Theos-Talk Archives (July 2009 Message tt00533)

I thought she died long ago.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
 
In a message dated 7/30/2009 8:31:34 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
Jason, you made my day.

I had heard thru the grapevine that Rukmini  Devi Arundale was offered the
appointment as the President of India and  that she declined. But this is 
the
first time, I am getting first hand  confirmation.

For those who may not know the full background, let me  elaborate. In India,
the President is nominated by the Prime Minister who  runs the country, like
in England and other democracies. While it is a  nominal head of the 
country,
and a prestigious one, it is normally held by  politicians. India recently
had the first woman President. If Rukmini had  accepted the offer, she would
have been the first woman to hold the office.  The fact she declined the
office says a lot about her.

Rukmini is  the wife of George Arundale, who succeeded Annie Besant as the
President of  TS. She, single handedly revived the ancient art of Indian
Dance and  world-over today, there are schools teaching Indian Dance. There
are  several in most large cities even in the USA and the students usually
are  the children of emigrants from India. She also started a school in  
Adyar
which taught Indian music and dance and some years ago, it became a  
National
University offering higher degrees, a very unique  achievement.

This is one instance of how a theosophist connected with  the public and I 
am
sure it helped in attracting members to the  TS.

MKR

visit www.theosophy.vis

On Thu, Jul 30, 2009  at 6:31 PM, jasonsriram <_jasonsriram@jasonsrir_ 
(mailto:jasonsriram@yahoo.com) >  wrote:

>
>
> MK
>
> Maybe it is just a case  of "see it happened before". However, I agree 
with
> your assessment  that there was no case of claims of either 
electioneering or
> false or  misleading statements from either party as I recall in 1980. In
> fact I  was in Adyar in 1980 and have no recollection of rancour or 
ongoing
>  spatting as is occurring now.
>
> In 1976 she (Rukmini) was  nominated to be President of India, a post she
> declined. I spoke with  her in 1981 about it and she stated she declined
> because she had "no  interest in political life". So I really doubt that 
it
> was anything  other that an unwanted result from a post she felt she was
> qualified  for.
>
> If Betty can disclose more on the source of her  information I would be 
very
> interested to know more on  this.
>
> Jason
>
> --- In _theos-talk@yahoogrotheos-t_ (mailto:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com)   
<theos-talk%theos-talk%<WBthe>, MKR
> <mkr777@...>  wrote:
> >
> > Six weeks ago, Betty Bland, President  (National Secretary) of TS in
> America,
> > in a cyberspace  write-up stated:
> > .
> > +++
> > Although no one  is contesting the outcome of the 2008 presidential
> election,
>  > the problem remains that the machinations of the international  
elections
> are
> > unsound. For example, the international  presidential contest in 1980,
> when
> > Radha Burnier won over  Rukmini Devi, was also fraught with differences 
of
> >  opinion.
> > +++
> > .
> > The comments coming from  the National Head of TS in America, is
> surprising
> > and  need elaboration so that members can clearly understand the
>  statement.
> > .
> > Dictionary defines machinations  as:
> > .
> > ** a scheming or crafty action or artful  design intended to accomplish
> some
> > usually evil  end
> > .
> > When anyone holding a high position in a  spiritual organization such as
> TS
> > makes such statements,  I think members are owed an explanation backing 
up
> > the  statement.
> > .
> > The second comment about the 1980  election, is even more interesting. I
> have
> > never seen any  allegation from Rukmini Devi or her supporters inside TS
> or
>  > outside TS about anything questionable about the 1980 election.
>  > RukminiDevi, whose husband George
> > Arundale was President  succeeding Annie Besant, is very widely known in
> > India and around  the world due to her long active involvement in TS and
> her
>  > other outside activities. If there was any problem whatsoever with  the
> 1980
> > election, we would have heard them loud and  clear soon after the
> election. I
> > have not heard of any  allegation or complaint. I do not know what
> > information Betty  Bland is privy to that ordinary members around the
> world
> >  are ignorant of. When such public statements are made, it is not
> >  unreasonable for members ask for substantiation.
> > .
> >  Several weeks ago, I wrote an open letter to Betty requesting
>  clarification.
> > We have not heard anything so far.
> >  .
> > The above situation does not help anyone. Already, level of  trust many
> > members have in the TS leaders is very low. This was  the result of the
> > election campaign and post election ultra  secret attempt by general
> council
> > members to  disenfranchise members world-wide and seize the power to
>  appoint
> > the president.
> > .
> > I hope soon we  will get some response substantiating the above
> statements.
>  > Due to the nature of the statements, by keeping silent, the  questions
> > surrounding the statements, are not going to go  away.
> > .
> > MKR
> > .
> > Visit  www.theosophy. Vi
> >
> >
> > [Non-text  portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>  
>

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