Annie Besant (n e Wood; 1 October 1847 - 20 September 1933) was a British socialist, theosophist, women\'s rights activist, writer, orator, educationist, and philanthropist.
When World War I broke out in 1914, she helped launch the Home Rule League to campaign for democracy in India, and dominion status within the British.
In 1907 she became president of the Theosophical Society, whose international headquarters were, by then, located in Adyar, Madras, (Chennai).
She also became involved in politics in India, joining the Indian National Congress.
Over the next few years she established lodges in many parts of the British Empire.
In 1902, she established the first overseas Lodge of the International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain.
In 1898 she helped establish the Central Hindu School, and in 1922 she helped establish the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board in Mumbai, India.
As part of her theosophy-related work, she travelled to India.
She became a member of the Theosophical Society and a prominent lecturer on the subject.
In 1890 Besant met Helena Blavatsky, and over the next few years her interest in theosophy grew, whilst her interest in secular matters waned. for Northampton in 1880.
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The scandal made them famous, and Bradlaugh was subsequently elected M.
In 1877 they were prosecuted for publishing a book by birth control campaigner Charles Knowlton.
She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society (NSS), as well as a writer, and a close friend of Charles Bradlaugh.
However, Annie\'s increasingly unconventional religious views led to their legal separation in 1873.
In 1867, Annie, at age 20, married Frank Besant, a clergyman, and they had two children.
As an educationist, her contributions included the founding of the Banaras Hindu University.
She was a prolific author with over three hundred books and pamphlets to her credit.
Regarded as a champion of human freedom, she was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule.
Annie Besant (n e Wood; 1 October 1847 - 20 September 1933) was a British socialist, theosophist, women\'s rights activist, writer, orator, educationist, and philanthropist
