The Hindu : Theosophical Society lodge to reopen on Tuesday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Theosophical Society lodge to reopen on Tuesday

By Akhila Seetharaman

CHENNAI, FEB. 15. If buildings could be compared to people, the edifice of the Triplicane Theosophical Society would be a quiet old man of learning, full of remembrances from a bygone era and an aura of wisdom gathered over the years, like the solitary gnarled neem tree by its side.

After two years of renovation, the Triplicane Lodge of the Theosophical Society will reopen on February 17, on `Adyar Day', the death anniversary of Col. Olcott, one of the founders of the society.

Built between 1920 and 1928, the Lodge included a lecture hall, library, guest rooms, an industrial school for the poor and an outhouse. The main hall was dedicated to the memory of Sir. S. Subramania Aiyer, a prominent lawyer, Judge of the High Court of Madras and respected theosophist.

Leaders and theosophists like Annie Besant, George Arundale, Shrinivas Shastri, Muthulakshmi Reddy and Shivaswamy Aiyer had spoken frequently at the Mani Aiyer Hall. "Along with Gokhale Hall, Mani Aiyer Hall was a centre for varied activities including cultural, theosophical studies, lectures and reading on various topics," said Radha Burnier, International President of the Theosophical Society. The hall was also the venue for the second conference of the Music Academy.

Guided by the motto, `there is no religion higher than truth,' the Theosophical Society and its members had been closely connected with the Indian freedom movement. "Many theosophists including Mani Aiyer were interested in independence of India because if you have the right political conditions, other things can be done easily," said Dr. Burnier. "We are interested in a `just' State where everyone has the opportunity to develop culturally and intellectually, and not just job-wise," she said.

"If we want peace and co-operation in the world, we need to bring about transformation within the human being starting with a change in the mind," said Dr. Burnier.

Now that the final coats of paint are over, the Triplicane lodge will again bustle with activities related to theosophy and others that fit into the Society's outlook, like environmental and animal welfare. The Society now plans to take up preservation and protection work of the valuable library collection at the Triplicane Lodge.

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