The passing away of Radha Burnier has created a deep void in the field of theosophy. She served the Theosophical Society in various capacities from her childhood, most notably as its president for 33 years.
Burnier, who actively popularised theosophical ideas with her lectures and writings across the globe, breathed her last on October 31, after a prolonged illness. She was 90.
‘Radhaji’ as respectfully called by the members of the Society, will occupy a special place in ‘Adyar’. She loved the place and cared for it. For example, she had an intimate knowledge of the ‘Huddleston Gardens’ and ensured it was kept beautiful, and serene.
“I came in contact with Radha Burnier in 1962. She was the general secretary of the Indian section of the Society in Varanasi. She was a perfectionist to the core and totally self-abnegating and very sensitive to the sufferings of others. She had concern for trees, plants, and animals. Mrs. Burnier is noted for highest intellectual acumen, intuitive wisdom, and deep insights into all aspects of life,” said S. Harihara Raghavan, general manager, The Theosophical Society.
The theosophist lived with dignity, clothed in simplicity, and was totally dedicated to Theosophy, Theosophical Society, and human regeneration. Her life was a saga of simplicity, selflessness, and service at the altar of divinity, he added.
Radha Burnier was born in The Theosophical Society’s estate at Adyar, Chennai, on 15 November, 1923, into a theosophical family. She is the daughter of N. Sri Ram, who was the fifth president of The Theosophical Society. Her grandfather A. Nilakanta Sastri, a civil engineer by profession and a Sanskrit scholar, was an early member of the Society, and much inspired by the Founders of the Society, when they came to India and Madras.
Radha joined the Society in 1935, when she was 11-years-old and became actively involved with its various activities from 1945. She was President of the Youth Lodge, Adyar Lodge, and the Madras Theosophical Federation in succession. From 1954-59, she was the assistant director of the Adyar Library and Research Centre, founded by Col. Olcott, and its director from 1959 -1980.
Burnier was elected as the seventh international president of the Theosophical Society, and took office on 17 July 1980. She was re-elected to her fifth seven-year term in 2008, and has travelled widely for the Society’s work, delivering talks and lectures to members and the public, inspiring all those who wanted to lead a noble life based on unity and brotherhood.
Dr. Chittaranjan Satapathy, international secretary, The Theosophical Society, said, “Radhaji was the longest serving president of the Theosophical Society for 33-long years. She led the society from its international headquarters in Adyar with great ability, wisdom, and loving kindness. She was a true theosophist, who spread the spirit of universal brotherhood, and lived a simple and saintly life”.
“Radha Burnier was a voracious reader of philosophical literature. Mrs. Burnier was meticulous to the core, and cared for details. She knew the details of every place, where the society exists, and also the members, running the Theosophical movement in various places across India. She had a magnetic personality, and lived by the teachings she learnt, and reflected them in her life,” M. P. Singhal, international vice-president of the Society, said.
The Theosophical Society observes February 17 as ‘Adyar Day’ in memory of its founder-president Col. Henry Steel Olcot and as well as a homage to all the other pioneers. The members, who are scattered around the globe, turn to Adyar, to remember and say thanks to those who walked before them, dedicated their lives to Theosophy, and gave us the very special gift ‘Adyar’.
Radha Burnier is one of those that gave that special gift.
