View source for Avinas Chandra Bannerji

'''Babu Avinas Chandra Bannerji''' or Bannerjee was a Bengali member in the early days of the [[Theosophical Society]]. According to [[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa|Mr. Jinarājadāsa]], he was a physician from Allahabad (Prayag) who attended [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] during an episode of rheumatic fever.<ref>From ''Old Diary Leaves'' as published in ''The Theosophist'' 17.8 (May, 1896), 479.</ref> He may have also been a vakil, or pleader, because his name appears for respondents in legal cases.

== Involvement with Theosophical Society ==

Colonel Olcott wrote of Bannerji's service as physician to Madame Blavatsky:
<blockquote>
H. P. B.'s rheumatic fever continued several days, causing her agonizing pains: the arm swelled to the shoulder and she tossed about night after night, despite the devoted and unselfish ministrations of her physician, Dr. Avinas Chandra Banerji, of Allahabad, who won all our hearts by his kindness and patience.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves Second Series (1878-83)'' , p. 287.</ref>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
One of those who met us at the Allahabad railway station was Dr. Avinas Chandra Banerji, who treated her in 1879 with so much devotion and intelligence when she lay tossing about in fever at the house of our friends, the Sinnetts. He was very young in the profession then, but the conduct of no graybeard Æsculapius could have been more discreet. He won her affectionate regard and my friendship and gratitude at the same time.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves Second Series (1878-83)'' , p. 283.</ref>
</blockquote> 

In his commentary about '''[[Mahatma Letter to H. S. Olcott - LMW 2 No. 40|Letter 40]]''' in [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)|''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Second Series'']]''', Mr. Jinarajadasa wrote:
[[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa|Mr. Jinarājadāsa]] commented:
<blockquote>
From the Master [[Hilarion]], received June 6, 1883. [[Henry Steel Olcott|Colonel Olcott]] writes in that date in his [[Old Diary Leaves (book)|Diary]]: “Had nice test this a.m. Couldn’t decide whether to accept invitations to Colombo or Allahabad first. Put Avinas Ch. Bannerji’s letter in shrine, locked door, instantly reopened it and got the written orders of Maha Sahib through Hilarion in French. Done while I stood there and not half a minute had elapsed.” The Master H. was in Bombay on February 19, 1881, when He visited both Founders: Colonel Olcott thus writes in his Diary: “Hilarion is here en route for Tibet and has been looking over, in, and through the situation. Finds B — something morally awful. Views on India, Bombay, the T.S. in Bombay, Ceylon (—), England and Europe, Christianity and other subjects highly interesting.”<ref>C. Jinarājadāsa, 81.</ref>
</blockquote>

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Nationality Indian|Bannerji, Avinas]]
[[Category:Associates of HPB|Bannerji, Avinas]]
[[Category:Physicians|Bannerji, Avinas]]
[[Category:Attorneys|Bannerji, Avinas]]
[[Category:People|Bannerji, Avinas]]