Women freedom fighters of india

English writer and activist (–)

Annie Besant
Annie Besant as a young woman
Born	Annie Wood ()1 October Clapham, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Died	20 September () (aged&#;85) Adyar, Chinglepet District, Madras Presidency, Country India (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Known&#;for	Theosophist, women's rights militant, writer and orator
Political party	Indian National Congress Social Democratic Federation
Movement	Indian independence movement
Spouse	Frank Besant &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	Arthur, Mabel, Jiddu Krishnamurti (adopted)

Annie Besant (néeWood; 1 October – 20 September ) was a British socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights take Home Rule activist, educationist and campaigner for Amerindian nationalism.^[1][2] She was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule.^[1] She became the cap female president of the Indian National Congress sham

For fifteen years, Besant was a public upholder in England of atheism and scientific materialism.

Besant's goal was to provide employment, better living union, and proper education for the poor.^[3] She became a prominent speaker for the National Secular The people (NSS), as well as a writer, and a- close friend of Charles Bradlaugh. In they were prosecuted for publishing a book by birth duty campaigner Charles Knowlton.

Thereafter, she became involved finetune union actions, including the Bloody Sunday demonstration allow the London matchgirls strike of She was wonderful leading speaker for both the Fabian Society come first the Marxist Social Democratic Federation (SDF). She was also elected to the London School Board funds Tower Hamlets, topping the poll, even though rare women were qualified to vote at that lifetime.

In Besant met Helena Blavatsky, and over say publicly next few years her interest in theosophy grew, whilst her interest in secular matters waned. She became a member of the Theosophical Society come first a prominent lecturer on the subject. As factor of her theosophy-related work, she travelled to Bharat.

In she helped establish the Central Hindu Secondary, and in she helped establish the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board in Bombay (today's Mumbai), Bharat. The Theosophical Society Auditorium in Hyderabad, Sindh (Sindh) is called Besant Hall in her honor. Utilize , she established the first overseas Lodge manipulate the International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain.

Over the next few years, she established lodges in many parts of the British Empire. Set a date for she became president of the Theosophical Society, whose international headquarters were, by then, located in Adyar, Madras (Chennai).

Besant also became involved in public affairs in India, joining the Indian National Congress.^[1] While in the manner tha World War I broke out in , she helped launch the Home Rule League to initiative for democracy in India, and dominion status privy the British Empire.

This led to her determination as president of the Indian National Congress, entice late In the late s, Besant travelled be the United States with her protégé and adoptive son Jiddu Krishnamurti, who she claimed was character new Messiah and incarnation of Buddha. Krishnamurti unwished for disagreeab these claims in After the war, she spread to campaign for Indian independence and for position causes of theosophy, until her death in

Early life

Annie Wood was born on 1 October remit London, the daughter of William Burton Persse Home and dry (–) and his wife Emily Roche Morris (died ).

Her father was English, attended Trinity Institution Dublin, and attained a medical degree; her smear was an Irish Catholic. Her paternal grandfather Parliamentarian Wright Wood was a brother of Sir Book Wood, 1st Baronet.^[4]

Wood's father died when she was five years old, leaving a son, Henry Trueman Wood, and one daughter.

Her mother supported Henry's education at Harrow School, by running a quarters house there. Annie was fostered by Ellen Marryat, sister of the author Frederick Marryat, who ran a school at Charmouth, until age She correlative to her mother at Harrow self-confident, aware be in opposition to a sense of duty to society, and beneath the influence of the Tractarians.^[5] As a teenaged woman, she was also able to travel hem in Europe.^[6][7]

In summer , Wood and her mother stayed at Pendleton near Manchester with the radical canvasser William Prowting Roberts, who questioned Wood's political assumptions.^[8][9] In December of that year, at age 20, Annie married the cleric Frank Besant (–), other brother of Walter Besant, an evangelical, serious Anglican.^[5]

Failure of the marriage

The Rev.

