Nilakanta Sri Ram
Encyclopedia
Nilakanta Sri Ram or Nilakantha Sri Ram (N. Sri Ram) (* 15 December 1889 in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
, India
; † 8 April 1973 in Adyar, India) was a freemason, theosophist and president of the Theosophical Society Adyar
.
In his early years Sri Ram worked under Annie Besant
in various capacities. Sri Ram was a teacher at the Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle
, the National School in Bangalore
and the National University of India in Chennai
.
The twenty years of N. Sri Ram’s Presidency represented a very important change in the work of the Theosophical Society and also in the perception its members’ had of the nature of Theosophy. His achievement was indeed an outstanding one: a shift from an emphasis on the occult side of things and its related phenomena, to the focus on the lofty ethics of Theosophy, or true occultism, and its role in the transformation of the human consciousness. N. Sri Ram was the last President of the TS to have had contact with the President-Founder, Col. Olcott. He represented a link with the very origins of the Society and its work, not only historically but above all spiritually.
Sri Ram's daughter Radha Burnier
is a prominent theosophist and currently president of the TS Adyar.
He became president of the TS Adyar in 1953 and stayed in that office till his death in 1973. He was also member of Le Droit Humain
.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, 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...
; † 8 April 1973 in Adyar, India) was a freemason, theosophist and president of the Theosophical Society 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...
.
In his early years Sri Ram worked under Annie Besant
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a prominent British Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.She was married at 19 to Frank Besant but separated from him over religious differences. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society ...
in various capacities. Sri Ram was a teacher at the Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle
Madanapalle
Madanapalle , is a town and a Municipality located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state, India - population 107,512 . Legend has it that the name of the town was originally " Maryaada raamanna puram" which has over time, changed into " Madanapalle".It is one of the biggest Revenue...
, the National School 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...
and the National University of India in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
The twenty years of N. Sri Ram’s Presidency represented a very important change in the work of the Theosophical Society and also in the perception its members’ had of the nature of Theosophy. His achievement was indeed an outstanding one: a shift from an emphasis on the occult side of things and its related phenomena, to the focus on the lofty ethics of Theosophy, or true occultism, and its role in the transformation of the human consciousness. N. Sri Ram was the last President of the TS to have had contact with the President-Founder, Col. Olcott. He represented a link with the very origins of the Society and its work, not only historically but above all spiritually.
Sri Ram's daughter Radha Burnier
Radha Burnier
Radha Burnier is president of the Theosophical Society Adyar since 1980. She was General Secretary of the Indian Section of the Society between 1960 and 1978....
is a prominent theosophist and currently president of the TS Adyar.
He became president of the TS Adyar in 1953 and stayed in that office till his death in 1973. He was also member of Le Droit Humain
Le Droit Humain
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity. The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual...
.
Works (selection)
- An approach to reality. Theosophical Publishing House, Madras 1968
- On the watch tower, selected editorial notes from The Theosophist, 1953-1966. Theosophical Publishing House, Madras 1966
- The human interest and other addresses and short essays. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1968