Madame Blavatsky and Soobiah

ADYAR LODGE The Theosophical Society ADYAR, MADRAS ....

The Theosophical Society was formed at New York 17 November 1875, and incorporated at Madras 3 April 1905

Its three declared Objects are:

* To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.

* To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.

* To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man. Madame Blavatsky and Soobiah

ADYARLODGE The Theosophical Sod/ety Adyar, Madras ...... " CONTENTS

Foreword l Brief Life Sketches 1 Soobiah's Reminiscences of HPB 3 Other Experiences of Soobiah ... 11 Mis<;ellaneous Notes and Extracts ... 14 FOREWORD

I had known Soobiah Chetty from 1939 when I came to live in the Theosophical Society at Adyar on February 17th along with my grandfather Pandit Subramania Sastry and my grand­ mother. I had the good fortune to live in the house next to his. He treated me like a daughter and evinced keen interest in my work at Kalakshetra and in my welfare. He whetted my keen interest in Theosophy and the Theosophical Society by answer­ ing my various questions. He had the book The Mahattma Letters to A.P. Sinnett with him always and would read out suitable passages from it to explain things to me. I have pleasure in presenting in this little pamphlet some of the incidents he had related to me. I am indebted to Miss G. Sundari who persuaded me to do this as an offering to Madame Blavatsky in the Centenary Year of her passing. She also helped me by writing down what I recollected from memory. Rao Sahib Soobiah Chetty was an institution in the Theosophical Society. People from all over the world and all walks of life were eager to visit him. Each felt he was Mr. Chetty's special friend. He welcomed an elder person as well as a child with his attractive smile. From the Founders ofthe Theo­ sophical Society, each President and leader ofthe TS considered him as his close friend. Soobiah Chetty passed away in 1946. I am grateful to the Adyar Lodge for publishing this booklet and hope the readers are able to get a glimpse of Madame Blavatsky's great personality. May her blessing be on all! C. V. K. Maithreya, the great grandson helped me, on my request with some of the research. Maithreya is a keen student of Theosophy who organises and participates in theosophical activities. His parents and family encourage and help him in this. I am grateful to Carl Lewis for his help in bringing out this publication. I also thank Michael Gomes, a historian of the Theosophical Movement, for his help. S. SARADA

Soobiah Chetty-born March 10. 1858. Sale~oined T.S. 27-4-1882 Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

HPB was born in Ekaterininoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk), Russia in 1831. She was the eldest of four children of Col. Peter von Hahn and Helena Andreyevna de Fadeyev, a well-known Russian writer, the daughter of Princess Helena Dolgorukov. In 1849 she married Nikifor V. Blavatsky, a state official, very much her senior, whom she left after a few months to begin a life of travel. With Col. Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907), William Q. Judge (1851- 1896), and fourteen others, she founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. She passed away in London on May 8th 1891. HPB wrote four major books after she founded the Theosophical Society. These famous works are Isis Unveiled (1877), The Secret Doctrine (1888), The Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence (1889)-it is estimated that in a briefspan of 17 years, from 1874 to 1891, she wrote close to one thousand articles, essays, and letters to journals, which in many cases focus within the space of a few pages on the subjects and ideals to which she had dedicated her life. She travelled in several continents. She visited Tibet to be with her Gurus and receive instructions.

1 Rao Sahib Grandhi Soobiah Chetty

ON March 10, 1858, in the small town of Salem in South India, Judge Muthuswami's family discarded what they considered a still-born child-but to the astonishment of the family, one of the servants noticed a movement in the membranes which still covered the new-bo.rn babe. This child grew up to live almost 89 years, was the father of seven children and a successful government official. He was con­ ferred the title of 'Rao Sahib' by the then government; ironically, he was later a silent helper of Mrs Annie Besant in the Home Rule Movement. His life seemed to have been planned from the time of his birth up to his death (although he lay in coma for about 24 days, he passed away only on the festival day of 'Karthika Deepam', as predicted by him well before) in December 1946. He unveiled the stone plaque dedicated to the unknown Theosophists and servants of the Great Ones (near the Headquarters building) -a category to which he would have chosen to belong. His deep friendship with Mme Blavatsky, and his involvement in the Theo­ sophical Movement is recorded in brief, in this booklet.

