Who founded the East India Association in London?

The correct answer is London.

Key Points

• Dadabhai Naoroji founded The East India Association in 1866.
• He founded it with Indian members and retired British officials in London.
• It was supplanted by the London Indian Society.
• The objective behind the association was:
  • to provide a platform for discussing matters and ideas about India,
  • and to provide representation for Indians to the Government.
• Dadabhai Naoroji delivered the first lecture at the Association on 2 May 1867.
• The first President of the East India Association was Lord Lyveden.
• The East India Association incorporated the National Indian Association in 1949 and became the Britain, India, and Pakistan Association.
• In 1966 it amalgamated with the former India Society, now Royal India, Pakistan, and Ceylon Society, to become the Royal Society for India, Pakistan, and Ceylon.

Additional Information

• Ananda Mohan Bose was a prominent Bengali nationalist and one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, but he was not involved in the East India Association.
  • ​In 1872, Anand Mohan Bose formed an Indian Society in London to foster the spirit of nationalism among the Indian residents in Britain.
• AO Hume was a British civil servant who played a crucial role in forming the Indian National Congress, but he was not associated with the East India Association.
• Justice Ranade was a prominent social reformer and nationalist from Maharashtra, but he did not have any connection with the East India Association.

Important Points

• The London Indian Society
  • ​In 1865, the London Indian Society was founded under the guidance of Dadabhai Naoroji.
  • It was formed by Indian students as a forum to air political grievances.
  • Europeans were allowed to be honorary members but could not vote or hold office.
  • Of the founding group of students, they included W. C. Bonnerjee, Manomohun Ghose, Pherozeshah Mehta and Badruddin Tyabji.
  • In 1866, the London Indian Society was superseded by the East India Association, although it did continue to exist in some separate form for a few more years.