Q. Annie Besant was responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement, the founder of the Theosophical Society, once the President of the Indian National Congress. - Annie Besant was responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
- She was the founder of the Theosophical Society
- She was once the President of the Indian National Congress
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below. (UPSC Prelims 2013)
Answer:
1 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] 1 and 3 only. While Annie Besant was a central figure in the Theosophical Society, she was not its founder.Analysis of the Statements:
- Home Rule Movement (Statement 1 is Correct): Annie Besant started the All India Home Rule League in September 1916 (following Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s league started in April 1916). Her movement was modeled on the Irish Home Rule League and aimed at achieving self-government for India within the British Empire. She used her newspapers, New India and Commonweal, to spread the message of the movement.
- Founder of the Theosophical Society (Statement 2 is Incorrect): The Theosophical Society was founded in New York City in 1875 by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel H.S. Olcott. Annie Besant joined the society later (in 1889) and became its President in 1907 after Olcott's death. While she was responsible for popularizing the society and shifting its headquarters to Adyar (Madras), she was not a founder.
- President of the Indian National Congress (Statement 3 is Correct): Annie Besant was elected as the first woman President of the Indian National Congress at the Calcutta Session in 1917. Her election was a result of the immense popularity she gained during the Home Rule Movement and the protest against her internment by the British government.