Who among the following used the term ‘Drain of Wealth’ for the first

Who among the following used the term ‘Drain of Wealth’ for the first time?

Surendranath Banerjee
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Dadabhai Naoroji
Mahatma Gandhi
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to systematically critique the economic impact of British rule and is credited with using and popularizing the term ‘Drain of Wealth’.
– Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’, articulated the theory that Britain was systematically draining India’s wealth and resources without adequate economic return.
– He presented detailed calculations of this drain in his writings and speeches, most notably in his book “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India”.
– His work provided a strong economic rationale for Indian nationalism and exposed the exploitative nature of British colonial policies.
While other early nationalists like Ranade and R.C. Dutt also critiqued the economic policies of the British, Naoroji’s formulation and quantification of the ‘Drain Theory’ were particularly impactful and widely recognized.