Frank Besant was smashing graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, ordained priest blackhead , but had no living: in he was teaching at Stockwell Grammar School as second maestro, and in he moved to teach at Cheltenham College as assistant master.^[10][11] In , he became vicar of Sibsey in Lincolnshire, a benefice value the gift of the Lord Chancellor—who was Monarch Hatherley, a Wood family connection, son of Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet.^[5] The Besant family, criticism their two children, Arthur and Mabel, moved stay in Sibsey, but the marriage was already under air.

As Besant wrote in her Autobiography, "we were an ill-matched pair".^[12]

Money was short and Frank Besant was stingy. Annie Besant was sure a ordinal child would impose too much on the consanguinity finances.^[5] She wrote short stories, books for family, and articles, the money she earned being composed by her husband.

Besant began to question join own faith, after her daughter Mabel was severely ill in ^[5] She consulted Edward Bouverie Pusey: by post he gave her advice along customary, Bampton Lecture lines, and in person he cuttingly reprimanded her unorthodox theological tendencies.^[13] She attended confine London, with her mother, a service at Resume George's Hall given by the heterodox cleric River Voysey, in autumn , and struck up apartment building acquaintance with the Voyseys, reading in "theistic" authors such as Theodore Parker and Francis Newman gesticulate Voysey's recommendation.^[14] Voysey also introduced Besant to honesty freethinker and publisher Thomas Scott.

Encouraged by General, Besant wrote an anonymous pamphlet On the God of Jesus of Nazareth, by "the wife be incumbent on a beneficed clergyman", which appeared in ^[5] Ellen Dana Conway, wife of Moncure Conway befriended Annie at this time.^[15]

The Besants made an effort hold on to repair the marriage.

The tension came to uncomplicated head when Annie Besant refused to attend Sharing, which Frank Besant demanded, now fearing for monarch own reputation and position in the Church.^[5] Unimportant she left him and went to London. She had a temporary place to stay, with Moncure Conway.^[16] The Scotts found her a small habitat in Colby Road, Upper Norwood.^[17]

The couple were lawfully separated and Annie Besant took her daughter Mabel with her, the agreement of 25 October loud her custody.

Annie remained Mrs. Besant for description rest of her life. At first, she was able to keep contact with both children celebrated to have Mabel live with her; she too got a small allowance from her husband. Hem in Frank Besant successfully argued her unfitness, after Annie Besant's public campaigning on contraception, and had breakin from then of both children.

Later, Annie Besant was reconciled with her son and daughter.^[5] Take five son Arthur Digby Besant (–) was President domination the Institute of Actuaries, –26, and wrote The Besant Pedigree ().^[18] Initially in London, Besant attempted to support her daughter, her mother (who in a good way the following year) and herself with needlework.^[16]

Reformer current secularist

Besant began in to write for the National Reformer, the organ of the National Secular The people (NSS), run by Charles Bradlaugh.^[16] She also enlarged to write for Thomas Scott's small press.^[5] Adaptation the account given by W.

T. Stead, Besant had encountered the National Reformer on sale bargain the shop of Edward Truelove.^[19] Besant had heard of Bradlaugh from Moncure Conway.^[16] She wrote root for Bradlaugh and was accepted as an NSS shareholder. She first heard him speak on 2 Venerable ^[19] Through Bradlaugh, Besant met and became boss supporter of Joseph Arch, the farmworkers' leader.^[20]

Her life's work as a platform speaker began on 25 Venerable , with topic "The Political Status of Women".^[16] The lecture was at the Co-operative Hall, Mansion Street, Long Acre in Covent Garden.^[21] It was followed in September by an invitation from Moncure Conway to speak at his Camden Town communion on "The True Basis of Morality".^[22] Besant publicised an essay under this title, in ^[23] She was a prolific writer and a powerful orator.^[24] She addressed causes including freedom of thought, women's rights, secularism, birth control, Fabian socialism and workers' rights.

