A Humble Tribute to Besantamma…

It happens to be Annie Besant’s 168^th birth anniversary today, the First of October.

Besantamma, as she is more popular among the South Indians, is revered as a rights activist by the world. She supported and advocated the causes of Free Thought, Workers’ Rights, Women’s Rights, Secularism, Socialism, Birth Control and providing Scientific Education to the large masses of developing world. Her last passage in an 86 year long journey of life was Theosophy. She was one of those few who ‘Found’ the genius of Jiddu Krishnamurthy.

Born in the family of an Irish immigrant couple in London, she championed the Irish Home Rule Movement. Dr. Besant was one of the earliest trade unionist of the Great Britain. She advocated the Socialist Ideology for some time and eschewed it later. During her Socialist Party Life she shone as a lead speaker for the Fabian Society and the Marxist Platform Social Democtatic Federation. Dr.Besant took serious objection to the British Raj inflicting the World War-I on India against the sentiments and interests of the nation. She was elected the President of Indian National Congress in the year 1917.

Dr. Besant was a famed educationalist too. She was elected to London School Board in 1888. She helped establishing many educational and academic institutions in India. In 1898 she helped establish the Central Hindu College and in 1922 she helped establish the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board in Mumbai, India. Besant Theosophical College of Madanapalle has been producing wonderful brains for the last one century to serve the Telugus. Dr.Besant will be remembered for this for ever.