1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
2. The founder of the Theosophical Society
3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
Explanation
Annie Besant (1847-1933) made her first visit to India as a member of the Theosophical Society. She had embraced Theosophy after meeting Helena Blavatsky in 1889. Following her arrival, the society relocated its headquarters to Adyar, near Madras (now Chennai). Besant went on to serve as the society’s president from 1907 until her passing in 1933. In Benares, she established the Central Hindu College (CHC) and later founded the newspapers New India and Commonweal to promote her ideas and advocacy.
Statement 1 is correct: Annie Besant was instrumental in initiating the Home Rule Movement in India. In 1916 she established the All India Home Rule League which advocated for self-governance and dominion status for India within the British Empire. This movement sought to promote political awareness and mobilize Indian citizens towards the cause of self-rule.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Olcott, and William Judge. Annie Besant joined in 1889 after meeting Blavatsky and later became its president in 1907 andserving until her death in 1933. However, she was not its founder.
Statement 3 is correct: Annie Besant achieved the distinction of being the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress. She was elected as the President in 1917 reflecting her significant influence and commitment to India’s independence movement.