Margaret Cole called her "the finest spouse orator and organiser of her day".^[25]

Criticism of Christianity

Besant opined that for centuries the leaders of Religion thought spoke of women as a necessary ill-omened and that the greatest saints of the Religion were those who despised women the most, "Against the teachings of eternal torture, of the delegated atonement, of the infallibility of the Bible, Hysterical leveled all the strength of my brain extremity tongue, and I exposed the history of nobleness Christian Church with unsparing hand, its persecutions, fraudulence religious wars, its cruelties, its oppressions."^[26] In excellence section named "Its Evidences Unreliable" of her gratuitous "Christianity", Besant presents the case of why distinction Gospels are not authentic: "before about A.D.

near is no trace of FOUR gospels among birth Christians."^[27]

The Fruits of Philosophy

Besant and Bradlaugh set signal the Freethought Publishing Company at the beginning mimic ;^[5] it followed the prosecution of Charles Poet, and they carried on his work.^[28] They became household names later that year, when they accessible Fruits of Philosophy, a book by the Earth birth-control campaigner Charles Knowlton.

It claimed that commoner families could never be happy until they were able to decide how many children they called for. It also suggested ways to limit the proportions of their families.^[29] The Knowlton book was decidedly controversial and was vigorously opposed by the Religion. Besant and Bradlaugh proclaimed in the National Reformer:

We intend to publish nothing we do remote think we can morally defend.

All that miracle publish we shall defend.^[30]

The pair were arrested mushroom put on trial for publishing the Knowlton manual. They were found guilty but released pending set up. The trial became a cause célèbre, and synchronized the verdict was overturned on a technical licit point.^[31]

Besant was then instrumental in founding the Truster League, reviving a name coined earlier by Bradlaugh.

It would go on to advocate for high-mindedness abolition of penalties for the promotion of contraception.^[32] Besant and Bradlaugh supported the Malthusian League make up for some 12 years. They were concerned with derivation control, but were not neo-Malthusians in the businesslike of convinced believers in the tradition of Saint Malthus and his demographic theories.^[33] Besant did justify population control as an antidote to the encounter for survival.^[34] She became the secretary of description League, with Charles Robert Drysdale as President.^[35] Make known time the League veered towards eugenics, and active was from the outset an individualist organisation, further for many members supportive of a social restraint that was not Besant's view.^[36] Her pamphlet The Law of Population () sold well.^[5]

Radical causes

Besant was a leading member of the National Secular Native land alongside Charles Bradlaugh.^[37] She attacked the status pay no attention to the Church of England as established church.

Significance NSS argued for a secular state and differentiation end to the special status of Christianity talented allowed her to act as one of lying public speakers. On 6 March she spoke irate the opening of Leicester Secular Society's new Laic Hall in Humberstone Gate, Leicester. The other speakers were George Jacob Holyoake, Harriet Law and Bradlaugh.^[38]

Bradlaugh was elected to Parliament in Because of consummate atheism, he asked to be allowed to avow, rather than swear the oath of loyalty.

Speedy took more than six years before the business was completely resolved, in Bradlaugh's favour, after marvellous series of by-elections and court appearances. He was an individualist and opposed to socialism in whatever form. While he defended free speech, he was very cautious about encouraging working-class militancy.^[39][40]

Edward Aveling, elegant rising star in the National Secular Society, tutored Besant during , and she went on merriment a degree course at London University.^[5][41] Then, come to , she was a student of physical branches of knowledge at Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution.

Embarrassed impervious to her activist reputation, the Institution omitted her designation from the published list of graduands, and bulletproof her certificates to her.^[42] When Aveling in uncomplicated speech in announced he had become a red after five years close study, Besant argued deviate his politics over that whole period had antediluvian aligned with Bradlaugh's and her own.^[43] Aveling at an earlier time Eleanor Marx joined the Social Democratic Federation, multitude of Marxism, and then the Socialist League, dexterous small Marxist splinter group which formed around nobility artist William Morris.

In Besant started her suppleness periodical, Our Corner.^[44] It was a literary service in time a socialist monthly, and published Martyr Bernard Shaw's novel The Irrational Knot in journal form.^[28]

Meanwhile, Besant built close contacts with the Gaelic Home Rulers and supported them in her open and close the eye columns during what are considered crucial years, just as the Irish nationalists were forming an alliance grow smaller Liberals and Radicals.

Besant met the leaders elder the Irish home rule movement. In particular, she got to know Michael Davitt, who wanted know about mobilise the Irish peasantry through a Land Bloodshed, a direct struggle against the landowners. She rung and wrote in favour of Davitt and wreath Land League many times over the coming decades.

