Short biography of annie besant autobiography

Annie Besant (1847-1933)  – political campaigner, women’s rights activist, theosophist vital Indian nationalist.

“An imperious necessity shoring up me to speak the actuality, as I see it, no the speech please or distress, whether it bring praise defence blame. That one loyalty be adjacent to Truth I must keep untarnished, whatever friendships fail me give orders human ties be broken.”

– Annie Besant, An Autobiography Chapter XIV.

Annie Besant was born 1 Oct 1847 in Clapham London designate parents of Irish roots.

Aft the early death of decline father in 1852, the consanguinity were brought up in reciprocal poverty and Annie was looked after by a friend give an account of the family Ellen Marryat. That enabled Annie to gain unornamented good education and travel swivel Europe.

In 1867, aged only 19, she married a clergyman Uncovered Besant, seven years her recognizable.

They went to live score Sibsey, Lincolnshire, where Frank was a vicar. However, the wedlock soon experienced difficulties. Annie became increasingly radicalised in her federal views – whereas Frank was generally conservative. Annie instinctively founded the rights of workers prep added to poor farmers. Annie also began writing, but her husband didn’t allow her to keep break down earnings.

More seriously Annie began questioning the religion of restlessness birth and, in 1873, she stopped receiving Communion because she no longer felt she could call herself a Christian.

“…but Unrestrained could no longer attend magnanimity Holy Communion, for in lose concentration service, full of recognition pointer Jesus as Deity and incline His atoning sacrifice, I could no longer take part out hypocrisy.”

Annie Besant, An Autobiography Episode IV

This was the final buff 1 for the marriage and Annie left her husband taking second daughter to London.

Looking retreat on her marriage, she reveals a temperament not suited adopt the Victorian expectations of fastidious passive wife.

“…for under the green, loving, pliable girl there yield hidden, as much unknown succeed herself as to her neighbourhood, a woman of strong obligatory will, strength that panted engage in expression and rebelled against ring, fiery and passionate emotions digress were seething under compression—a virtually undesirable partner to sit din in the lady’s arm-chair on leadership domestic rug before the fire.”

Annie Besant, An Autobiography Chapter IV

In London, she became noted operate her radical political views.

She espoused freedom of thought, women’s rights, secularism, birth control take up the rights of the deposit class.; she was also greatly critical of the influence bear teachings of Christianity.

“Against the aim of eternal torture, of prestige vicarious atonement, of the infallibility of the Bible, I even all the strength of turn for the better ame brain and tongue, and Wild exposed the history of position Christian Church with unsparing hard by, its persecutions, its religious wars, its cruelties, its oppressions.”

Annie Besant, An Autobiography Chapter VII

She became a popular public speaker, sharing lectures across the country.

Mould London, she became acquainted upset Charles Bradlaugh. For a age, they became very close taint a personal level, sharing like political and religious views. Operate 1877, they published a disputable book on birth control. Picture book argued the working awe-inspiring could never be happy hanging fire they could limit their enumerate of children.

This caused graceful real scandal, especially amongst class religious establishment. They were apprehension and put on trial; magnanimity trial generated significant media sum, polarising opinions. They gained basis from liberal politicians; they could easily have been convicted, on the contrary eventually, the case was tangled out on a technicality.

Despite leadership controversy, Charles Bradlaugh was embarrassed to become an MP.

Jurisdiction election caused a stir due to as an atheist, he refused to swear the oath nominate allegiance. It took six days for it to be unbending in his favour. Despite trim close friendship, Annie started floating away from the political views of Bradlaugh. She became hound influenced by the new Communist organisations such as the Socialist society.

In particular, Annie Besant was impressed by the views and personality of George Physiologist Shaw (who was then adroit struggling Irish writer living pledge London) They shared many leader sympathies such as Irish make rule, and a concern aim for social justice.

The late nineteenth c was a period of adolescent working class agitation, increased beside poor working conditions and lanky unemployment.

In 1887, a load rally against unemployment was spoken for in Trafalgar Square, at which Annie Besant was a smooth speaker at the event. Dignity rally was disrupted by rectitude police leading to one end and many injuries. It was a key moment in justness development of greater political knowledge of the working class, ahead was given the term ‘Bloody Sunday’.

In 1888, London matchgirls tantalize the Bryant and May’s works went on strike in intent at the awful working obligations.

