A Indian First

Context:  India is in critical need of remembering Dadabhai Naoroji’s brand of nationalism.

Naoroji’s Brand of Nationalism

• Stressed on an Indian national identity: which overrode religious, caste, class or ethnic differences.
• Preference for inclusive political activities/agendas: over majoritarianism.
• Preference to minority concerns: over political ventures based on cross-communalism.
• All-inclusive/multicultural political venture
•  Naoroji’s cosmopolitanism: i.e deep personal networks across communal divides, paved the way for Indian nationalism.
• Made Congress reflective of India’s diversity: by expanding its membership to Muslims, mentoring East Indian Christian and overcoming an anti-Congress reaction instigated by his fellow Parsis.
• Naoroji declared the concept of Indians first for Congress i.e “above all” Indians despite their differing backgrounds.
• All India representation: at British Parliament and at Congress Lahore session even after belonging to a minority community.
• Multicultural acceptance and honor of Naoroji: i.e by Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Panjabi, and the Madrasi and Sikh.
• Depiction of the Grand Old Man, a Zoroastrian, as a Hindu sadhu meditating under the banner of swaraj.

Limitations of Naoroji’s Brand of Nationalism

• Issue of untouchability faced a glaring omission given his close study of Indian poverty. 
• Endorsed swadeshi but recognized its tactics of mass boycotts and strikes as unconstitutional.

Need of Naoroji’s Nationalism in Contemporary Time

• Chauvinism and anti-intellectualism led leadership run counter to the traditions of Indian nationalism.

• Atmosphere of overt majoritarianism ad communalism even in the face of a calamity like the COVID-19 epidemic.

• Pandemic induced migrant crisis remains outside the National agenda of economic growth and development.

Dadabhai Naoroji: “Whether I am a Hindu, a Muhammadan, a Parsi, a Christian, or of any other creed, I am above all an Indian,”.