Theosophical Society

The society was founded in United States by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott who later came to India and founded the headquarters at Adyar in Madras in 1886.The Theosophical movement grew in India as a result of the leadership given to it by Mrs Annie Besant who had come to India in 1893.As religious revivalists the theosophists were not very successful. But as a movement led by westerners who glorified Indian religion and philosophical tradition, it helped Indians recover their self –confidence. One of Mrs Besant’s many achievements in India was the establishment of the Central Hindu School at Benaras which was later developed by Madan Mohan Malaviya into Benaras Hindu University.