." He also reflected on the realisation that his appointment to the House of Lords, as a crossbencher, had squared the circle.
Further reflections came from India’s High Commissioner to the UK, H.E. Vikram Doraiswami, Former UK cabinet minister Sir Vince Cable, Lord Navnit Dholakia, Baroness Usha Prashar and Malcolm M Deboo.
An accompanying exhibition traced Naoroji’s remarkable life and career, offering guests a vivid reminder that his ideas, struggles and achievements remain strikingly relevant two centuries on.
Omar Ralph, a UK-based author known for his biography, "Naoroji, the First Asian MP: A Biography of Dadabhai Naoroji, India's Patriot and Britain's MP," put the exhibition together.
At the event, he highlighted the significant role played by Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree, Shapurji Saklatvala and Lord Sinhain the history of India and Britain between 1825 and the Second World War. “One of the reasons why I did this is because it gives a solid commemoration of what was happening at that time. And, obviously, other people can now use the exhibition, if they want to, to draw out these stories. It’s probably a good educational tool as well,” he said.
The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Lord Bilimoria, who reflected on the significance of the occasion and the enduring legacy of Dadabhai Naoroji. Expressing his gratitude to the distinguished guests, speakers and organisers, he paid tribute to the contributions of the Parsi community and the role it has played in building bridges between India and Britain.
The High Commissioner spoke of Naoroji’s enduring legacy and the outsized contributions of the Parsi community to both India and Britain. H.E. Vikram Doraiswami said, “The Parsis hold a range of distinctions, including producing the second High Commissioner of India before independence, Dadiba Merwanji Dalal. He held the post for about two or three years, and he, along with his immediate successor, Sir Atul Chatterjee, went on to put in place the project that is today India House. It was inaugurated during Sir Atul Chatterjee’s tenure by no less than His Majesty the King. This is a piece of history that connects the Parsi community to the official presence of the Government of India in the UK, and it is a small but well-deserved part of our shared history that should be recorded.
“The other thing about the Zoroastrian community is that, in every sense, they are the salt of the earth, and I mean that quite literally. There is only so much salt you can add to anything, and therefore the Parsi community is also, quite literally, a handful wherever they go. But like salt, they add immense value. In fact, nothing is really good enough without salt. Nothing that we do is quite complete without the Parsi community,”
Sir Vince Cable, Former Secretary of State for Business and Trade reflected on Dadabhai Naoroji as a figure of extraordinary depth and range. He recalled Naoroji’s persistence in entering Parliament, pointing out that his narrow defeat in 1885 shocked the political establishment. “The leader of the Conservative Party at the time was a rather unpleasant Victorian imperialist, Lord Salisbury, who made an infamous remark that we had not yet reached the point in England where any constituency would be willing to elect a black man, which caused great outrage and actually helped Naoroji. When he stood again in the 1892 election, he was comfortably elected”, he said.
Sir Vince also stressed that Naoroji was “far more progressive and radical than the Liberal Party of the time,” championing Irish nationalism, women’s suffrage and workers’ rights.
He paid particular attention to Naoroji’s “drain theory,” which argued that British rule imposed a heavy economic cost on India. Naoroji calculated losses of “£200–300 million a year” in contemporary terms; a contribution, Sir Vince said, that strengthened the economic as well as moral case for independence. He concluded by expressing regret that Britain has yet to honour Naoroji adequately, despite his immense legacy.
Lord Navnit Dholakia also addressed the gathering. He said, “One of the most interesting things about Dadabhai Naoroji was the extent to which he brought together two different areas of politics. First, with his knowledge of India, he was able to bring a deep understanding of India into British politics.
“But I want to say something more than that. Among all the speakers here today, I am one of the Gujaratis. The Parsi community first set foot in Gujarat after they left Iran and when they were asked what contribution they would make and whether they would create any problems, the response was very clear: they would mix as clearly and harmoniously as possible, without causing problems or difficulties.”
Referring to the “drain theory” and sharing his concerns about issues of race still being debated, he said, “…please do not forget the contribution of the Indian community in this country, and the contribution of the Parsi community in this country — how they have progressed, how they have contributed, and how they continue to contribute. This itself is a credit to Britain. We should continue to acknowledge and thank them for that contribution.”
Baroness Usha Prashar, in her address, concentrated on the lessons we can draw from Dadabhai Naoroji's life. She said, “In today’s world, more than ever, I think what he stood for needs to be remembered. We need to reflect on the lessons and the inspiration we can draw from his work, his approach, and his life.
“So what lessons do we draw from his work and life that are relevant today? Our times are different, but democracy is under threat. There is a rise in populism. Social media perpetuates misinformation and fake news, and people look for simple solutions to complex problems. Superficial soundbites and echo chambers inhibit nuanced discussion, and our ability to disagree well is in decline.
“Against this backdrop, what his life and work reinforce for me is the significance of analysis and scholarship, the need for well-thought-through strategies, progressive alliances, resolve and steely determination, perseverance, persistence, and above all, taking the long view — underpinned by faith and optimism. I hope this remembrance and exhibition will not only mark his birth anniversary but also give us food for thought about how what he did and what he stood for can influence us going forward.”
Malcolm M Deboo, president of Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) said, “The first thing to recognise, from my point of view, is that Dadabhai Naoroji was the Founder Trustee of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe. It is because of him and our 15 founder members, that today the ZTFE continues to be the oldest faith-based Indian voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom.”
Further discussing Naoroji’s contribution, he said, “It is because of the likes of Dadabhai Naoroji and many others, and indeed the colonial legacy itself, that we are here today. We continue to serve this country in which we live; not only we Parsis, but the Indian community as a whole…But Britain has also given us a great deal, and that is why we remain here, despite its shortcomings and mind you, there are some.
“Of course, I would be failing in my duty if I did not also thank India for granting the Parsi community refuge. If it were not for India, and specifically the Gujarati community, we would not be here today as a living faith community.”
