What do you see in the picture, is it an old picture or taken recently? How do you know? What do you think this person's job is / was? This is Dadabhai Naoroji who was elected as an MP in Finsbury, North London, in 1892. This made him the first Indian MP in Britain. A blue plaque has been erected outside his home in Bromley to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.
Dadabhai first stood for election in 1886 and was endorsed by Florence Nightingale but was unsuccesful. In 1892 he stood again and faced racist propaganda and discrimination. The prime minister of the time, Lord Salisbury, said the time had not come when a "British constituency would elect a black man". Some people also called him a fire-worshipper. Despite this, Dadabhai was elected.
When he took his oath in Parliament, Dadabhai did not use a bible, instead he used his Zoroastrian holy book.
When he was elected, The Guardian newspaper said, "It is an honour to England". During his term as MP, Dadabhai campaigned for Indian independence and also the right of women to sit in Parliament and for Irish home rule.
The blue plaque is part of English Heritage attempts to celebrate more individuals of ethnic minority backgrounds. An analysis last year found 96% of blue plaques were awarded to white individuals.
- what is a blue plaque for? Has anyone seen any other blue plaques?
- why do we remember people that died a long time ago; does it matter?
- What does independence mean? What was Indian independence, why was it important?
- How do you think Dadabhai felt the first time he stood as an MP. How do you think he felt when Florence Nightingale endorsed him? What image do we have of Florence Nightingale and what does this story show us about her? (interested / involved in politics, supported race equality)
- why do you think the prime minister said Dadabhai would never be elected?
- why were some people calling him a fire-worshipper, how would this have made Dadabhai feel, why didn't he give up?
- He was elected anyway; what does this show us about people in Finsbury in 1892?
- "It is an honour to England" - why?
- MPs would usually use a bible to take their oath - what does that mean? Should Dadabhai have used a bible to fit in? Would using a bible have shown respect?
- why do you think 96% of blue plaques are for white people? Does this matter?
- what can we do at our school to make sure we recognise more people of ethnic minority from history?
- why is this about No Outsiders?
- which British value is this about?
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