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Darian Mitchell, Cllr Marisha Ray (back), Chaya Ray, Gill Stampe, Bridget Fox and Delia Mitchell at the unveiling of the plaque tribute to Dadabhai Naoroji |
‘Remarkable man’: Plaque tribute to first Asian MP
A BLUE plaque has been unveiled in honour of Britain’s first Asian MP outside the school where the “gifted” politician taught.
Dadabhai Naoroji was born in Bombay in 1825 to a poor Parsi Priest and began his working life as a teacher before becoming the first-ever Indian professor in 1854.
After various teaching posts, including professor of Gujarati at University College London, Mr Naoroji was elected to the Commons in 1892 where he represented Finsbury Central for three years.
He was primarily concerned with Indian financial affairs.
The plaque, unveiled last Friday, was provided by members of the Amwell Society, who were all present at the unveiling outside Clerkenwell Parochial School, in Naoroji Street.
Amwell Society committee member Susan Freisner came up with the idea.
She said: “I know there’s a plaque on the Town Hall but nobody ever sees it so I just thought it would be a sensible idea to alert people to the street’s namesake by putting the plaque here.”
She added: “He was just such a remarkable and extraordinarily gifted man, both in and outside of Parliament. He was also a great symbol of multiculturalism, which is of particular significance to our community.”
Chairman of the Amwell Society Gerry Sproston said he was “delighted and honoured” to be there to inaugurate the plaque.
MP for Islington South and Finsbury, Emily Thornberry, said: “On a day like this I think it is important to celebrate Islington’s multiculturalism. One of the really remarkable things about Islington is that it is such a mixed community in terms of race, religion, sexuality etc and that we all tolerate each other and get on so well. MPs like Naoroji paved the way for equality within politics.”
Also present at the unveiling was PPC for Islington South and Finsbury, Bridget Fox and councillor Marisha Ray.
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