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'''Kavasji Merwanji Shroff''' (1856-1927) was a highly educated Parsi (Zoroastrian) member in Bombay, and one of the earliest Indian members of the [[Theosophical Society]].
== Zoroastrians and the Theosophical Society ==


== Personal life and education ==
=== Early history ===


Little is known of Shroff's life and early years. He was a resident of Bombay.
=== Prominent Zoroastrian Theosophists ===
<gallery widths="130px" heights="150px" perrow="5">
File:N._D._Khandalavala.jpg|<center>|N. D. Khandalavala</center>
File:B._J._Padshah.jpg|<center>Burjorji J. Padshah</center>
File:Col_Ghadiali.jpg|<center>Dinshah P. Ghadiali</center>
File:B_P_Wadia_1.jpg|<center>B. P. Wadia</center>


At some point he became a colleague and friend of Miss Mary Carpenter, an English educator and philanthropist.<ref>"The Poor Brutes" ''The Theosophist'' 4 no. 39 (December, 1882): 54.</ref> In 1874 he made a tour of the United States, lecturing about [[Zoroastrianism]].
</gallery>  
'''[[N. D. Khandalavala]]''' (Khān Bahādur Navroji Dorabji Khandalavala) was a provincial judge who greatly assisted the [[Founders]] after becoming a member in 1879. He corresponded with [[H. P. Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]], who disclosed to him important information about the Mahatmas and other matters.


He served as secretary of the Bombay Branch of the National Indian Association, and of the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.<ref>"A Report of the Theosophical Society" Supplement to ''The Theosophist'' 3 no. 29 (February, 1882): 10.</ref>
'''[[K. M. Shroff]]''' was a highly educated Parsi member in Bombay. In 1874 he lectured in the United States, and Shroff joined the TS by corresponding with the Founders before they left New York, making him one of the earliest Indian members. He was vice president of the Bombay Branch from 1882 to 1885, a member of the TS General Council, and a major speaker at the 1882 convention. Col. Olcott referred to him as “the all-accomplishing Mr. K. M. Shroff.” Certainly, he was persuasive and energetic; and he helped to establish the Homeopathic Charitable Dispensary and Bombay Veterinary College and Hospital, working with Tukaram Tatya. Shroff testified in support of HPB in the [[The Vega Incident|Vega incident]]. In 1883 he become editor of the Jam-e-Jamshed daily newspaper published in Gujarati and English.


== Theosophical Society involvement ==
'''[[Sorabji J. Padshah]]''' (1856-1927) was another Parsi who joined the Society in 1880. He traveled with the Founders on their first trip to Ceylon, and served as Assistant Recording Secretary and on the General Council. In 1881 he received [[Mahatma Letter to Padshah - LMW 2 No. 77|an encouraging letter from Master K.H.]], but after a few years he lost interest in Theosophy.
His younger brother’’’ [[Burjorji J. Padshah]]’’’ (1864-1941) was a mathematics professor trained at Cambridge. He exerted great influence on the development of India’s largest conglomerate, the Tata Group, and on establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. He practiced Theosophical principles his whole life, abstaining from meat, leather, alcohol, and tobacco and advocating for animal welfare.


Shroff was one of the earliest and most active Zoroastrian members of the [[Theosophical Society]]. In 1874 he lectured in the United States, and [[Henry Steel Olcott|Col. Olcott]] traveled from Boston to New York to meet him. Unfortunately, that meeting did not take place, but Shroff joined the TS by corresponding with the Founders before they left New York.<ref>"White Lotus Day at Bombay" Supplement to ''The Theosophist'' 16 no. 9 (June, 1895): xxxii.</ref><ref>H. S. Olcott, "Old Diary Leaves Oriental Series - Chapter III" ''The Theosophist'' 16 no. 3 (December 1894): 138.</ref> 
A later Zoroastrian was '''[[Dinshah Ghadiali|Dinshah P. Ghadiali]]''' (1873-1966), who was born in India but became a naturalized American citizen. His interests in medicine and electrical engineering led to patenting the Spectro-Chrome device for light therapy. He was a member of the Theosophical Society from 1891 to 1966, and published at least 16 books.


He was vice president of the Bombay Branch from 1882 to 1885, a member of the TS General Council, and delivered a brilliant speech at the 1882 convention, when [[D. M. Bennett]] was visiting. Shroff had been a member of the party welcoming Bennett at the dock, along with Colonel Olcott and [[Damodar K. Mavalankar|Damodar]]/ Col. Olcott referred to him as “the all-accomplishing Mr. K. M. Shroff.”<ref>H. S. Olcott, "Charities" ''Lucifer'' 3 no. 18 (February, 1889): 503.</ref> Shroff spoke at Olcott's request to newly initiated members of the Bombay T.S. about observing [[phenomena]]:
'''[[B. P. Wadia]]''' ...........


<blockquote>
[[Category:TSWiki categories]]
At the request of the President-Founder, Mr. K.. M. Shroff, the Councillor of the Parent body, one of the most energetic fellows of the Society, addressed the meeting, explaining to the members to their entire satisfaction, certain phenomenal occurrences that had recently come under his personal observation and had also been witnessed by His Highness Daji Raja Chandrasingji, the Raja’s Dewan and by Rawal Shree Harreesinghji of Sihore, and a few others.<ref>"The Bombay Theosophical Society" ''The Theosophist'' 3 no. 6 (March 1882): 1. </ref>
These practitioners of Zoroastrianism were Theosophists or were significant to the Theosophical movement. Two culturally distinct groups of Zoroastrians exist in India: '''Parsis or Parsees''', who descended from Persians who emigrated to India in the 8th and 10th centuries CE; and '''Iranis''', who made a similar migration many centuries later.
 
