Radha Burnier

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Radha Burnier

Radha Burnier (born November 15, 1923 in Adyar , India ; born Radha Sri Ram ; † October 31, 2013 in Adyar, India) was an Indian Freemason , theosophist and former president of the Adyar Theosophical Society (Adyar-TG).

Life

Childhood, youth, work and marriage

Burnier was born on November 15, 1923 in Adyar, the daughter of Nilakanta Sri Ram . He was connected to theosophy from his youth and from February 17, 1953 until his death on April 8, 1973 he was president of the Adyar-TG. From this side Burnier grew up practically from birth with theosophy, she also attended exclusively theosophical or theosophical-influenced schools. In 1936 she was the first student in the Kalakshetra dance school founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale , where she learned Indian classical dance . She later attended Banaras Hindu University , where she graduated with a Master of Arts in Sanskrit . In 1951 she took part in the film drama The River by Jean Renoir in some dance scenes. In 1984 Nagarjuna University made her an honorary doctorate . She was president of the Olcott Education Society , an organization that operates several schools in India. In addition, she was committed to animal welfare. Burnier married the Swiss photographer Raymond Burnier (1912–1968) around 1950 , the marriage remained childless.

In the Adyar-TG

Burnier was active in the Adyar-TG since her youth and worked on numerous projects in several countries. In 1954 (1959?) She became director of the Adyar Library , which she held until 1979 (1980?) And from 1960 to 1978 she was general secretary of the Indian section of the Adyar-TG. After the death of John Coats on December 26, 1979, she applied next to her former teacher Rukmini Devi Arundale for the office of President of the Adyar-TG. After all, she received the most votes and was president from July 17, 1980.

As president

Since Jiddu Krishnamurti had dissolved the Order of the Star of the East on August 3, 1929 , there had been a strong estrangement between him and the Adyar-TG, and the connection was completely broken with the death of Annie Besant on September 20, 1933. Since then, the Adyar-TG has been hostile to the person and the teachings of Krishnamurti. Burnier, who has been friends with Krishnamurti since childhood, officially invited Krishnamurti in her capacity as president in 1980 to Adyar at the headquarters of the Adyar-TG, thus setting a sign of reconciliation. In the following years, both positions came closer together and in the March 1986 and May 1995 editions of the theosophical journal The Theosophist , extremely Krishnamurti-friendly articles appeared and errors on the part of the Adyar-TG were admitted. Burnier was able to close an old wound and at least take a step towards relaxation.

The first German section of the Theosophical Society was founded on October 19, 1902. On the occasion of the celebration of 100 years of Adyar-TG in Germany , on July 20, 2002 in Berlin , Burnier visited Germany and took part in the festivities.

The Freemason

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

Works

  • Human regeneration, lectures and discussions . Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1991, ISBN 81-7059-169-4 .
  • No Other Path to Go . Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1985, ISBN 0-8356-7578-5 .
  • The Way of Self-Knowledge . Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1993, ISBN 81-7059-216-X .
  • Truth, Beauty, and Goodness . Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1985, ISBN 0-8356-7576-9 .

Web links

Commons : Radha Burnier  - Collection of Images

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Radha Burnier, president of Theosophical Society, dies at 90 , accessed November 3, 2013
personal data
SURNAME Burnier, Radha
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ram, Radha Sri (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Indian author, freemason and theosophist
DATE OF BIRTH November 15, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Adyar , India
DATE OF DEATH October 31, 2013
Place of death Adyar , India