Mohandas K. Gandhi

Introduction to the Theosophical Society

Gandhi arrived in London on October 28, 1888. He was introduced to Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant in November 1889, but did not join the Theosophical Society at that time. However, he began to read Theosophical literature and related works, such as The Light of Asia and The Song Celestial by Edwin Arnold, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and Blavatsky's The Key to Theosophy. He became engaged in several organizations that promoted vegetarianism, along with Edwin Arnold and Josiah Oldfield, who shared rooms with Gandhi for a time. He attended the funeral of Charles Bradlaugh, Annie Besant's mentor, on January 30, 1891. On March 26, 1891, he was enrolled as associate member of London Theosophical Society. His involvement with the Society ended later that year, when he sailed for India on June 12.