Bahman Pestonji Wadia
Encyclopedia
Bahman Pestonji Wadia oder Bomanji Pestonji Wadia (BP Wadia, B.P. Wadia or BPW) (* 8 October 1881 in Mumbai
, India
; † 20 August 1958 in Bangalore
, India) was an Indian theosophist and labour activist. He was first a member of the TS Adyar
, later of the United Lodge of Theosophists
. On 13 April 1918, along with V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar, Wadia founded the Madras Labour Union, one of India's first organised labour unions.
In 1903 he joined the TS in Mumbai
and moved to Adyar in 1908. He worked for the journal The Theosophist
. He became president of the Madras Textile Workers' Union and engaged himself for worker's rights.
In 1919 he visited the ULT in Los Angeles
and was very impressed. When he returned to Adyar in 1919, he tried to work for a change of direction in the TS Adyar, based on the ideals of the ULT, but didn't succeed. He became disappointed and left the TS Adyar to work for the ULT in Los Angeles.
In 1923 he founded several lodges on the east coast of the States. In 1925 he founded a lodge in the UK. In 1928 a lodge was founded in France
, in 1929 in Mumbai, and in 1930 he published the journal "The Aryan Path".
In 1928 he married Sophia Camacho (1911-1986). In 1945 he founded The Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC) in Bangalore
. Other lodges of the ULT were founded in the States, Europe and India.
A street in Bangalore
, B.P. Wadia Road, is named after him.
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
; † 20 August 1958 in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India) was an Indian theosophist and labour activist. He was first a member of the TS Adyar
Theosophical Society Adyar
The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the name of a section of the Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott to Adyar, an area of Chennai in 1883...
, later of the United Lodge of Theosophists
United Lodge of Theosophists
The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member, Robert Crosbie . Crosbie wanted to focus exclusively on the literature left behind by H.P. Blavatsky and William Quan Judge....
. On 13 April 1918, along with V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar, Wadia founded the Madras Labour Union, one of India's first organised labour unions.
In 1903 he joined the TS in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and moved to Adyar in 1908. He worked for the journal The Theosophist
The Theosophist
The Theosophist is a theosophical journal. It was founded in 1879 by Helena Blavatsky, who was also its editor, and is still being published. The journal features articles about philosophy, art, literature and occultism.- External links :...
. He became president of the Madras Textile Workers' Union and engaged himself for worker's rights.
In 1919 he visited the ULT in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and was very impressed. When he returned to Adyar in 1919, he tried to work for a change of direction in the TS Adyar, based on the ideals of the ULT, but didn't succeed. He became disappointed and left the TS Adyar to work for the ULT in Los Angeles.
In 1923 he founded several lodges on the east coast of the States. In 1925 he founded a lodge in the UK. In 1928 a lodge was founded in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1929 in Mumbai, and in 1930 he published the journal "The Aryan Path".
In 1928 he married Sophia Camacho (1911-1986). In 1945 he founded The Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC) in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. Other lodges of the ULT were founded in the States, Europe and India.
A street in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, B.P. Wadia Road, is named after him.
Works
- Growth through service. The Theosophical association of New York, New York 1922
- Problems of national and international politics. Theosophical association of New York, New York 1922
- Studies in „The secret doctrine“. Theosophy Co. (India), Bombay 1963
- The building of the home. Indian Institute of World Culture, Bangalore 1959
- The inner ruler. Theosophical association of New York, New York 1922
- Theosophy and new thought. The Cosmopolitan press, Bombay 1907
- Thus have I heard, leading articles from „The Aryan path“. Indian Institute of World Culture, Bangalore 1959