Annie Besant
Annie Wood was born on the 1st of October 1847 in London. Her father William Burton Persse Wood died when she was five years old. This event left her mother Emily Roche Morris to support Annie and her brother Henry Trueman Wood alone. The family struggled financially after the death of their breadwinner. Annie spent much of her childhood fostered by Ellen Marryat at a school in Charmouth until age 16. She returned to Harrow where her mother ran a boarding house for students. This environment shaped her early sense of duty toward society. Her upbringing combined strict religious influence from the Tractarians with exposure to radical ideas later in life.
In January 1877 Besant and Charles Bradlaugh published Fruits of Philosophy by American birth control campaigner Charles Knowlton. The book argued that working-class families could never be happy without controlling how many children they had. Church leaders vigorously opposed this publication as immoral. Police arrested both women and men for distributing the text. They were found guilty but released pending appeal. The trial became a cause célèbre across Britain. The verdict was eventually overturned on a technical legal point. Besant then helped establish the Malthusian League which advocated for the abolition of penalties against contraception promotion. Her pamphlet The Law of Population sold well during these turbulent years.
On the 25th of August 1874 Besant delivered her first public lecture titled The Political Status of Women at Co-operative Hall in Covent Garden. By November 1887 she spoke at meetings regarding unemployed workers in Trafalgar Square. Police stopped the assembly and fighting broke out before troops arrived. One man died while hundreds were arrested during what became known as Bloody Sunday. Besant threw herself into organizing legal aid for jailed workers. In 1888 she wrote about conditions at Bryant & May match factory where young women suffered from Phossy jaw disease caused by chemicals used in manufacturing. She drove around London with a red ribbon in her hair speaking to crowds. Over 15,000 votes supported her election to the London School Board for Tower Hamlets. Later that year she helped Ben Tillett draw up union rules for dockers seeking better wages called the Dockers' Tanner. Both strikes won public support and ended successfully.
In 1889 Besant reviewed The Secret Doctrine written by Helena Blavatsky for Pall Mall Gazette. After reading it she sought an interview with its author meeting Blavatsky in Paris. This encounter converted her to Theosophy completely. Her membership in the Fabian Society lapsed in 1890 as she broke links with Marxists. When Blavatsky died in 1891 Besant became one of the leading figures within the movement. She represented Theosophy at the Chicago World Fair in 1893. That same year she traveled to India for the first time. A dispute later caused the American section to split away into an independent organization. The original society led by Henry Steel Olcott and Besant is now based in Chennai known as Theosophical Society Adyar. In September 1894 she arrived in Australia lecturing in Melbourne and Sydney before reforming the Australasian branch.
Leadbeater discovered fourteen-year-old Jiddu Krishnamuti living on grounds of Theosophical Society headquarters at Adyar in 1909. He declared the boy probable vehicle for expected World Teacher. Krishnamuti was extensively groomed for future mission as new emissary. Besant soon became legal guardian after consent from his father who was very poor. Early relationship developed close bond making him consider her surrogate mother. His biological mother had died when he was ten years old. Twenty years later in 1929 Krishnamuti repudiated role many theosophists expected him to fulfill. He dissolved Order of Star in East organization founded to assist World Teacher. Eventually he left Theosophical Society entirely spending rest of life traveling world as unaffiliated speaker. Besant purchased land near estate which later became headquarters of Krishnamuti Foundation India concerned for his wellbeing after declaration of independence.
In 1916 Besant launched All India Home Rule League alongside Lokmanya Tilak modeling demands on Irish nationalist practices. This was first political party in India with regime change as main goal unlike Congress itself which worked only annually. League built structure enabling mobilization of demonstrations and public meetings. In June 1917 government arrested and interned her at hill station where she defiantly flew red and green flag. Congress and Muslim League threatened protests if not set free creating focus for protest. Government forced to give way making vague but significant concessions promising ultimate aim Indian self-government. She was freed September 1917 welcomed by crowds all over India. December saw her take over presidency of Indian National Congress for one year. Both Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi spoke of influence with admiration.
Besant established Central Hindu College Banaras formed on underlying theosophical principles counting many prominent theosophists staff faculty. Students spent ninety minutes daily praying while studying modern science too. It took three years raising money mostly from Indian princes. April 1911 meeting Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya decided unite forces working common Hindu University Banaras started functioning the 1st of October 1917 with college as constituent part. Roads named honor Mumbai Patna Vijayawada cities. Besant Nagar residential neighborhood Dr Annie Besant Park urban park Chennai bear name. Theosophical College Madanapalle established 1917 oldest colleges Rayalaseema region Andhra Pradesh plans announced upgrade university called Annie Besant University 2023. Google commemorated birth anniversary the 1st of October 2015 Doodle praising fierce advocate Indian self-rule loved language cultivated tremendous abilities writer orator published mountains essays wrote textbook curated anthologies classic literature young adults eventually editor New India newspaper periodical dedicated cause Indian Autonomy.
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Common questions
When was Annie Besant born and where did she spend her childhood?
Annie Wood was born on the 1st of October 1847 in London. She spent much of her childhood fostered by Ellen Marryat at a school in Charmouth until age 16.
What legal case involving birth control did Annie Besant participate in during 1877?
In January 1877 Besant and Charles Bradlaugh published Fruits of Philosophy which led to their arrest for distributing the text. They were found guilty but released pending appeal before the verdict was eventually overturned on a technical legal point.
How did Annie Besant convert to Theosophy and when did this happen?
On the 25th of August 1874 Besant delivered her first public lecture titled The Political Status of Women at Co-operative Hall in Covent Garden. In 1889 she reviewed The Secret Doctrine written by Helena Blavatsky and met the author in Paris which converted her to Theosophy completely.
Who was Jiddu Krishnamuti and what role did he play with Annie Besant?
Leadbeater discovered fourteen-year-old Jiddu Krishnamuti living on grounds of Theosophical Society headquarters at Adyar in 1909. Besant became his legal guardian after consent from his father who was very poor and later purchased land near an estate that became headquarters of Krishnamuti Foundation India.
What political organization did Annie Besant launch in India in 1916?
In 1916 Besant launched All India Home Rule League alongside Lokmanya Tilak modeling demands on Irish nationalist practices. She took over presidency of Indian National Congress for one year in December 1917 after being freed from internment.