Dadabhai Naoroji research

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of History at Harvard University currently based in India doing research for my dissertation on Dadabhai Naoroji, a project that involves going through the approximately 30,000 files that constitute the Dadabhai Naoroji Papers at the National Archives in Delhi. I am also co-editor for a volume of selected letters from the Naoroji Papers, to be published by Oxford University Press next year.

Between beginning October and end December, I will be based in Bombay for additional research (I will also be traveling to Baroda, Navsari, and perhaps Poona at later dates). Aside from conducting this research at archives and libraries, I am curious to know whether readers of Parsiana might, in their personal or family collections, have any material pertinent to Naoroji. Naoroji had an extremely wide correspondence with Parsis in Bombay, Gujarat, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. While the Naoroji Papers in Delhi contain letters written to the "Grand Old Man,” many of Naoroji’s own letters to his correspondents, if they still survive, would be in private collections.

Naoroji passed away in 1917, a time that — with a few exceptions — is beyond the living memory of the contemporary community. However, if a few senior Parsis might have unique stories to share about Naoroji and his family, perhaps those that were told to them as children, I would love to listen to them. I would also be interested in contacting and learning more about any of Naoroji’s descendants. Naoroji was himself a Dordi whose father came from Navsari, and his children and grandchildren married into the Dadina and Captain families. Very little is known about Naoroji’s granddaughters, the so-called "Captain sisters,” who played a very prominent role in Bombay nationalist activities in the 1930s and 1940s. I would be interested in contacting any individuals who might have some information or material to share on them as well, in addition to other prominent descendants such as Jal Naoroji and K. A. D. Naoroji.

Lastly, and more broadly, I would welcome hearing from individuals who might be willing to let me see rare old copies of newspapers, journals, publications, or other similar resources pertinent not only to Naoroji, but also to that of his associates such as Pherozeshah Mehta, Dinshaw Wacha, Behramji Malabari and others, as well as organizations such as the Rahnumae Mazda­yasnan Sabha and the Bombay Presidency Association. Sadly, we have no comprehensive collections of old Parsi publications such as Parsi Punch/Hindi Punch, Sanj Vartaman and many others. These might only survive today in private collections, no matter how incomplete.

If you might have or know about any of the above-listed material, and if you would be willing to share it with a young historian who is very passionate about Parsi history, and keen to share his research with the community, I would welcome hearing from you. You may contact me at dinyar.patel@gmail.com or call me at 08767203572.

DINYAR PATEL

Delhi