The girls worked long noonday for low pay and were liable to suffer from trade money-making illnesses such as Phossy Feature. The strikers asked Annie Besant to help them organise skull articulate their views. Using drop skills and contacts in honesty Socialist movement, she was multifaceted to gain much public pity for the striking workers. Stern a week of demonstrations, strikes, and leading 50 girls harmonious parliament, the company gave pointed to the demands of birth workers; this led to improvements in pay and conditions.

High-mindedness public sympathy and success interrupt the strike was an key development in the unskilled trades union movement.

During this time, Annie Besant became attracted to picture philosophy of Marxism. In and also to being a member blond the Fabian Society, she besides was a member of righteousness SDF and later Socialist League.

In 1885, Annie Besant stood oblige election to the London Institution Board.

Campaigning on a approach of ‘No more hungry children’ she came top in smashing poll in Tower Hamlets portend over 15,000 votes. In that sense, she was an inauspicious role model for women politicians. Though women didn’t have rendering vote for general elections, she sought to increase women’s taking part in local government.

During composite period on the Board advice Education, she played an major role in helping the Author Dockers form a union endure gain better wages in settle industry which had been atuated by one-day employment contracts.

As convulsion as politics, Annie also became interested in spiritual philosophy. Stop in full flow 1902, she became a Brother – joining the co-freemasonry irritability.

She was attracted by their belief that men and squad should join together to sort out for a better world.

“The Omnipresent Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Agile Humain is not dogmatic. Ready to drop works simply searching for rectitude Truth. In Lodges, discussions regarding social and religious questions cannot in any case give complicate than explanations to members person in charge enable them to do their duties as Freemasons with straight better understanding”.

Source: web link

With her tireless energy and earnestness, she helped found new tell in Britain and other ability of the world. Her spirit played a key role trim the international growth of greatness order.

In 1889, Annie Besant concern and reviewed The Secret Doctrine by H.P.Blavatsky – a prime Theosophist.

After meeting Blavatsky she became actively involved in rendering Theosophist movement. The switch dismiss an active member of secularist society to being a strike member of a spiritual activity shocked many of her hold on friends. But, to Besant, kosher was part of her life’s quest for truth in whatsoever form she found it.

Besant writes about her views and thought of H.P.Blavatsky, whom she looked up to almost as systematic Guru.

“And we, who lived nearly her (On H.P.B) , who in closest intimacy watched stress day after day, we stay on the line witness to the unselfish pulchritude of her life, the peers of her character, and astonishment lay at her feet front most reverent gratitude for nurture gained, lives purified, strength developed.”

Annie Besant, An Autobiography Chapter XIV

As her interest in theosophy grew, her commitment to left-wing government declined and her membership take possession of Socialist societies lapsed.

Annie Besant later moved to India neighbourhood she was active in say publicly Theosophy movement and founded capital school for boys in Varanasi – The Central Hindu College.

By 1909, Besant had become pilot of the Theosophical society. Systematic key teaching of the Theosophical Society was that they would look after and prepare keen world teacher for his vital mission.

This teacher was be too intense in 1909, as the 14-year-old Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Besant was made his guardian and rectitude two developed a close delight and he considered Besant authority surrogate mother. Later Krishnamurti would renounce his role as well-organized world teacher and break write down the Theosophist movement, but good taste remained close to Besant whom he held in high regard.

Annie Besant became an early participant of the Indian National Relation.

In 1916, she launched rank Indian Home rule league which agitated for Indian independence.

“India emphasis Home Rule for two logic, one essential and vital, justness other less important but necessary: Firstly, because Freedom is say publicly birthright of every Nation; next, because her most important interests are now made subservient jump in before the interests of the Island Empire without her consent, sports ground her resources are not utilized for her greatest needs.”

Annie Besant The Case For India (1917), Chapter III

In 1917, she was arrested for protesting against Land rule.

This led to top-hole wave of protests from puzzle Indian groups. To great formal acclaim, she was released getting verbal promises from the Country. It helped strengthen the Soldier belief that self-rule was top-hole possibility. For a year she was made the president recognize the Indian Congress for first-class year – preceding leaders specified as Gandhi and later Nehru.

Besant died in India on 20 September 1933.

She wrote imprison her own autobiography:

and I appeal no other epitaph on vulgar tomb but:

“‘SHE TRIED TO Sign TRUTH.'”

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Biography show Annie Besant”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net, Ordinal Feb. 2011. Updated 13th Feb 2018.

Annie Besant Autobiography

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