Dr. Radha S. Burnier was the seventh, and longest serving (33 years) president of the Theosophical Society International.
Radha was born into a Theosophical household. Her father, N. Sri Ram, was The fifth president of the Theosophical Society. His father, A. Nilakanta Shastri, a civil engineer and a Sanskrit scholar, was an early member. She was the niece of Rukmini Arundale whose school of classical dance at the Kalakshetra Foundation she attended. The young Radha became a Theosophist in 1935. She studied Sanskrit at Benares Hindu University, obtaining a Master's degree. The Adyar Library and Research Centre was her career for 20 years, for the last of those as its director. She was an accomplished dancer, of the Indian classical school. After joining the Society, she led youth and adult lodges for several years. She was a librarian and section headquarters worker from 1945 to 1951. She has served on the Society's general council, as well as other of its committees and councils, since 1960, and has lectured since then around the world, presiding over three world congresses. According to 'The Hindu' [obit, 1Nov2013] "Her talks and writings [were] known for their clarity of thought and depth of vision...[They enrich[ed] the philosophy behind Theosophy by making it relevant to...education, animal welfare and environmental issues."
Dr. Burnier served the Society in many capacities, for many years, she became the president of the Theosophical Society International in 1980. She has since been re-elected 4 times. She was also the International President of the Theosophical Order of Service ("TOS"), which was founded by Annie Besant in 1908.
J. Krishnamurti, who was a Theosophist as a child, and split With the Society, respected her highly, and returned to visit for the first time when she came into the presidency, and then repeatedly, visiting her on his last trip to India.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Burnier, a Swiss photographer. There were no children.
Radha was born into a Theosophical household. Her father, N. Sri Ram, was The fifth president of the Theosophical Society. His father, A. Nilakanta Shastri, a civil engineer and a Sanskrit scholar, was an early member. She was the niece of Rukmini Arundale whose school of classical dance at the Kalakshetra Foundation she attended. The young Radha became a Theosophist in 1935. She studied Sanskrit at Benares Hindu University, obtaining a Master's degree. The Adyar Library and Research Centre was her career for 20 years, for the last of those as its director. She was an accomplished dancer, of the Indian classical school. After joining the Society, she led youth and adult lodges for several years. She was a librarian and section headquarters worker from 1945 to 1951. She has served on the Society's general council, as well as other of its committees and councils, since 1960, and has lectured since then around the world, presiding over three world congresses. According to 'The Hindu' [obit, 1Nov2013] "Her talks and writings [were] known for their clarity of thought and depth of vision...[They enrich[ed] the philosophy behind Theosophy by making it relevant to...education, animal welfare and environmental issues."
Dr. Burnier served the Society in many capacities, for many years, she became the president of the Theosophical Society International in 1980. She has since been re-elected 4 times. She was also the International President of the Theosophical Order of Service ("TOS"), which was founded by Annie Besant in 1908.
J. Krishnamurti, who was a Theosophist as a child, and split With the Society, respected her highly, and returned to visit for the first time when she came into the presidency, and then repeatedly, visiting her on his last trip to India.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Burnier, a Swiss photographer. There were no children.
Dr. Radha S. Burnier was the seventh, and longest serving (33 years) president of the Theosophical Society International.
Radha was born into a Theosophical household. Her father, N. Sri Ram, was The fifth president of the Theosophical Society. His father, A. Nilakanta Shastri, a civil engineer and a Sanskrit scholar, was an early member. She was the niece of Rukmini Arundale whose school of classical dance at the Kalakshetra Foundation she attended. The young Radha became a Theosophist in 1935. She studied Sanskrit at Benares Hindu University, obtaining a Master's degree. The Adyar Library and Research Centre was her career for 20 years, for the last of those as its director. She was an accomplished dancer, of the Indian classical school. After joining the Society, she led youth and adult lodges for several years. She was a librarian and section headquarters worker from 1945 to 1951. She has served on the Society's general council, as well as other of its committees and councils, since 1960, and has lectured since then around the world, presiding over three world congresses. According to 'The Hindu' [obit, 1Nov2013] "Her talks and writings [were] known for their clarity of thought and depth of vision...[They enrich[ed] the philosophy behind Theosophy by making it relevant to...education, animal welfare and environmental issues."
Dr. Burnier served the Society in many capacities, for many years, she became the president of the Theosophical Society International in 1980. She has since been re-elected 4 times. She was also the International President of the Theosophical Order of Service ("TOS"), which was founded by Annie Besant in 1908.
J. Krishnamurti, who was a Theosophist as a child, and split With the Society, respected her highly, and returned to visit for the first time when she came into the presidency, and then repeatedly, visiting her on his last trip to India.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Burnier, a Swiss photographer. There were no children.
Radha was born into a Theosophical household. Her father, N. Sri Ram, was The fifth president of the Theosophical Society. His father, A. Nilakanta Shastri, a civil engineer and a Sanskrit scholar, was an early member. She was the niece of Rukmini Arundale whose school of classical dance at the Kalakshetra Foundation she attended. The young Radha became a Theosophist in 1935. She studied Sanskrit at Benares Hindu University, obtaining a Master's degree. The Adyar Library and Research Centre was her career for 20 years, for the last of those as its director. She was an accomplished dancer, of the Indian classical school. After joining the Society, she led youth and adult lodges for several years. She was a librarian and section headquarters worker from 1945 to 1951. She has served on the Society's general council, as well as other of its committees and councils, since 1960, and has lectured since then around the world, presiding over three world congresses. According to 'The Hindu' [obit, 1Nov2013] "Her talks and writings [were] known for their clarity of thought and depth of vision...[They enrich[ed] the philosophy behind Theosophy by making it relevant to...education, animal welfare and environmental issues."
Dr. Burnier served the Society in many capacities, for many years, she became the president of the Theosophical Society International in 1980. She has since been re-elected 4 times. She was also the International President of the Theosophical Order of Service ("TOS"), which was founded by Annie Besant in 1908.
J. Krishnamurti, who was a Theosophist as a child, and split With the Society, respected her highly, and returned to visit for the first time when she came into the presidency, and then repeatedly, visiting her on his last trip to India.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Burnier, a Swiss photographer. There were no children.
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