Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) was a fascinating man. He was a member of a Zoroastrian merchant family, and he first made his name as an advocate of reform of Zoroastrianism. From here, he ingratiated himself with the growing liberal intelligentsia, and he became the Diwan, or chief minister, of the reformist princely state of Baroda in 1874. From here, he joined one of the many Indian nationalist associations that were being formed, and later joined the Indian National Congress upon its foundation. He formulated drain theory, which argued that British rule was draining wealth from India and aggravating Indian poverty, which he pushed in books such as Poverty and Un-British Rule. In London, he fought against attempts by ethnologists to prove the racial inferiority of Indians and generally pushed Indian interests. Later, after a failed attempt to run in Holborn in 1886 (in which he faced much negative attention for his race including from Lord Salisbury), he ran in Finsbury Central in 1892, winning by a very small margin. In Parliament, he served as the informal representative of India and he attempted to push reforms of India's administration and he also pushed Irish home rule. However, he failed to convince Parliament to effect administrative reforms, and in 1895, he was defeated. He was radicalized by his experiences - formerly he believed that, if only the British people were made aware of Indian rule was contrary to their ideals of liberty it could be reformed, but after his experiences as an MP, he regarded British rule as "evil", deriding the British Empire for "enslaving" the Indian people, and desired India to be made a dominion. He subsequently began meeting people at the edges of British political society such as socialists and feminists, and he later died in 1917, seeing the Indian nationalist movement pushed in a more radical direction.
Naoroji deeply sympathized with Ireland, before and after becoming an MP. He regarded British rule in Ireland to have many of the very same flaws as that in India, particularly in regards to famine and poverty caused by illiberal governance. He thought that Irish Home Rule was an inevitability, and was astonished when the First Home Rule Bill failed. He also thought that reform of Irish administration could enable reforms of Indian administration. From his long period in London, he networked with Irish nationalist such as Parnell and Davitt, and in 1883 he even got a suggestion from Davitt to run in an Irish seat. In 1886 he also got some such suggestions, but after the defeat of Home Rule he decided to go run in Holborn, where he thought the considerable Irish vote would help him. Later, in between 1886 and 1892, he made himself involved in the Irish nationalist cause, deriding its illiberal governance. In 1888 Davitt made another such offer and appealed, and there was much talk of him running in Sligo. However, many were horrified that doing so would associate Indian nationalism with Irish agitators, and ultimately no offer came through. Later, in 1896 Naoroji requested assistance for an Irish seat, but the Irish nationalists were too divided to respond.
So, what if Naoroji was nominated as an Irish Nationalist MP, and elected as such? Of course, there are many obstacles to this, such as his Zoroastrian faith, or another Irish nationalist putting his hat in the ring, or Indian nationalists dissuading him from that course. Assuming none of that occurs, though, he could definitely be elected as such. Now, I imagine links between Indian and Irish nationalists, which existed IOTL - during WWI, the main movement for Indian nationalism was the Indian Home Rule League, and it was headed by Annie Besant, who was also a vehement Irish nationalist (as well as a socialist agitator, and a feminist), and beyond that many Indians did look to Irish nationalist success as a driver for Indian reform - would be much strengthened by this sort of thing, which would have various effects later on. These strengthened links may make Indian nationalism more violent, as the failure of peaceful Irish reform radicalizes many Indians. I imagine it may also make the British Empire anti-Congress early on, with this being "proof" of links between Indian nationalists and Fenians. In general, this would really change a lot about Indian nationalism, I imagine.
Naoroji deeply sympathized with Ireland, before and after becoming an MP. He regarded British rule in Ireland to have many of the very same flaws as that in India, particularly in regards to famine and poverty caused by illiberal governance. He thought that Irish Home Rule was an inevitability, and was astonished when the First Home Rule Bill failed. He also thought that reform of Irish administration could enable reforms of Indian administration. From his long period in London, he networked with Irish nationalist such as Parnell and Davitt, and in 1883 he even got a suggestion from Davitt to run in an Irish seat. In 1886 he also got some such suggestions, but after the defeat of Home Rule he decided to go run in Holborn, where he thought the considerable Irish vote would help him. Later, in between 1886 and 1892, he made himself involved in the Irish nationalist cause, deriding its illiberal governance. In 1888 Davitt made another such offer and appealed, and there was much talk of him running in Sligo. However, many were horrified that doing so would associate Indian nationalism with Irish agitators, and ultimately no offer came through. Later, in 1896 Naoroji requested assistance for an Irish seat, but the Irish nationalists were too divided to respond.
So, what if Naoroji was nominated as an Irish Nationalist MP, and elected as such? Of course, there are many obstacles to this, such as his Zoroastrian faith, or another Irish nationalist putting his hat in the ring, or Indian nationalists dissuading him from that course. Assuming none of that occurs, though, he could definitely be elected as such. Now, I imagine links between Indian and Irish nationalists, which existed IOTL - during WWI, the main movement for Indian nationalism was the Indian Home Rule League, and it was headed by Annie Besant, who was also a vehement Irish nationalist (as well as a socialist agitator, and a feminist), and beyond that many Indians did look to Irish nationalist success as a driver for Indian reform - would be much strengthened by this sort of thing, which would have various effects later on. These strengthened links may make Indian nationalism more violent, as the failure of peaceful Irish reform radicalizes many Indians. I imagine it may also make the British Empire anti-Congress early on, with this being "proof" of links between Indian nationalists and Fenians. In general, this would really change a lot about Indian nationalism, I imagine.
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