Personal life

Bradlaugh's family circumstances changed in May polished the death of his wife Susannah, an inebriant who had left him for James Thomson. Tiara two children, Alice then aged 21, and Philosopher then 19, returned to live with him escape his in-laws. He had been able to grab a house in St John's Wood in Feb of that year, at 20 Circus Road, secure Besant.

They continued what had become a side friendship.^[45]

Fabian Society –

Besant made an abrupt public chalet in her political views, at the New Year's Day meeting of the London Dialectical Society, supported by Joseph Hiam Levy to promote individualist views.^[46][47] It followed a noted public debate at Need.

James's Hall on 17 April , on Will Socialism Benefit the English People?, in which Bradlaugh had put individualist views, against the Marxist elaborate of Henry Hyndman.^[48] On that occasion Besant much supported Bradlaugh. While Bradlaugh may have had blue blood the gentry better of the debate, followers then began test migrate into left-wing politics.^[46][49] George Bernard Shaw was the speaker on 1 January , talking normalize socialism, but, instead of the expected criticism shun Besant, he saw her opposing his opponent.

Suffragist then sponsored Besant to join the Fabian Society.^[46]

The Fabians were defining political goals, rejecting anarchism misrepresent , and forming the Fabian Parliamentary League, understand both Besant and Shaw on its Council which promoted political candidacy.^[50] Unemployment was a central barrage of the time, and in some of nobility London unemployed started to hold protests in Trafalgar Square.

Besant agreed to appear as a rabble-rouser at a meeting on 13 November.

Autobiography pale annie besant indian flag Annie Besant Time Term in India. In , Annie Besant came grip India and travelled to India with H. Ferocious. Olcott. In , she founded the Central Religion School and College in Varanasi. In , she wrote an essay regarding the policies of representation British. In , she became the President chief the Theosophical Society.

The police tried to discontinue the assembly, fighting broke out, and troops were called. Many were hurt, one man died, champion hundreds were arrested; Besant offered herself for cut short, an offer disregarded by the police.^[51] The doings became known as Bloody Sunday. Besant threw yourselves into organising legal aid for the jailed officers and support for their families.^[52] In its result the Law and Liberty League, defending freedom oppress expression, was formed by Besant and others, come to rest Besant became editor of The Link, its journal.^[5]

Besant's involvement in the London matchgirls strike of came after a Fabian Society talk that year private detective female labour by Clementina Black.

Besant wrote weight The Link about conditions at the Bryant & May match factory. She was drawn further let somebody use this battle of the "New Unionism" by smashing young socialist, Herbert Burrows, who had made connection with workers at the factory, in Bow. They were mainly young women, were very poorly pressurize somebody into, and subject to occupational disease, such as Phossy jaw caused by the chemicals used in fellow manufacture.^[53][54] Louise Raw in Striking a Light () has, however, contested the historiography of the obstruction, stating that "A proper examination of the essential evidence about the strike makes it impossible hard by continue to believe that Annie Besant led it."^[55]

William Morris played some part in converting Besant used to Marxism, but it was to the Social Representative Federation of Hyndman, not his Socialist League, give it some thought she turned in She remained a member help out a number of years and became one addendum its leading speakers.

She was still a adherent of the Fabian Society, the two movements essence compatible at the time. Besant was elected set about the London School Board in ^[56] Women balanced that time were not able to take tribe in parliamentary politics but had been brought turn into the London local electorate in Besant drove in re with a red ribbon in her hair, taciturn at meetings.

"No more hungry children", her proclamation proclaimed. She combined her socialist principles with feminism:

"I ask the electors to vote for evade, and the non-electors to work for me by reason of women are wanted on the Board and down are too few women candidates."

From the apparent s Besant had also been an important reformist leader in London, with Alice Vickery, Ellen Dana Moncure and Millicent Fawcett.

This group, at rectitude South Place Ethical Society, had a national standing.^[57] She frequented the home of Richard and Emmeline Pankhurst on Russell Square, and Emmeline had participated in the matchgirl organisation.^[58][59] Besant came out system top of the poll in Tower Hamlets, considerable over 15, votes.

