Who is Annie Besant ?
Annie Besant (Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was an English socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist, and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule. She became the first female president of the Indian National Congress in 1917.
She became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society (NSS), as well as a writer, and a close friend of Charles Bradlaugh. In 1877 they were prosecuted for publishing a book by birth control campaigner Charles Knowlton. Thereafter, she became involved with union actions, including the Bloody Sunday demonstration and the London matchgirls strike of 1888. She was a leading speaker for both the Fabian Society and the Marxist Social Democratic Federation (SDF). She was also elected to the London School Board for Tower Hamlets, topping the poll, even though few women were qualified to vote at that time.
In 1890 Besant met Helena Blavatsky, and over the next few years her interest in theosophy grew, whilst her interest in secular matters waned. She became a member of the Theosophical Society and a prominent lecturer on the subject. As part of her theosophy-related work, she travelled to India. In 1898 she helped establish the Central Hindu School, and in 1922 she helped establish the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board in Bombay (today's Mumbai), India. The Theosophical Society Auditorium in Hyderabad, Sindh (Sindh) is called Besant Hall in her honour. In 1902, she established the first overseas Lodge of the International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain. Over the next few years, she established lodges in many parts of the British Empire. In 1907 she became president of the Theosophical Society, whose international headquarters were, by then, located in Adyar, Madras (Chennai).
Besant also became involved in politics in India, joining the Indian National Congress. When World War I broke out in 1914, she helped launch the Home Rule League to campaign for democracy in India, and dominion status within the British Empire. This led to her election as president of the Indian National Congress, in late 1917. In the late 1920s, Besant travelled to the United States with her protégé and adopted son Jiddu Krishnamurti, who she claimed was the new Messiah and incarnation of Buddha. Krishnamurti rejected these claims in 1929. After the war, she continued to campaign for Indian independence and for the causes of theosophy, she died in 1933.
Annie Besant' role in freedom movement of India
- Home Rule Movement: In 1916, she launched the Home Rule League to campaign for self-governance, establishing branches and spreading awareness through her newspapers, New India and Commonweal.
- INC Presidency: Elected President of the INC in 1917, she presided over the Calcutta session, becoming the first woman to hold the position, and used it to advocate for greater Indian rights.
- Public Advocacy: Through speeches, writings, and lectures, she tirelessly promoted Indian nationalism, women's rights, and education, inspiring many.
- Challenging the British: Her activism led to her arrest and internment by the Madras government in 1917, which paradoxically boosted the Home Rule movement's popularity and forced the British to address demands for self-rule. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
- She helped build the political momentum leading to later mass movements, setting the stage for figures like Gandhi.
- Her efforts highlighted the demand for responsible government, contributing to discussions and reforms like the Montagu-Chelmsford Proposals.
- Besant's work, blending social reform with political activism, made her a significant, albeit controversial, figure in India's journey toward independence. [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]
- How India Wrought for Freedom: The Story of the National Congress (1915): A detailed account of the Indian National Congress's efforts for independence, drawing from official records and emphasizing India's rich past to argue for self-governance, as seen in this Amazon.in product page and this Indian Culture.gov.in article.
- The Case for India (1917): Her presidential address to the Indian National Congress, passionately defending India's right to self-determination, condemning British rule, and advocating for Indian culture and women's rights.
- The Birth of New India: A compilation of speeches and writings on Indian affairs, reflecting her strong involvement in the independence movement, according to this Amazon.in listing.
- India: A Nation; a Plea for Indian Self-government (1916): A concise argument for India's nationhood and the necessity of self-rule, as detailed on this Google Books page. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
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