Theosophical society played a positive role in the Indian Renaissance of 19th century. It enriched Indian society and culture.
The moving spirit of the society was Dr. Annie Besant, an Irish lady whose activities in India brought freshness and vigor to Indian society and culture. Annie Besant was the admirer of intrinsic values of Indian culture and also provided new dimension to the freedom struggle of India by leading the Home Rule Movement. Nehru, who first saw her in 1901, was overwhelmed by her personality and wrote, “I became a devoted admirer…undoubtedly she was dominating figure of the age.” Gandhi once said, “Though we had political differences my veneration for her did not suffer abatement.”
Life:
Annie Besant was born in Irish Catholic Family in 1847. After completing her education she became a prominent leader of Home Rule Movement of Ireland. In 1867 she got herself married to a catholic teacher Frank Besant. Her revolutionary mind failed to provide pleasure in her conjugal life. She became an atheist and joined the Free Thought Society.
Her critical attitude towards Catholicism created mental conflict with her husband and ultimately she divorced him. She left England and came to India.
The reading of the secret doctrine of Blavatsky virtually converted her to theosophy. Annie Besant became a member of Theosophical Society and dedicated herself to the cause in India. She committed herself to the upliftment of downtrodden masses of India. Besides Annie Besant taught Hindu scriptures, translated the Bhagvat Gita into English and became a pillar of Hindu revivalism. In 1890 she founded “central Hindu school” at Benaras which in the later period became Benaras Hindu University.
“The needs of India,” Mrs. Annie Besant wrote in 1905,” are among others, the development of a national spirit, an education founded on Indian ideals and enriched, not dominated by the thought and culture of the West.” Mrs. Annie Besant also played a leading role the freedom struggle. She was the spirit behind to result deadlock between the moderates and extremists of the congress party in 1915. She founded the Home Rule League in 1916 and after the First World War spread its activities to champion the cause of Swaraj. She also kindled the spirit of nationalism through two journals namely “New India” and “The Common Weal.”
She was also arrested by the British Government for her role in freedom movement. Being a foreigner she had also the proud distinction to preside over the Calcutta session of Indian National Congress. As President she told the delegates “while I was humiliated you crowned me with honour….while I was crushed under the heel of bureaucratic vices such as child marriage, female infanticide, and sale of girl child, caste systems and untouchability. Mrs. Annie Besant died in 1933 after leaving the trail of her glorious activities in India.
Theosophical Society
The name “Theosophy” is an exact translation of the well-know Sanskrit term “Brahmavidya”, for it is made upon two Greek words Theos, God, and Sophia, wisdom.
The word “Theosophy” has been popularized by the Theosophical society, founded by Madame H.P.Blavatsky, Colonel H.S.Olcott,W.Q.Judge and others in 1875 in Newyork of America. The founders and distinguished members of the Society came to India being invited by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
In 1893 Mrs. Annie Besant being influenced by Modern Blavatsky became a member of Theosophical society and in fact acted as its nucleus in India. The prime objective of Theosophical society was to propound an organization of the people on the basis of brotherhood, to study ancient religion, science and philosophy available to any part of the world and to develop divine powers of men. The Theosophist propounded the revival and strengthening of the ancient religions of Zorastrianism, Hinduism and Buddhism. They believed in the transmigration of the soul, theory of Karma, rebirth and liberation. Liberation can be realized through humanism, duty, devotion and service to humanity. They also preached the universal brotherhood of men.
Theosophists believed in equality of man-kind, fraternity among men, comparative scientific and rational study of religion, philosophy and science and building up of a social order free from vices and superstition. Mrs. Annie Besant herself explained the objectives of society in these words, “The Indian work is, first of all, the revival, strengthening and uplifting of ancient religions- Hinduism, Zorastrianism and in Ceylon and Burma, Buddhism. This brought with it a new self-respect, a pride in the past, a belief in the future, and as an inevitable result, a great wave of patriotic life, the beginning of a rebuilding of a nation. “
The Theosophical society immensely contributed to the socio-cultural, socio-political and socio religious life of the nation. It provided scientific basis to all those principles which were so far accepted by the Hindus not the basis of conservatism and superstition.
The Theosophical society had its branches all over the world and through these centers the world recognized the spiritual greatness of India and the value of the Hiddan Treasures of the Eastern religions-Hinduism and Buddhism, Annis Besant had remarked. “After studying different religions of the world for forty years, I have reached the conclusion, I did not find any religion so complete, Scientific, Philosophical and spiritual than Hinduism.
As much as you know it, you will love so much.” The Theosophical Society also contributed to the spread of Home Rule Agitation, the preaching of Swadeshi, the propagation of social reforms like abolition of child marriage, Purdah, illiteracy and drinking, elevation of the downtrodden, introduction of moral and religious instructions in schools and campaigning for female education. “At time when colour prejudice ran high, it deliberately set its face against it and did its best to bring together men from East and West in terms of equality and brotherhood.”