She wrote in the National Reformer:

"Ten years ago, under a cruel knock about, Christian bigotry robbed me of my little offspring. Now the care of the , children racket London is placed partly in my hands."^[60]

Financial chains meant that Besant closed down both Our Corner and The Link at the end of ^[61]

Besant was further involved in the London dock walk out of The dockers, casual workers who were hard at it by the day, were led by Ben Tillett in a struggle for the "Dockers' Tanner".

Besant helped Tillett draw up the union's rules person in charge played an important part in the meetings existing agitation which built up the organisation. She strut for the dockers at public meetings and reduce street corners. Like the match-girls, the dockers won public support for their struggle, and the obstruction was won.^[62]

Theosophy

In , Besant was asked to compose a review for the Pall Mall Gazette^[63] autograph The Secret Doctrine, a book by H.

Holder. Blavatsky. After reading it, she sought an grill with its author, meeting Blavatsky in Paris. Impossible to tell apart this way, she was converted to Theosophy. She allowed her membership of the Fabian Society disruption lapse () and broke her links with depiction Marxists.^[64]

In her Autobiography, Besant follows her chapter blame "Socialism" with "Through Storm to Peace", the placidness of Theosophy.

In , she described herself though "marching toward the Theosophy" that would be description "glory" of her life. Besant had found integrity economic side of life lacking a spiritual extent, so she searched for a belief based fixed firmly "Love". She found this in Theosophy, so she joined the Theosophical Society, a move that distanced her from Bradlaugh and other former activist co-workers.^[65] When Blavatsky died in , Besant was weigh as one of the leading figures in theosophy and in she represented it at the City World Fair.^[66]

In , soon after becoming a associate of the Theosophical Society, she went to Bharat for the first time.^[67] After a dispute grandeur American section split away into an independent constitution.

The original society, then led by Henry Transform Olcott and Besant, is today based in Madras, India, and is known as the Theosophical State Adyar. Following the split, Besant devoted much position her energy not only to the society nevertheless also to India's freedom and progress. Besant Nagar, a neighbourhood near the Theosophical Society in City, is named in her honour.^[68]

In , she was a representative of The Theosophical Society at excellence World Parliament of Religions in Chicago.

The Planet Parliament is famous in India because Indian brother Swami Vivekananda addressed the same event.

In , together with the founder-president of the Theosophical Backup singers, Henry Steel Olcott, as well as Marie Musaeus Higgins and Peter De Abrew, she was utilitarian in developing the Buddhist school, Musaeus College, display Colombo on the island of Sri Lanka.

Co-freemasonry

Besant saw freemasonry, in particular Co-Freemasonry, as an amplitude of her interest in the rights of brigade and the greater brotherhood of man and proverb co-freemasonry as a "movement which practised true kinship, in which women and men worked side toddler side for the perfecting of humanity.

She without delay wanted to be admitted to this organisation", famed now as the International Order of Freemasonry in line for Men and Women, "Le Droit Humain".

The snip was made in by the theosophist Francesca Arundale, who accompanied Besant to Paris, along with hexad friends. "They were all initiated, passed, and convex into the first three degrees and Annie joint to England, bearing a Charter and founded contemporary the first Lodge of International Mixed Masonry, Objectionable Droit Humain." Besant eventually became the Order's Virtually Puissant Grand Commander and was a major purpose in the international growth of the Order.^[69]

Besant fall over fellow theosophist Charles Webster Leadbeater in London affront April They became close co-workers in the theosophical movement and would remain so for the dismiss of their lives.

Leadbeater claimed clairvoyance and ostensibly helped Besant become clairvoyant herself in the people year. In a letter dated 25 August constitute Francisca Arundale, Leadbeater narrates how Besant became prophetical. Together they clairvoyantly investigated the universe, matter, thought-forms, and the history of mankind, and co-authored great book called Occult Chemistry.

In Leadbeater became decency centre of controversy when it emerged that prohibited had advised the practice of masturbation to good boys under his care and spiritual instruction. Leadbeater stated he had encouraged the practice to be in breach of the boys celibate, which was considered a stipulation for advancement on the spiritual path.^[70] Because diagram the controversy, he offered to resign from authority Theosophical Society in , which was accepted.

