The Theosophical Movement

At a Glance

• What it is A society of Westerners inspired by Indian thought
• Founders Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel M.S. Olcott, New York, 1875
• In India Headquarters at Adyar from 1882; Annie Besant president from 1907
• Education Central Hindu College, Benaras, 1898; Benaras Hindu University, 1916
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Reform Movements and Their Leaders

Where Does It Fit?

This is the nineteenth topic of the category on reform movements and their leaders. The previous topic covered the Sikh reform movements. This topic covers the movement of Western followers of Indian thought. The next and last topic assesses the positive and negative aspects of all reform movements. Previous topic: Sikh Reform Movements.

How Did the Theosophical Society Begin?

A group of Westerners led by Madame H.P. Blavatsky (1831-91) and Colonel M.S. Olcott, inspired by Indian thought and culture, founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875. In 1882 they shifted their headquarters to Adyar, on the outskirts of Madras at that time, in India.

What Did Theosophists Believe?

The society believed that a special relationship could be established between a person’s soul and God by contemplation, prayer and revelation. It accepted the Hindu beliefs in reincarnation and karma, and drew inspiration from the philosophy of the Upanishads and the samkhya, yoga and Vedanta schools. It aimed to work for the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour, and sought to investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.

The Theosophical Movement came to be allied with the Hindu renaissance and at one time with the Arya Samaj too, as told in Dayananda Saraswati and the Arya Samaj. It opposed child marriage and advocated the abolition of caste discrimination, the uplift of outcastes and the improvement of widows’ condition.

What Did Annie Besant Do?

In India the movement became somewhat popular with the election of Annie Besant (1847-1933) as its president after the death of Olcott in 1907. She had come to India in 1893. She laid the foundation of the Central Hindu College at Benaras in 1898, where both Hindu religion and Western scientific subjects were taught. The college became the nucleus for the formation of Benaras Hindu University in 1916. Annie Besant also did much for the education of women.

What Was Its Significance and Limit?

The Theosophical Society provided a common denominator for the various sects and fulfilled the urge of educated Hindus. To an average Indian, however, Theosophist philosophy seemed vague and lacking a positive programme, so its impact was limited to a small segment of the westernised class. As religious revivalists the Theosophists did not attain much success, but as a movement of westerners glorifying Indian religious and philosophical traditions it gave much-needed self-respect to Indians fighting colonial rule. The chapter adds that it also had the effect of giving a false sense of pride to Indians in their outdated and sometimes backward-looking traditions and philosophy.

As an analytical point, the movement’s main value was symbolic: when Westerners praised Indian philosophy, it helped Indians answer colonial claims of superiority, a point that connects with the cultural self-respect described in Social and Ideological Bases of Reform and in the Ramakrishna movement in Ramakrishna Movement and Swami Vivekananda. The Hindu University it helped to seed is a lasting institution.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Direct facts Founders, years and Annie Besant’s role are standard Prelims items
• Link to Besant It introduces Besant, who later led the Home Rule movement
• Balanced view It shows both self-respect and false pride

What Came Next?

The next and last topic of this category assesses the significance of the reform movements. Next topic: Significance of the Reform Movements: Positive and Negative Aspects.

Key People and Terms

• Theosophy A teaching of a special relationship between soul and God
• Adyar The Madras suburb where the Society moved in 1882
• Central Hindu College The Benaras college founded by Annie Besant in 1898
• Benaras Hindu University The university formed in 1916 from the college
• Universal brotherhood The Society’s aim without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour
• Reincarnation The belief in rebirth, accepted by the Society

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask for the contribution of Annie Besant and the Theosophists. These points add depth.

• Self-respect Foreign admirers of Indian thought helped Indian pride
• Education Besant’s Hindu college and women’s education
• Limited reach Vague and confined to the westernised class