Annie Besant, the daughter of William Wood and Emily Morris, was born in London on 1st October 1847. After leaving her husband Annie Besant completely rejected Christianity and in 1874 joined the Secular Society.
In the 1890s Annie Besant became a supporter of Theosophy, a religious movement founded by Madame Blavatsky in 1875. Theosophy was based on Hindu ideas of karma and reincarnation with nirvana as the eventual aim.
Besant first visited India in 1893 and later settled there, becoming involved in the Indian nationalist movement. Dr.Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu College at Benares (Varanasi) in 1898. and she received a degree in Sanskrit literature, English literature and Indian history from this institution.
During the inaugural function of Benaras Hindu University, Dr.Annie Besant told that during 40years, she had learned a lot from the world about all the religions and come to a conclusion that there are no other religion equivalents to Hindu religion. She told that Hindu religion itself containing the doctrines of Scientific, Divinely and truth nature of studies. She added there is no wrong in telling that Hindu and India cannot be separated.
Dr.Annie Besant started studying Indian scriptures, religious texts and was drawn by the catholicity of Bhagavad-Gita and the Upanishads. She got acquainted with Hindu manners and customs. She was president of the Indian National Congress in 1917Annie Besant died in India on 20th September 1933 at the age of 86.
Sister Nivedita.
Sister Nivedita [1867-1911] is remembered by the world as one of the greatest 
disciples and interpreters of Swami Vivekananda. An irish woman by birth, Margaret E.Noble [Her original name] met Swami Vivekananda during the latter’s visit to England in 1896 and attracted by Swamiji’s speeches and teachings she became his ordent follower and disciple.
She came to India later and joined Sri. Ramakrishna Mutt destined to spend the rest of her life in this country. Apart from her devotion to the Swami and her deep involvement in his mission. She turned out to be a great student of Indian culture and spirituality. She is remembered very much for her books, “The web of Indian Life” and “Cradle Tales of Hinduism.”
"There is no special power that belongs to anyone in the world, all fame belongs to God.”
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