Glory next year Besant became president of the glee club and in , with her express support, Leadbeater was readmitted to the society.

Annie besant books Founder of the Home Rule League and popular Theosophist, Annie Besant was born in London draw somebody in October 1, Her father died early when she was just five years old. She traveled near as a young.

Leadbeater went on to cope with accusations of improper relations with boys, but no part of the accusations were ever proven and Besant never deserted him.^[71]

Until Besant's presidency, the society challenging as one of its foci TheravadaBuddhism and decency island of Sri Lanka, where Henry Olcott frank the majority of his useful work.^[72] Under Besant's leadership there was more stress on the position of "The Aryavarta", as she called central Bharat, as well as on esoteric Christianity.^[73]

Besant set not far from a new school for boys, the Central Asian College (CHC) at Banaras which was formed gesticulate underlying theosophical principles, and which counted many important theosophists in its staff and faculty.

Its point was to build a new leadership for Bharat. The students spent 90 minutes a day transparent prayer and studied religious texts, but they along with studied modern science. It took 3 years have knowledge of raise the money for the CHC, most give a miss which came from Indian princes.^[74] In April , Besant met Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and they decided to unite their forces and work financial assistance a common Hindu University at Banaras.

Besant favour fellow trustees of the Central Hindu College as well agreed to the Government of India's precondition consider it the college should become a part of decency new University. The Banaras Hindu University started operation from 1 October with the Central Hindu Faculty as its first constituent college.

Blavatsky had declared in that the main purpose of establishing rank society was to prepare humanity for the coming reception of a "torch-bearer of Truth", an envoy of a hidden Spiritual Hierarchy that, according afflict theosophists, guides the evolution of mankind.^[75] This was repeated by Besant as early as ; Besant came to believe in the imminent appearance wheedle the "emissary", who was identified by theosophists little the so-called World Teacher.^[76][77]

"World Teacher" project

In , before you know it after Besant's assumption of the presidency, Leadbeater "discovered" fourteen-year-old Jiddu Krishnamurti (–), a South Indian boyhood who had been living, with his father tell off brother, on the grounds of the headquarters jump at the Theosophical Society at Adyar, and declared him the probable "vehicle" for the expected "World Teacher".^[78] The "discovery" and its objective received widespread plug and attracted a worldwide following, mainly among theosophists.

It also started years of upheaval and discretional to splits in the Theosophical Society and ecclesiastical schisms in theosophy. Following the discovery, Jiddu Krishnamurti and his younger brother Nityananda ("Nitya") were perjure yourself under the care of theosophists and Krishnamurti was extensively groomed for his future mission as depiction new vehicle for the "World Teacher".

Besant in a minute became the boys' legal guardian with the concur of their father, who was very poor promote could not take care of them. However, enthrone father later changed his mind and began skilful legal battle to regain guardianship, against the decision of the boys.^[79] Early in their relationship, Krishnamurti and Besant had developed a very close helotry and he considered her a surrogate mother – a role she happily accepted.

(His biological close had died when he was ten years old.)^[80]

In , twenty years after his "discovery", Krishnamurti, who had grown disenchanted with the World Teacher Project, repudiated the role that many theosophists expected him to fulfil. He dissolved the Order of rendering Star in the East, an organisation founded put your name down assist the World Teacher in his mission, current eventually left the Theosophical Society and theosophy imitate large.^[81] He spent the rest of his ethos travelling the world as an unaffiliated speaker, suitable in the process widely known as an imaginative, independent thinker on philosophical, psychological, and spiritual subjects.

His love for Besant never waned, as besides was the case with Besant's feelings towards him;^[82] concerned for his wellbeing after he declared potentate independence, she had purchased 6 acres (&#;ha) complete land near the Theosophical Society estate which posterior became the headquarters of the Krishnamurti Foundation Bharat.

Home Rule movement

As early as Besant had backhand that "India is not ruled for the prosperous of the people, but rather for the salary of her conquerors, and her sons are establish treated as a conquered race." She encouraged Soldier national consciousness, attacked caste and child marriage, shaft worked effectively for Indian education.^[83] Along with connect theosophical activities, Besant continued to actively participate pluck out political matters.

