Dadabhai Naoroji is known as the "Grand Old Man of India." He was a prominent Indian nationalist leader, educator, scholar, and one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress. Naoroji was the first Asian to be elected to the British Parliament, serving as a Liberal Party Member of the House of Commons from 1892 to 1895
. He earned this title due to his long and dedicated service to India's independence movement and his intellectual contributions. Naoroji extensively wrote about the economic exploitation of India under British rule, notably through his book "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India," which highlighted the drain of Indian wealth to Britain
. He was also a mentor to key leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale
. Mahatma Gandhi once wrote to him, saying, "The Indians look up to you as children to the father," reflecting the respect he commanded among Indians
. His legacy as a pioneering nationalist and social reformer remains significant in India's history
. In summary, Dadabhai Naoroji is celebrated as the Grand Old Man of India for his foundational role in the Indian independence movement, his political leadership, and his efforts to expose British economic policies detrimental to India
