Some foreigners also participated in the Indian independence movement against the British. They played their part by organizing many struggles and programs to liberate India from the British. The person who stood at the forefront of this was Annie Besant. Annie Besant from Britain was known as a great social reformer, founder of the Home Rule Movement, lawyer, and writer. After the death of H.S. Olcott in 1907, Annie Besant became the second International President of the Theosophical Society. She held this position until her death. Annie Besant participated in Indian politics from 1913. She was unanimously elected as the President of the annual session of the National Congress (1917) held in Kolkata. With this, she gained recognition as the first foreign woman to preside over the Congress. She fought extensively for women’s equality and freedom. She established women’s councils for the women of the country. Annie Besant died on 20 September 1933.
Annie Besant’s Home Rule Movement
Annie Besant founded the National College at Madanapalle and the Hindu School at Benares. This school was later converted into the Benares Hindu University. Annie Besant’s adopted son Jiddu Krishna Murthy believed in the doctrine of ‘attainment of truth without a teacher’. Krishnamurthy wrote a book called ‘At the Feet of the Master’.
In September 1916, Annie Besant started the Home Rule League in the Madras region. Annie Besant was appointed as the president of this organization, Ramaswamy Iyer as the general secretary, and BP Wadia as the treasurer. In 1918, Wadia founded the Madras Labour Union. This was the first trade union in the country. This movement spread to Bombay, Karnataka, and the Central Provinces. The Home Rule movement in Andhra was led by Gadicharla Harasarvottam Rao.
By October 1916, more than 500 Home Rule branches had been formed across the country. Anil Besant ran the newspapers Common Wheel and New India, and published many articles in them, which inspired Indians. As a result, both of them were arrested and these two newspapers were banned.
In recognition of her selfless services, Ani Besant was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. Leaders like Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Chittaranjan Das, Madan Mohan Malviya, and Lala Lajpat Rai expressed their support for the Home Rule Movement.