2 SOOBIAH CHETTY'S REMINISCENCES OF MADAME H. P. BLAVATSKY

WHEN Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott visited Madras in 1882 and lectured in the Georgetown area, Grandhi Muthuswami Chetty who was a judge, listened to them. Though he was a rich man, he was spiritually dissatisfied, and though a Hindu desired to be converted to another religion. Muthuswami's enquiring mind was kindled by the two foreign lecturers. He wrote down several questions about whether he should opt for another religion and left those papers in a cupboard in his house before he went to sleep in the riight. Next morning when he woke up and looked in the cupboard, to his amazement he found that all his questions had been answered. Muthuswami was convinced by the answers and never became a convert, for he joined the Theosophical Society. Soon after this, Muthuswami's two sons, Soobiah and Narasimhulu heard a lecture of the Russian lady and the American gentleman who had together founded the Theosophical Society. They were students in a city college then, and they wished to join the Theosophical Society. These youngsters approached their father with the membership application forms and requested him to sign them as sponsor. Muthuswami refused saying they were youngsters and their interest in deeper things of life and philosophy was unlikely to persist. Profound matters might not continue to interest youngsters. These two youths then went to the Founders and knocked on the door. Colonel Olcott who was in the front room, invited them inside and enquired about the purpose of their visit. They handed their forms and requested him to admit them as Theosophists. After chatting with the youths for a while, the Colonel said he would be happy to welcome them as members, but as they were youngsters, they had to get the approval of their father. He added: 'Do try and persuade your father to spollSor you.' HPB who was resting inside called out enquiring who was there. On learning that Muthuswami Chetty's sons were there, she came out and told the Colonel: 'Let the boys fill the form and I will sponsor them!' She looked

3 at the boys with her magnetic and piercing eyes before saying this. The joy of the youths knew no bounds· After Soobiah completed his education, Muthuswami sent him to work in the Madras harbour dominated by British officers. One day while he was walking in the city HPB who was driving in a phaeton called him by name. Amazed that she should remember his name, he ran to her. She invited him to join her and the Colonel who were going to tour in Andhra. She left after giving him the details of the journey and the train he should catch. He left his leave-letter on the table of his boss who was not there and reached the railway station, but missed the train. He caught the next train and joined the Founders in Nellore late in the night. HPB invited him in and retired upstairs. Next morning when she came down and saw that he had fever, she instructed him to draw cold water from the nearby well and bathe. He obeyed and to his amazement, his temperature vanished and he became normal! Soobiah was in charge of the money of the group during this travel and noted down meticulously the accounts, showing it to HPB each day. One day she scolded him saying it was un­ necessary for him to do this as they had full faith in him. After a few days she took him to task saying he was spending freely and not even keeping an account of the expenses. Soobiah immediately produced the details of the expenses he had been noting! She smiled sweetly in return!! During this Andhra trip, while waiting in the wayside railway station, Soobiah weighed himself in a big balance used for weighing luggage. Seeing this, HPB also got on the balance and asked him to weigh her. Lo! He had to place all the available weights and still she was unbelievably heavier. She got down and climbed onto the balance again and asked Soobiah to weigh her Lo! He had to remove weight after weight and still she was lighter!! When he enquired about this, she answered that these were two of the eight Siddhis or yogic powers known as 'garima' and 'laghima'.

.. Refer to Soobiah's article In the March issue of the 1926 Theosophist.

4 Establishment of the International Headquarters Whenever HPB and HSO stayed in Madras, Soobiah always spent his time after office hours in ·the evenings with them. During one such visit he overheard a discussion between them as to how nice it will be if they could shift their work from Bombay to Madras and establish the Theosophical Society's headquarters here. It was the time when the Hill Station Ootacamund or "Ooty" had been discovered and was being developed by the British in South India. The Britishers were selling their property in Madras cheaply and purchasing new ones in Ooty. Soobiah heard from some of the Britishers working in the harbour that the Huddlestone property adjoining the Adyar River was for sale. After inspecting this property, he informed the Founders about it and how it was being sold cheaply. The Colonel hesitated as they did not have the required funds. But at Soobiah's insistence the Founders came and saw the property with him. HPB felt that with the Adyar River and the Bay of Bengal adjoining the property the great Masters of the Wisdom were likely to approve the place. It could become a sacred centre. Soobiah said the property was being sold in a hurry. This made the Colonel feel that it would be impossible to purchase it since it would take him time to appeal for funds and raise the required amount. Soobiah asked the Colonel to approach his father Judge Muthuswami who had the required funds as he and his two friends were planning to launch . a new business with it. After some hesitation, the Colonel went with Soobiah and requested Muthuswami for the loan but said he would be able to return it only after he was able to raise the necessary funds. Muthuswami answered that he would be able to give him a reply the next day only after consulting his two colleagues who also had pooled their resources for a business venture. Muthiah, as Muthuswami was known, took Soobiah to task after the Colonel had left. He said, how could they loan such a large amount to foreigners, even though they were nice persons; he should have behaved like a youngster and not interfered in the business of elders! Soobiah was even then insistent that his father should help the Founders! Both the

