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Today marks the election of the first Indian, Dadabhai Naoroji, to become a Member of Parliament in 1892.
Naoroji was born in South Gujarat in 1825 and was educated in Bombay at Elphonstone College, becoming professor of mathematics and natural philosophy there before turning his mind to politics and a career in commerce. In 1855 he travelled to London to join an Indian cotton trader but left four years later to found his own trading company. Later he became professor of Gujarati at University College, London.
Known as The Grand Old Man of India, Naoroji became Prime Minister of Baroda in 1874 and was one of the founding members of the Indian National Party, becoming President of it. He returned to London and got involved in British politics, eventually becoming the Member of Parliament for Central Finsbury. Being a Parsee he was permitted to take his oath of office with his hand on the Khordeh Avesta. Naoroji wrote extensively, arguing that India was too highly taxed and that its wealth was being drained away to England. He returned to India and was again elected President of the Indian National Party. A moderate, he was mentor both to Gopal Gokhale and Mohandas Gandhi. He died in 1917 aged 91.
Since Naoroji was elected MP, many others of different races and religions have entered Parliament and, as a free democracy, this is right and proper despite the various difficulties some of them have had in the process.
So it is interesting to note that it was only last Monday when the first Aborigine, Ken Wyatt, was elected to Australia's House of Representatives as a Liberal for Hasluck in Western Australia.
Ignoring the racist phone calls and emails he has received since his election, he said, ‘I have come from a life of poverty and through my own individual efforts I stand now within the national arena’.
Best wishes to Mr Wyatt, for he stands in the tradition of many people raising themselves up in life. He and Dadabhai Naoroji are just two of them.
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Today marks the election of the first Indian, Dadabhai Naoroji, to become a Member of Parliament in 1892.
Naoroji was born in South Gujarat in 1825 and was educated in Bombay at Elphonstone College, becoming professor of mathematics and natural philosophy there before turning his mind to politics and a career in commerce. In 1855 he travelled to London to join an Indian cotton trader but left four years later to found his own trading company. Later he became professor of Gujarati at University College, London.
Known as The Grand Old Man of India, Naoroji became Prime Minister of Baroda in 1874 and was one of the founding members of the Indian National Party, becoming President of it. He returned to London and got involved in British politics, eventually becoming the Member of Parliament for Central Finsbury. Being a Parsee he was permitted to take his oath of office with his hand on the Khordeh Avesta. Naoroji wrote extensively, arguing that India was too highly taxed and that its wealth was being drained away to England. He returned to India and was again elected President of the Indian National Party. A moderate, he was mentor both to Gopal Gokhale and Mohandas Gandhi. He died in 1917 aged 91.
Since Naoroji was elected MP, many others of different races and religions have entered Parliament and, as a free democracy, this is right and proper despite the various difficulties some of them have had in the process.
So it is interesting to note that it was only last Monday when the first Aborigine, Ken Wyatt, was elected to Australia's House of Representatives as a Liberal for Hasluck in Western Australia.
Ignoring the racist phone calls and emails he has received since his election, he said, ‘I have come from a life of poverty and through my own individual efforts I stand now within the national arena’.
Best wishes to Mr Wyatt, for he stands in the tradition of many people raising themselves up in life. He and Dadabhai Naoroji are just two of them.
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