BENGALURU: It was in 1917 that Dr Annie Besant inaugurated the Theosophical Society’s building at Malleswaram. A hundred years later, the society is struggling to raise funds to rebuild the place.
The Malleswaram Lodge, as it was once called, was razed to the ground. “It was dying,” says its president Manorama Mehta, who chose to pull down the damaged building. “There were cracks in the building. We had water leaks destroying our books,” says the 80-year-old Carnatic singer.
The building has to be re-built but the Society has no income of its own. The original building was constructed on a plot donated by a member.
The main branch of the Karnataka Theosophical Federation is on KR Road, Basavangudi. The federation has four branches in Bengaluru, of which Malleswaram is one.
The Theosophical Society was formed in New York on November 17, 1875, and was incorporated in Chennai on the April 3, 1905. The Society in Malleswaram would hold lectures on spirituality and collaborate in activities that celebrate universal brotherhood. “No religion is higher than truth” is how Manorama describes the values of the society.
What Do we Lose?
In an age where the world appears more divided than ever, in the face of rising hostility against immigrants and with doubt overshadowing religion, can the city afford to lose such a rich and open minded heritage than banked on truth and brotherhood?
“We used to regularly have meetings on spirituality... we never discriminated against anyone. The members and general public were welcome,” recalls Manorama. She made the decision to raze the building down in November last year and has since been struggling for donations.
“How can a building stand for more than 100 years? It was just made of brick and mortar. Other than the damage, it was a really small space and couldn’t accomodate more than 50 people,” adds Manorama.
All that Manorama wanted to do was to raise a call for donation. “But not many were forthcoming to help out,” she says.
This is when she started discussing her problems with her children who suggested to her to organise a fundraiser. Her daughter Nandini K Mehta, 53, came to her rescue.
“When my mother expressed her concern about the state of the Malleswaram centre of Theosophical Society, and also having been observant of all the charitable activities the Theosophical Society has been involved in, organising fundraisers was what I could suggest as an artist,” says the dancer who holds a a diploma in Kathak and Choreography.
Evening of Music
Founders of Narthan Academy of Dance and Music (NADAM), Nandini and K Murali Mohan will host two cultural events at Chowdiah Memorial Hall to raise funds for the reconstruction of the building. It has been 25 years since the inception of NADAM, an organisation built with an intent to make art accessible to the general public. “Our primary objective has always been to preserve and promote our heritage. All our programmes are open to all and free,” explains Nandini, who is also proficient in Bharatanatyam.
The cost of the new building which includes one hall, library, toilet, kitchen and lecture rooms is estimated to be around at least `50 lakh.
“I am not looking for a huge place. On the same land, I want a building that can house a lecture hall and library. I am hoping for a garden too inside the compound, but right now we don’t have a single penny,” says Manorama.