5 father and son retired for the night to separate rooms, in a cross mood. But in the middle of the night the father knocked at Soobiah's door and in ecstasy related to him the wonderful dream he had just had. Master Morya had appeared and told Muthuswami to lend the money to the Colonel. Their money would be returned to them and the work the Founders were doing would benefit India and the world. Muthuswami felt blessed to have seen the Master whose eyes had overpowered him. In happiness he ordered Soobiah to inform the Founders of his wish to loan the money. He took it upon himself to persuade his two friends to consent to this. Soobiah was impatient for daybreak and early in the morning went to the Founders with the good news. Soobiah then made his rounds seeing the Huddlestone property owners, lawyers, etc. and arranged for the purchase of the twenty-six acres property and its registration. The Founders brought from Bombay all the Theosophical Society belongings as well as their personal effects to Huddlestone Gardens and established the new International Headquarters of the T.S. at the end of 1882. Both Soobiah and Narasimhulu visited them regularly in the evenings and helped with the unpacking and arranging of the luggage. While unpacking a box these youngsters came across a picture of a striking, bearded person. With eagerness they told the Founders that they had seen that person, enquiring why they had his picture. Madame Blavatsky said that it was impossible for them to have seen that person who lived far away in the Himalayas and instructed them to replace the picture back in the box. The youths insisted that they had seen the person and to HPB's enquiry answered, 'While we were boys studying in the Pachaiappa's school in the town, we had gone out to purchase some eatables during the lunch recess with the money given by our father.' The Sanyasi whose picture was there now had come and asked the boys in Hindi paisa do give me the coins. They had been overcome by his striking personality and stunned by his beautiful smile. When they regained composure and took the coins from their pockets and looked up to offer it to him he had taken a turn and vanished.

6 Enquiries about his whereabouts from shopkeepers and passers-by had proved futile. As he had left a lasting impression on their minds, the youths were certain that the picture was of the same person they had seen as boys. HPB still held that this incident could never have taken place as the Great One lived in the Himalayas. They obeyed her, replacing the picture and locked it away. When the youths returned the next evening, HPB related how the Master Morya had told her the previous night that he had indeed seen the boys as he had been in Madras at that time, which was in 1874, a year before the Theosophical Society's founding. He had specially called out to the boys to make an impression on them as he knew they were going to be helpful to the Founders and the Society in the future. Ofcourse the elation ofthe boys knew no bounds! Soobiah went home late each day after visiting the Founders in the evening. On several such occasions he merely sat in their rooms without doing any work. The Colonel was busy with his work and HPB would write her book. On t~e rare occasions when Soobiah failed to turn up, HPB would be upset and take him to task. Once, as she was writing down an astral dictation of the Master, she wrote a word incorrectly. Soobiah was in a semi-sleepy condition, but when she was revising what she had penned, he corrected her immediately. She was very happy when she realized that Soobiah had developed the sensitivity to hear the voice of the Great Ones. Soobiah's relationship to HPB was very close and he addressed her as Amma, that is, Mother. He came to see her once with. a brand new 'anga vastram', or, upper cloth with gold lace. She took it from him and made it into a dress. She asked him, 'Does it look nice on me?' When he offered it to her, her joy was boundless. He was very happy to have been able to give her a gift. Soobiah witnessed several humourous incidents during his association with the Founders. A western gentleman once asked HPB her age. She asked him if he could count. An astral bell started ringing and he began to count. Soon the ringing accelerated and stopped abruptly. Of course the curious gentleman failed in his efforts to count!

