Life
Born in London on 1st October 1847.
She was a British socialist, theosophist, women’s rights activist, writer,
orator, educationist, philanthropist and leader of Indian Freedom Struggle.
Annie
First came to India on 16th November 1893. Besant
She was conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters in 1921 for her
services to Indian education.
Died on 20th September 1933 in Adyar, Madras, present day Tamil Nadu.
Works in England
Joined the National Secular Society in 1874 and worked in the free thought and radical movements led by
Charles Bradlaugh.
Co-edited the journal – National Reformer wrote many political and free-thought books and pamphlets
from 1874-88.
Became the first woman to publicly endorse the use of birth control, arguing for its potential to alleviate
poverty. She published Law of Population in 1878.
Led socialists of the Fabian Society and authored, “Why I am a Socialist and Modern Socialism”.
Fabian Socialism: It emerged from the activities of the Fabian Society, 1884 with an aim of advocating
the establishment of democratic socialism by gradual reforms within the law.
Active member in establishment of Matchmakers’ Union, the first union to exclusively represent women
workers.
Works in India
Worked for the upliftment of women and pleaded for a radical change in social conditions, but never
desired any modification of the Indian woman’s temperament which she held to be one of the most
spiritual in the world.
Adopted Indian dress, attempted to follow Indian social customs and published her own translation of the
Bhagavad Gita from the original Sanskrit.
Founded the Central Hindu School and College in Benares (now Varanasi) in 1898 and started the Central
Hindu School for Girls.
In October 1913, at a public meeting in Madras, she recommended a Standing Committee of the House of
Commons for Indian affairs which would discuss on how India might attain freedom.
In January 1914, founded a weekly newspaper ‘Commonweal’ and in June 1914 she purchased the
‘Madras Standard’ and renamed it ‘New India’.
Elected as the first woman President of the Indian National Congress at the Calcutta Session of 1917.
Between 1922 and 1924, drafted the Commonwealth of India Bill which was presented
in British Parliament by Mr. George Lansbury in December 1925.
Theosophical Society
It was officially formed in New York City, United States, on 17th November
1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, William
Quan Judge and 16 others. Annie
It emphasized human service, a spiritual evolutionism drawn from both
Eastern and Western esoteric philosophy and the role of suprahuman Besant
masters of wisdom.
Annie Besant joined the Theosophical Society in May 1889 and remained
the President of the Society from 1907 until her death.
She represented the Theosophical Society at the World Parliament of
Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Young Men’s Indian Association
It was founded by Annie Besant and was formally opened on 15th March 1914.
Its objectives were as follows:
To inculcate patriotism and nationalism among the youth of India.
Provide intellectual, moral and physical training for them.
To inculcate, foster and promote the idea of India.
Society for the Promotion of National Education
It was established in 1916 by Theosophical Educational Trust under leadership of Annie Besant.
Its objective was to support the development of schools based on Indian languages, religions and
customs.
In 1924, it was closed and merged into the Theosophical Educational Trust.
Women’s Indian Association
Founded on 7th May 1917, by women’s rights activists such as Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dr.
Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sister Subbalakshmi and Sarojini Naidu.
It published a monthly journal in English named ‘Stri-Dharma’.
Held the first All India Women’s Conference in Poona in 1927.
It resulted in formation of the All-India Women’s Conference at Poona (now Pune) in 1927 and the All-
Asian Women’s Conference at Lahore in 1931.
It was the first women’s association in India to present a memorandum to the Round Table Conference on
Women’s franchise, her Constitutional rights and the initiator of the first All Asian Women’s Conference.
Order of the Brothers of Service
Order of the Brothers of Service was a predecessor of the Theosophical Order of Service and was
considered to be a subsidiary activity of the Theosophical Society.
It was founded on 7th April 1917.
Early members included Annie Besant, Fritz Kunz, Eleanor Broenniman, Curuppumullage
Jinarājadāsa, Dorothy Jinarājadāsa, Dr. Rocke and B. P. Wadia.
It was established for work of every kind in the cause of humanity in every part of the
world. Its motto is renunciation, obedience and service.
Home Rule League Movement
It was on the lines of Irish Home Rule Movement and other home rule
movements.
It aimed to achieve self-government in India. The movement lasted
Annie
around two years between 1916–1918. Besant
Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the first home rule league at the Bombay
provincial congress at Belgaum in April, 1916.
Annie Besant founded the second league at Adyar, Madras in September,
1916.
Tilak’s league worked in areas like Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces and
Berar and Annie Besant’s league worked in the rest of India.
As a result of the campaign and the pressure of public opinion in India, the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms
were enacted by the British Parliament.
In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as the President of the All India Home Rule League.
In 1921, All India Home Rule League was changed to Swarajya Sabha.
Indian Boy Scout Movement
In 1918, Annie Besant organized the Indian Boy Scout Movement with the aid of Mr. Pearce and Shri M.
V. Venkateshwaran.
She was given the Silver Wolf Award by Lord Baden-Powell on 29th September 1932. It is the highest
honor offered by the Scout Movement.
