Theos-Talk Archives (August 1999 Message tt00061)

At 11:20 AM 08/26/1999 -0700, Dr Aidan Rankin wrote:
>
>Finally, to return to my diagreement with MKR.  It is a sign of Theosophy's
>strength and breadth that it attracts two arcticulate men of such diverging
>views as ourselves.  However it also shows that Theosophy is incompatible
>with politics and should transcend such issues.  Dare I suggest that the
>founders of the Theosophical Society were wrong to be so associated with
>political campaigns?
>

A reading of the early history of TS indicates that theosophists including
the Founders were indeed interested and in many cases actively participated
in issues that can be considered as political. The distinction that is made
is that TS as an organization was not involved in politics but it was the
members in their personal capacity that took interest in political issues.
Also many other efforts were made by the members and leaders in attacking
social issues concerning the public.

1. It A. O. Hume, an officer of Indian Civil Service which ran the
administration of colonial India who with some other members of TS met
after an annual convention of TS in Adyar and formed the Indian National
Congress which spearheaded the Indian Independence Movement. Even today,
Hume is noted as the "Father" of Indian Independence Movement. Later, when
Besant took active interest in Indian Pollitics she was elected as the
President of INC. Incidentally, Hume was one of the two englishmen with
whom the Adept Founders had written communication which were published in
ML to APS.

2. During the early days, when the correspondence between the Adepts and A
P Sinnett took place, the letters indicate the effort to start a newspaper
with Indian investment so that a truer reporting of news can reach the
public in India.

3. Olcott started in Adyar the first school exclusively for helping the
untouchables.

4. Besant was also instrumental in starting the Benares Hindu High School
which later became the Benares University. This was funded by the natives
and was totally controlled by natives.

5. Besant also was instrumental in starting an education trust which
started a chain of school around the country which was locally funded. Many
of them later grew to be Colleges.

6. During the time of HPB, she was against both casteism as well as child
marriage. She tried her best within the membership of TS. Later Besant,
when she came to India she worked on these issues.

7. It was during the period when many of the members took active interest
in social issues which could be considered political that the membership
grew around the world.

8. Anyone one who has the eye on the "Universal Brotherhood" ball, can and
will find issues which if acted on will help the masses however little or
great may be the effect. 

9. It is also quite possible that this lack of interest in the members in
practical/social issues and increased emphasis on the theosophical
doctrines that may be the cause of the steep decline in the membership of TS.

mkr
 

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