BESANT, Annie

BESANT, Annie
(1847-1933)
   born of EVANGELICAL parents. She married a pious but dull clergyman whom she eventually divorced. Her religious PILGRIMAGE led from ANGLICANISM to ATHEISM, and from SPIRITUALIST to THEOSOPHIST. In England she was notorious for her affair with Charles BRADLAUGH and the promotion of radical causes, including birth control. After her CONVERSION to Theosophy she moved to India in 1889 where she established a number of educational institutions including the Central Hindu College of Banaras (1898) and the University of India (1907). She played an important role in agitating for Indian independence from British rule and was active in the Indian National Congress and was even elected its president. She proclaimed her adopted son Jiddu KRISHNAMURTI a new Messiah but he later repudiated this view. After the death of Helena BLAVATSKY, she became the president of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. Her works include
   The Ancient Wisdom (1897) and The Religious Problems of India (1902).

Concise dictionary of Religion. 2012.

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  • Besant, Annie — orig. Annie Wood born Oct. 1, 1847, London, Eng. died Sept. 20, 1933, Adyar, Madras British social reformer. She was a prominent Fabian socialist in the 1880s before becoming an adherent of theosophy in 1889. She served as international president …   Universalium

  • Besant, Annie — (1847–1933)    Educator and Sect Founder.    Besant was born in London, and was educated at the University of London. Her marriage to a clergyman of the Church of England ended in divorce and she moved from Anglicanism to atheism, through… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • Besant, Annie — orig. Annie Wood (1 oct. 1847, Londres, Inglaterra–20 sep. 1933, Adyar, Madrás). Reformadora social británica. Fue una importante socialista fabiana en la década de 1880, antes de convertirse en adherente de la teosofía en 1889. Fue presidenta… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Besant,Annie Wood — Bes·ant (bĕzʹənt), Annie Wood. 1847 1933. English theosophist, philosopher, and political figure who advocated home rule and educational reforms in India. * * * …   Universalium

  • Annie Besant — en 1897 Naissance 1er octobre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Annie Besant — Besant redirects here. For Walter Besant see Walter Besant. For the coin, see Bezant. Annie Besant Annie Besant in the 1880s Born 1 October 1847(1847 10 01) …   Wikipedia

  • Annie Besant — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Annie Besant Annie Wood Besant en 1897 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Annie Besant — Datei:Annie Besant.jpg Annie Besant Annie Besant im Ornat des 33° des schottischen Freimaurerorden „Le Droit Humain“ . Annie Besant (gebürtig Annie Wood; * 1. Oktober 1847 in Clapham, London; † …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Annie — /an ee/, n. a female given name, form of Ann, Anna, or Anne. * * * (as used in expressions) Besant Annie Annie Wood Leibovitz Annie Oakley Annie Proulx Edna Annie * * * …   Universalium

  • Annie — (as used in expressions) Besant, Annie Annie Wood Leibovitz, Annie Oakley, Annie Proulx, (Edna) Annie …   Enciclopedia Universal

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