Who was the first Indian to be elected as a Member of the British House of Commons?

Introduction / Context:
During the British colonial period, a few Indian leaders attempted to represent Indian interests directly in the British Parliament. Being elected to the House of Commons was a landmark political achievement and symbolised the early stages of constitutional struggle. This question asks about the first Indian who successfully became a Member of the British House of Commons, a fact frequently tested in history and polity sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution mentioned is the British House of Commons.
• The question seeks the first Indian elected to it.
• The options include Jayaprakash Narayan, Dadabhai Naoroji, Ram Manohar Lohia, Sarojini Naidu and C. R. Das.
• We assume standard historical accounts of Indian political representation in Britain.

Concept / Approach:
Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent early nationalist leader and economic critic of British rule, was elected to the British House of Commons in 1892 from the Finsbury Central constituency as a Liberal Party candidate. He is therefore recognised as the first Indian MP in the British Parliament. The other leaders in the options are important Indian politicians and freedom fighters but did not achieve this particular distinction.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Dadabhai Naoroji is often called the "Grand Old Man of India" and is known for the "Drain of Wealth" theory.Step 2: Remember that he contested elections to the British Parliament and won a seat in the House of Commons in the late nineteenth century.Step 3: Check the other options: Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia were leaders in the twentieth century socialist and freedom movements in India, not MPs in Britain.Step 4: Recognise that Sarojini Naidu was a prominent Congress leader and Governor, and C. R. Das a key nationalist lawyer, but neither served as an MP in the British Commons.Step 5: Conclude that Dadabhai Naoroji is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering that Naoroji's election to the British Parliament is often mentioned along with his role as a founding member and three time president of the Indian National Congress. History texts highlight that he used his position in the House of Commons to criticise the economic impact of British policies on India, reinforcing his status as the first Indian to reach that legislative body.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jayaprakash Narayan played a central role in post independence opposition politics and the JP movement but was not a British MP. Ram Manohar Lohia was a socialist leader active mainly in Indian parliamentary politics. Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman to be President of the Indian National Congress and later Governor of Uttar Pradesh, but not a British MP. C. R. Das led the Swaraj Party and advocated council entry within India, again not in Britain. None of them match the specific historical milestone described in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse Dadabhai Naoroji with other early Congress leaders or think of him only in connection with the "Drain of Wealth" theory. Others may be tempted by well known names like Sarojini Naidu or JP Narayan without reflecting on whether they actually served in the British Parliament. A good exam strategy is to remember Naoroji with three key associations: early Congress leader, "Drain of Wealth" and first Indian MP in the British House of Commons.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Dadabhai Naoroji.