Annie Besant is a name featured prominently in Indian history text books and rightly so.
Advertisement
In 1907 she became president of the Theosophical Society, whose global headquarters were in Adyar, Madras, (Chennai).
A prominent British socialist, Besant who was also a theosophist and orator, supported Irish and Indian self-rule. In a “New India” article in 1918, Besant proclaimed her love for India.
In 1917, Besant established the Indian Boy Scouts’ Association and also started the Women’s Indian Association. She first came to India in 1888 and stayed in the country till her death on September 20, 1933.
After her husband, clergyman Frank Besant, left her for her vocal critiques of Christianity, she began the National Reformer, a newspaper in which she advocated for birth control and social change in the United Kingdom She then converted to theosophism, a belief system that incorporates aspects of Buddhism and Brahmanism. While in India, the freedom fighter’s biggest achievements were establishing the Central Hindu College at Benares, and being the first woman and European President of the Indian National Congress.
Drawn by Lydia Nichols the Google Doodle depicts Annie Besant seated in a chair holding a copy of New India.
Advertisement
Her self desired epitaph read – “She tried to follow Truth”.
