2003 - Dadabhai Naoroji | Commemorative Coin

The last commemorative coin of 2003 was released in remembrance of Dadabhai Naoroji.

Dadabhai Naoroji (4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917), revered as the Grand Old Man of India, was a distinguished Parsi intellectual, educator, and cotton trader who played a pivotal role as an early political and social leader in India. His legacy extends to the international stage, as he became a member of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom House of Commons, serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1892 to 1895. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first Indian to occupy a seat in the British Parliament, predating the disenfranchisement of the Anglo-Indian MP David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, who was removed due to corruption.

Beyond his parliamentary contributions, Naoroji is recognized as one of the key figures in the establishment of the Indian National Congress, a significant political entity that played a crucial role in India's fight for independence. Alongside A.O. Hume and Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, he laid the foundation for a platform that would later become instrumental in shaping India's destiny.

Dadabhai Naoroji's impactful book, "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India," remains a seminal work that drew attention to the economic exploitation and the drain of India's wealth to Britain. His insights into the economic ramifications of British rule paved the way for a more comprehensive understanding of India's socio-economic challenges during that period.

In addition to his national and political pursuits, Dadabhai Naoroji was a member of the Second International, aligning himself with prominent figures like Kautsky and Plekhanov in the global arena. His multifaceted contributions as an intellectual, political leader, and international collaborator mark him as a key architect of India's socio-political evolution during a critical juncture in history.