Nilakanta Sri Ram

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

Life

Childhood, youth and vocational

Ram was born on 15 December 1889 in Thanjavur as 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, highly respected family 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 was later President of the Adyar -TG. After his graduation at the College Ram himself taught at several of Annie Besant founded schools, Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle the, the National School in Bangalore and the National University of India in Chennai.

In the Adyar -TG

How many Theosophists that time, also Ram committed in the Indian independence movement around the Indian National Congress and joined the workers ' union. In addition to his role as private secretary Annie Besant, 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 to run for no second term as President of the Adyar -TG to Ram applied for that post and was also elected on 17 February 1953. During his 20- year presidency in 1966, he built a new building for the Adyar Library and the Vasanta Press, the printing of the Adyar -TG.

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 8 April 1973 in Adyar, to a heart attack. His successor as President of the Adyar -TG was John Coats.

Works (selection)

  • An approach to reality. Theosophical Publishing House, Madras, 1968
  • Man, its origin and its development. Adyar -Verlag, Graz 1963
  • Thoughts for Aspiring. Adyar -Verlag, Graz 1971, ISBN 3-85005-041-6
  • On the watchtower, 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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