N. Sri Ram

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Nilakanta Sri Ram (born December 15, 1889 in Thanjavur , Tamil Nadu , India ; † April 8, 1973 in Adyar , India) was an Indian author , Freemason , theosophist and president of the Adyar Theosophical Society (Adyar-TG).

Life

Childhood, youth and work

Ram was born on December 15, 1889 in Thanjavur, one of eight children of Nilakanta Sastri and his wife Seshammal. The family belonged to the Brahmin caste , the father was an engineer and a well-known Sanskrit scholar , the family was very respected and wealthy. Both his father and his sister Rukmini Devi Arundale were members of the Adyar-TG and worked for them. Ram was married and his daughter Radha Burnier later became President of the Adyar-TG. After graduating from college, Ram himself taught at several schools founded by Annie Besant , the Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle , the National School in Bangalore and the National University of India in Chennai .

In the Adyar-TG

Like many theosophists of that time, Ram was also involved in the Indian independence movement around the Indian National Congress and stood up for the workers' union. In addition to his function as Annie Besants' private secretary, he was temporarily secretary, treasurer and vice president of the Adyar-TG. Ram also worked as a ghostwriter for Besant. Since 1950 he was rector of the School of the Wisdom (= School of Wisdom) in Adyar . After Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa had announced in late 1952 that he would not run for a second term as President of the Adyar-TG, Ram applied for this post and was also elected on February 17, 1953. During his 20-year presidency in 1966, he built a new building for the Adyar Library and the Vasanta Press , the Adyar-TG printing house.

Freemasonry

Ram was a member of Le Droit Humain and Grand Commander of the Indian Federation.

Death and succession

Ram died at the age of 83, on April 8, 1973 in Adyar, of the consequences of a heart attack . John Coats succeeded him as President of Adyar-TG .

Works (selection)

  • An approach to reality . Theosophical Publishing House, Madras 1968
  • The human being, his origin and his development . Adyar-Verlag, Graz 1963
  • Thoughts for aspirants . Adyar-Verlag, Graz 1971, ISBN 3-85005-041-6
  • 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

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