Home » Working Women » Women from History » Dr. Annie Besant A British theosophist and nationalist leader in India, Dr. Annie Besant's activities at the Theosophical Society of India are an epic. She led a life that was unconventional by any standard. She advocated free thought and socialism. Being a woman interested in free thought movements, in 1889 Dr. Besant became a supporter of Theosophy, a religious movement founded by Madame Blabatsky in 1875. Her involvement with this movement brought her to India.

At the age of 19, Dr. Annie Besant married a clergyman, but the marriage ended in a separation. Soon after the separation, Dr.Annie Besant joined the Secular Society and became closely associated with Charles Bradlaugh, the editor of Radical National Reformer and the leader of the Secular movement in Britain. Together, they republished " The Fruits of Philosophy " which advocated birth control.

A woman of strong convictions and independent views, she was interested in various socialist causes and movements of free thoughts right from very early times. She wrote numerous pamphlets defending her convictions. Dr. Annie Basant was also a strong supporter of various women's issues and wrote many articles on such issues. She also helped to bring about many reforms in local schools.

While in India, she joined the struggle for Indian home rule. She thus founded the Indian Home Rule League in India for obtaining freedom and reviving the country's glorious cultural heritage. She was elected the President of the Indian National Congress in 1917 and the General Secretary of the National Convention in 1923. She also started a newspaper called " New India ".

An orator and writer with a poetic temperament, Dr Besant was a veritable tornado of power and passion. She brought together some of the best minds of the country under the same roof for a national cause. She was largely responsible for the upbringing of the world-renowned philosopher Mr. K. Krishnamurthi.

Dr. Besant died in India in 1933.

[1847 - 1933]