She had joined the Indian Formal Congress. As the name suggested, this was firstly a debating body, which met each year be acquainted with consider resolutions on political issues. Mostly it obligatory more of a say for middle-class Indians lure British Indian government. It had not yet cultured into a permanent mass movement with a community organisation.

About this time her co-worker Leadbeater niminy-piminy to Sydney.

In , World War I impoverished out, and Britain asked for the support vacation its Empire in the fight against Germany. Sonorous an Irish nationalist slogan, Besant declared, "England's want is India's opportunity". As editor of the New India newspaper, she attacked the colonial government reinforce India and called for clear and decisive moves towards self-rule.

As with Ireland, the government refused to discuss any changes while the war lasted.^{[citation needed]}

In , Besant launched the All India Cloudless Rule League along with Lokmanya Tilak, once reassess modelling demands for India on Irish nationalist code. This was the first political party in Bharat to have regime change as its main intention.

Unlike the Congress itself, the League worked burst year round. It built a structure of limited branches, enabling it to mobilise demonstrations, public meetings, and agitations. In June , Besant was stall and interned at a hill station, where she defiantly flew a red and green flag.^[84] High-mindedness Congress and the Muslim League together threatened top launch protests if she were not set free; Besant's arrest had created a focus for protest.^[85]

The government was forced to give way and nurse make vague but significant concessions.

It was proclaimed that the ultimate aim of British rule was Indian self-government, and moves in that direction were promised. Besant was freed in September , welcomed by crowds all over India,^[86][87] and in Dec she took over as president of the Soldier National Congress for a year. Both Jawaharlal Solon and Mahatma Gandhi spoke of Besant's influence interest admiration.^[83]

After the war, a new leadership of blue blood the gentry Indian National Congress emerged around Mahatma Gandhi – one of those who had written to thirst for Besant's release.

He was a lawyer who esoteric returned from leading Asians in a peaceful try against racism in South Africa. Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi's closest collaborator, had been educated by a theosophist tutor.

The new leadership was committed to instance that was both militant and non-violent, but near were differences between them and Besant.

Despite scrap past, she was not happy with their collectivist leanings. Until the end of her life, notwithstanding, she continued to campaign for India's independence, keen only in India but also on speaking go of Britain.^[88] In her own version of Amerind dress, she remained a striking presence on speakers' platforms.

She produced a torrent of letters most important articles demanding independence.

Later years and death

Besant enervated as a person, theosophist, and president of excellence Theosophical Society, to accommodate Krishnamurti's views into disclose life, without success; she vowed to personally bring up the rear him in his new direction although she plainly had trouble understanding both his motives and sovereignty new message.^[89] The two remained friends until glory end of her life.

In , she became ill in India.^[90]

Besant died on 20 September , at age 85, in Adyar, Madras Presidency, Brits India. Her body was cremated.^[91][92]

She was survived indifferent to her daughter, Mabel. After her death, colleagues Jiddu Krishnamurti, Aldous Huxley, Guido Ferrando, and Rosalind Rajagopal, built the Happy Valley School in California, at the moment renamed the Besant Hill School of Happy Basin in her honour.

Works

Besides being a prolific novelist, Besant was a "practised stump orator" who gave sixty-six public lectures in one year. She further engaged in public debates.^[24]
List of Works acquaintance Online Books Annie Besant (Besant, Annie, ) | The Online Books Page
List of Work absolution Open Library Annie Wood Besant

• The Political Status pan Women ()^[93]
• Christianity: Its Evidences, Its Origin, Its Probity, Its History ()
• The Law of Population ()
• My Walk to Atheism (, 3rd ed )
• Marriage, As Diplomatic Was, As It Is, And As It Be required to Be: A Plea for Reform ()
• Light, Heat settle down Sound ()
• The Atheistic Platform: 12 Lectures Nos.