7

J Madame Blavatsky once took a ring set with precious stones which Soobiah was wearing and left it in a sheifbesides the portraits of the Masters in the Shrine Room in the Headquarters. The ring disappeared but after a couple days, it was there again! She explained to Soobiah that the Great Ones had asked for it so that it could be magnetized. Then through the ring their blessings could flow to Soobiah and from him to others. A!3 we shall see, Soobiah had links with the Great Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi and Prince Racockzi and others. Madame Blavatsky's teachings were mostly Hindu-based, as given to her by her Gurus, the Great Masters. Anna Kingsford of the English Section of the TS, lectured and conducted study classes in London Lodge, but these were mainly Greek-oriented. A split arose among the members of the London Lodge who failed to grasp the real basis of the teachings; some members in London wrote to HPB, and she was upset. She was penning a letter about this to Anna .Kingsford when Soobiah and T. Subba Row of Mylapore were present there.

It may not be out of place to tell our readers that Subba Row was a pupil of Master Morya. The Master Morya and Koot Hoomi had informed him, even before the arrival of the Founders in India, about them. He was told that these two Westerners were coming to this country under their instructions to spread Theosophy and to establish the headquarters of the Society here. The Founders had also been told about Subba Row by the Masters. As a result of this, Subba Row became a close associate and helper of the Founders from the very beginning. Subba Row also guided and helped Bishop Leadbeater when he was undergoing rigorous training for a period of time to develop his second sight or occult vision. Subba Row helped Leadbeater to distinguish between the false and the real visions. (Details of this can be found in CWL's book How Theosophy Came to Me.).

Whi!e HPB was writing, Soobiah and Subba Row saw a pair of hands materialize and tear to pieces the letter to Mrs Kingsford. HPB's guru, Master Morya, as he did this, spoke at the same time to these two witnesses in Telugu. When HPB

8 asked what he had said, they only smiled and dodged answering her question, saying if he had wished you to know, he would not have spoken in Telugu. Why this impulsive action of HPB was prevented, as was explained by the Great One, was because Anna was doing good work in England as an anti-vivisectionist (an animal welfare worker). It did not matter to the Great Ones if one differed in the details and the approach to their teachings. What really mattered to them was if a person was serving humanity and the world, then they used such persons as their channels to lift a little karma of the world. Soobiah was invited by HPB to go with her and the Colonel to Ooty. He answered that as he was a pure vegetarian who did not even eat eggs, he would be troublesome to them as they had to provide special food for him. She screwed Soobiah's ear at this, saying Will 1 not look after you?' He had to plead with her to release his ear and consent to accompany them! Of course she looked after Soobiah in Ooty with great affection and care like a Mother. Soobiah went to his Amma once after a long interval, as she had been away. He knocked at the door and on enquiry answered 'Soobiah'. She was very cross with him, because he usually walked in without' knocking. She was offended as he had knocked!! She of course welcomed him with great joy, once her anger had subsided, this is just one incident to indicate her fondness for Soobiah. While Soobiah was with the Founders, several times he had witnessed a snowy, mist-like appearance forming and condensing into a letter to one of the Founders from their Masters. Often, HPB visited Soobiah's house in the city and moved with his family as one of its members. She used to comb and plait the hair of Soobiah's daughter, Ratna. As Soobiah had direct contact with the Masters, his guru invited him to His ashram in the Himalayas to live there, as had happened in the case of Damodar Mavlankar. But Soobiah let go of this opportunity saying, '1 have responsibility to my young wife and children who are my dependents.' Again HPB invited him to go with her to Europe when she left Adyar after the Coulomb

9 affair (readers may refer to the Old Diary Leaves of HSO for details about this). He wished to accompany her as she was leaving Adyar after a trying period. But Soobiah's young wife Meenakshi cried and would not permit him to leave her and the family. Soobiah always regretted this since Madame Blavatsky never returned to Adyar again. After writing The Secret Doctrine she passed away in London on 8th May 1891. Soobiah was aboard a coastal ship as he was working in the harbour. He was under great strain because of monetary and personal problems. In desperation, he wanted to commit suicide by jumping into the ocean, when he heard HPB's familiar voice admonishing him, 'You coward Soobiah' and at the same time her materialised hand slapped him hard in the back!! Soobiah was overjoyed because he realized that his contact with his spiritual mother continued even after she had passed on from the mortal world. Later, when Dr Annie Besant invited Soobiah to come and live in the Adyar Headquarters estate, he readily accepted. This he said was the third opportunity given to him by the Great Ones; they usually never offered more than thrice. So, he shifted his residence to Adyar, despite stiff opposition from his family members. Initially he came alone, and later, when they relented, he built a house in the T.S. estate and the family joined him.

