Annie Besant was a British socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist, and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule. She became the first female president of the Indian National Congress in 1917.
Annie Besant as a young woman
St. Margaret's church in Sibsey, Lincolnshire, where Frank Besant was vicar from 1872 to 1917
Annie Besant's house, 39 Colby Road, Upper Norwood, now bearing a blue plaque
Studio portrait of Annie Besant, c. 1910, by Falk Studio
Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late 19th century. It was founded primarily by Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Categorized by scholars of religion as both a new religious movement and as part of the occultist stream of Western esotericism, it draws upon both older European philosophies such as Neoplatonism and Indian originated religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Blavatsky and Olcott, two of the founding members of the Theosophical Society
According to Theosophical teaching, each solar system is an emanation of a "Logos" or "Solar Deity", with planetary spirits each overseeing one of the planets.
Statue of Blavatsky and Olcott at Adyar
The Theosophical seal as door decoration in Budapest, Hungary