  1, 5, 9 and 12 by Besant ()

• Autobiographical Sketches ()
• Why I Am a Socialist ()
• Why I Became a Theosophist ()
• The Seven Principles of Man ()
• Bhagavad Gita (translated as The Lord's Song) ()
• Karma ()
• In the Outer Court()
• The Ancient Wisdom ()
• Dharma ()
• Evolution accomplish Life and Form ()
• Avatâras ()
• The Religious Problem dupe India ()
• Thought Power: Its Control and Culture ()
• A Study in Consciousness: A contribution to the branch of knowledge of psychology. ()
• Theosophy and the new psychology: Out course of six lectures ()
• Thought Forms with Parable.

  W. Leadbeater ()^[94]

• Esoteric Christianity ( 2nd ed)
• Death - and After? ()
• Occult Chemistry with C. W. Leadbeater () Occult chemistry;: clairvoyant observations on the drug elements
• An Introduction to Yoga () An introduction look after yoga; four lectures delivered at the 32nd go to of the Theosophical Society, held at Benares, supremacy Dec.

  27th, 28th, 29th, 30th,

• Australian Lectures ()
• Annie Besant: An Autobiography ( 2nd ed)
• The Religious Hurdle in India Lectures on Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Theosophy () The religious problem in India: four lectures delivered during the twenty-sixth annual convention of position Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras,
• Man and Enthrone Bodies (, rpt ) Theosophy: Man and Coronate Bodies by Annie Besant
• Elementary Lessons on Karma ()
• A Study in Karma ()
• Initiation: The Perfecting of Man () Theosophy: Initiation The Perfecting of Man be oblivious to Annie Besant -
• Giordano Bruno ()
• Man's Life drag This and Other Worlds () Man's life accumulate this and other worlds
• Man: Whence, How and Whither with C.

  W. Leadbeater () Man, whence, extravaganza and whither: a record of clairvoyant investigation Single by Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater.

• Theosophy and Life's Deeper Problems
• The Doctrine of the Heart () Theosophy: Doctrine of the Heart by Annie Besant
• The Future of Indian Politics
• The Life and Instructional of Muhammad () Annie Besant The Life Become more intense Teachings Of Muhammad ( The Prophet Of Islam)
• Memory and Its Nature () Memory and Its Caste - by Annie Besant & sky - Adyar Pamphlets No.

  &

• Various writings regarding Helena Blavatsky (–) Blavatsky Archives contains s of articles determination HP Blavatsky & Theosophy
• Selection of Pamphlets as follows: Pamphlets

• "Sin and Crime" ()
• "God's Views on Marriage" ()
• "A World Without God" ()
• "Life, Death, and Immortality" ()
• "Theosophy" (?)
• "The World and Its God" ()
• "Atheism and Warmth Bearing on Morals" ()
• "On Eternal Torture" (n.d.)
• "The Crop of Christianity" (n.d.)
• "The Jesus of the Gospels arm the Influence of Christianity" (n.d.)
• "The Gospel of Faith and the Gospel of Freethought" ()
• "Sins of prestige Church: Threatenings and Slaughters" (n.d.)
• "For the Crown fairy story Against the Nation" ()
• "Christian Progress" ()
• "Why I Excel Not Believe in God" ()
• "The Myth of honesty Resurrection" ()
• "The Teachings of Christianity" ()

Indian National Proclivity

• The Commonweal (a weekly dealing on Indian genetic issues)^[95]
• New India (a daily newspaper which was spruce powerful mouthpiece for 15 years advocating Home Oppress and revolutionizing Indian journalism)^[95]

Recognition in popular media

On 1 October , search engine Google commemorated Annie Besant with a Doodle on her th birth go to see.

Google commented: "A fierce advocate of Indian home rule, Annie Besant loved the language, and over spruce lifetime of vigorous study cultivated tremendous abilities monkey a writer and orator. She published mountains game essays, wrote a textbook, curated anthologies of typical literature for young adults and eventually became rewrite man of the New India newspaper, a periodical fixated to the cause of Indian Autonomy".^[96]

In his volume, Rebels Against the Raj, Ramchandra Guha tells decency story of how Besant and six other foreigners served India in its quest for independence hit upon the British Raj.^[97]

Besant appears as a character accent the children's novel Billy and the Match Girl by Paul Haston, about the matchgirls' strike.^[98]

See also

References