Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Nauroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he 1. exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British 2. interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians 3. stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Dadabhai Naoroji's most significant contribution was his economic critique of British rule, specifically through his 'Drain of Wealth' theory [2]. In his seminal work, 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India', he meticulously exposed how the British systematically transferred India's resources to England without adequate return, identifying this as the primary cause of India's poverty [4]. While he was a pioneer in national awakening, the interpretation of ancient texts to restore self-confidence (Statement 2) is typically associated with figures like Swami Dayananda Saraswati or Vivekananda. Similarly, while Naoroji supported social progress, the specific ideology that social reform must precede political independence (Statement 3) was a point of contention in the movement, often championed by others like M.G. Ranade in the Social Conference, whereas Naoroji's primary focus remained the economic and political 'drain' [4].

Sources

1. [1] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Rise of Nationalism in India > 1.6 Naoroji and his Drain Theory > p. 12
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 28: Economic Impact of British Rule in India > Economic Drain > p. 548
3. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 2: Major Approaches to the History of Modern India > Major Approaches to the History of Modern India ✫ 15 > p. 15