=== Adyar headquarters ===
</blockquote>
International Theosophical Society president [[Radha Burnier]] lived at ‘’’Parsi House’’’ at the headquarters estate in Adyar. That [[Adyar (campus)|campus]] also features a Zoroastrian Temple and symbols of Zoroastrianism in the main hall.
 
In 1883 he become editor of the ''Jam-e-Jamshed'' daily newspaper published in Gujarati and English, and members of the Bombay Branch contributed articles on Theosophical topics.<ref>"Bombay Theosophical Society" Supplement to ''The Theosophist'' (January, 1888): xxiv.</ref>
 
Shroff was persuasive and energetic in his Theosophical work; and he helped to establish the Homeopathic Charitable Dispensary and Bombay Veterinary College and Hospital, working with [[Tukaram Tatya]].<ref>"Charitable Dispensary in Bombay" Supplement to ''The Theosophist'' 6 no. 61 (October, 1884): 143.</ref><ref>"Charities" ''Lucifer'' 3 no. 18 (February, 1889): 503</ref> Unfit and diseased oxen could be treated for free at this facility as a humane substitution for the previous system that forced the owners to take the animals to court and then pay fines without improving the condition of the cattle. The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also provided water troughs where needed for draft animals. Mr. Shroff lectured and raised money on behalf of the S.P.C.A.<ref>"The Poor Brutes" ''The Theosophist'' 4 no. 39 (December, 1882): 54 .</ref>
 
In 1882 Shroff worked with Stuart Beatson, a young cavalry officer, to take legal action against the editor of ''Rast Goftar'', who had accused Blavatsky and Olcott of taking money.<ref>See HPB letter to Khandalavala dated Jan-Feb 1882 and HPB letter to Khandalavala dated March 1882. ''HPB Collected Letters'' Volume 2.</ref>
 
He was the leading signatory of a certificate written by a group of Bombay Theosophists to Mrs. Gordon, attesting to the process by which letters were sent in the [[The Vega incident|Vega incident]].<ref>See Introduction to Letter 244 in ''HPB Collected Letters''.</ref>
 
==Online resources==
===Articles===  
 
== Notes ==
<references/>
 
[[Category:Nationality Indian|Shroff, K. M.]]
[[Category:Zoroastrians|Shroff, K. M.]]
[[Category:Editors|Shroff, K. M.]]
[[Category:Associates of HPB|Shroff, K. M.]]
[[Category:People|Shroff, K. M.]]

Revision as of 21:42, 7 September 2023

Zoroastrians and the Theosophical Society

Early history

Prominent Zoroastrian Theosophists

  • N. D. Khandalavala
    N. D. Khandalavala
  • Burjorji J. Padshah
    Burjorji J. Padshah
  • Dinshah P. Ghadiali
    Dinshah P. Ghadiali
  • B. P. Wadia
    B. P. Wadia

N. D. Khandalavala (Khān Bahādur Navroji Dorabji Khandalavala) was a provincial judge who greatly assisted the Founders after becoming a member in 1879. He corresponded with Madame Blavatsky, who disclosed to him important information about the Mahatmas and other matters.

K. M. Shroff was a highly educated Parsi member in Bombay. In 1874 he lectured in the United States, and Shroff joined the TS by corresponding with the Founders before they left New York, making him one of the earliest Indian members. He was vice president of the Bombay Branch from 1882 to 1885, a member of the TS General Council, and a major speaker at the 1882 convention. Col. Olcott referred to him as “the all-accomplishing Mr. K. M. Shroff.” Certainly, he was persuasive and energetic; and he helped to establish the Homeopathic Charitable Dispensary and Bombay Veterinary College and Hospital, working with Tukaram Tatya. Shroff testified in support of HPB in the Vega incident. In 1883 he become editor of the Jam-e-Jamshed daily newspaper published in Gujarati and English.

Sorabji J. Padshah (1856-1927) was another Parsi who joined the Society in 1880. He traveled with the Founders on their first trip to Ceylon, and served as Assistant Recording Secretary and on the General Council. In 1881 he received an encouraging letter from Master K.H., but after a few years he lost interest in Theosophy. His younger brother’’’ Burjorji J. Padshah’’’ (1864-1941) was a mathematics professor trained at Cambridge. He exerted great influence on the development of India’s largest conglomerate, the Tata Group, and on establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. He practiced Theosophical principles his whole life, abstaining from meat, leather, alcohol, and tobacco and advocating for animal welfare.

A later Zoroastrian was Dinshah P. Ghadiali (1873-1966), who was born in India but became a naturalized American citizen. His interests in medicine and electrical engineering led to patenting the Spectro-Chrome device for light therapy. He was a member of the Theosophical Society from 1891 to 1966, and published at least 16 books.

B. P. Wadia ........... These practitioners of Zoroastrianism were Theosophists or were significant to the Theosophical movement. Two culturally distinct groups of Zoroastrians exist in India: Parsis or Parsees, who descended from Persians who emigrated to India in the 8th and 10th centuries CE; and Iranis, who made a similar migration many centuries later.

Adyar headquarters

International Theosophical Society president Radha Burnier lived at ‘’’Parsi House’’’ at the headquarters estate in Adyar. That campus also features a Zoroastrian Temple and symbols of Zoroastrianism in the main hall.

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