Economic Ideas and Thoughts of Dadabhai Naoroji By M M Gupta

This insightful book explores the economic policies introduced during the British rule and the devastating effects these policies had on India’s traditional industries, wealth, and social fabric. Written with clarity and backed by historical evidence, the book highlights how British economic agendas—shaped to strengthen their expanding European empires—crippled India’s flourishing economy.
The volume explains how trade, taxation, and commercial laws implemented in the 17th and 18th centuries systematically benefited the British while pushing India into poverty and decline. From destroying native industries to creating artificial famines, the economic policies of the time reveal the exploitative foundations of colonial rule.
Amidst these challenges, several Indian thinkers closely studied British economic strategies and advocated for reforms. Among them, Dadabhai Naoroji stood out as a pioneering mind whose contributions significantly shaped India’s economic thought. His groundbreaking analysis of the “Drain of Wealth” theory exposed how India’s resources were being extracted and transferred to Britain, awakening national consciousness and influencing India’s freedom struggle.
This book is part of the series “Unsung Architects of the Indian Economy”, dedicated to remembering and introducing great Indian economic thinkers whose ideas enriched the field of Economics and contributed to India’s intellectual heritage. Authored by Prof. M. M. Gupta, who has taught Economics for more than four decades, this work draws from deep academic experience and rigorous research.