10 OTHER EXPERIENCES OF SOOBIAH

As a child of four or five, Soobiah went with his family to the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. When the ckeparadhana offering of lighted camphor was being performed to the deity, the Goddess Meenakshi, Soobiah had wandered away alone. As he went near a wall, it suddenly opened and he beheld a gathering of bearded sages who were seated at an assembly. Their hall was lit, glowingly. The wonder-struck child was attracted to this great gathering and stood still watching the scene. As his people called to him, the wall closed and it became dark. The child started to cry in disappointment and also because he realized he was alone. Soobiah Chetty, while relating this story, pointed out that there are very many centres throughout the world where the Great Ones gather, about which ordinary people are ignorant. Unless permitted by the Great Ones, none can see these places which are veiled to our vision by Maya. He added that one such Centre was in the Ellora Caves in India. A western lady who was visiting Adyar came to Soobiah in great distress and poured out to him the causes of her troubles. He took her for a walk, consoling her on the way. They reached the Guest House and sat down in the Octagonal room there. As he was talking to her about the Masters, suddenly the Master appeared, blessed her and disappeared. She was of course thrilled and consoled. Later she wrote to Soobiah from abroad saying that she had had the darshan of the Great One and His blessing only because of him. The following is a rare and extraordinary incident about a friend of Soobiah's as related by him. This friend was a Sanskrit Pandit in a school in Mylapore, which is about two miles from Adyar. This Pandit and his colleague had gone on a pilgrimage to Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Himalayas. While they were returning, after worshiping Lord Vishnu in the Badrinath Temple, they stopped to rest in a shaded place. This place was near a cliff, below which the river Ganga was flowing. On the other side of the river and on top of the cliff the Pandit saw a signpost on which was written in Sanskrit

11 Brahmapuram. His friend was asleep beside him, but as he was awake he wondered about what the place could be. Suddenly a sage appeared beside him and asked in Sanskrit: 'Would you like to visit my Ashrama?' The Pandit bowed to the sage and asked, 'How is it possible?' The sage asked him to close his eyes and recite the Gayatri mantram. The Pandit complied, the sage asked him to open his eyes, and lo! he found that both of them were on the other side of the cliff. The sage took him to his Ashrama and there answered the various questions of the Pandit concerning the Upanishads and other Scriptures, so clearing his doubts. The sage asked, 'Would you like to stay in this Ashrama?' The Pandit answered, 'I have a karmic tie, and 1 have to care for my aged mother.' The sage answered, 'This can be taken care of.' The Pandit said that his mother would be greatly distressed if he failed to return to her. The sage smiled and made him close his eyes and recite the Gayatri again. Soon the Pandit found himself resting beside his friend! When the two pilgrims reached Haridwar, a ·telegram was awaiting the Pandit intimating him about his mother's demise. On his return to Madras, the Pandit visited Soobiah and related to him about his experience in Badrinath. Soobiah took his friend to meet Dr Annie Besant. She and Soobiah explained about the Great Ones living in the Himalayas and also told him who was the sage he had had the very good fortune to meet. The Sanskrit Pandit became a deep student of Theosophy and became a member of the T.S. Soobiah Chetty's friends included well-known ascetics, poets, etc. Amongst them was the ascetic poet Pamban Swamigal, whose samadhi is in Thiruvanmiyur adjacent to the Kalakshetra campus. Once this Swamigal and Soobiah were about to entrain for travel, but the railway official refused to allow the former inside the carriage because he was wearing only a loin cloth. Swamigal smiled and asked Soobiah to sit on the platform along with him. The railway engine could not start despite all efforts. Then the official came to the Swamigal and requested him to entrain When he did so, the engine could start and the train pulled out of the platform!! Th.e samadhi of

12 Pamban Swamigal attracts a large number ofdevotees and has a very nice atmosphere. During a flute concert by the well-known Vidwan H. Ramachandra Sastri in the Adyar Theatre near the Head­ quarters, and at a Nadaswaram (temple-pipe) recital by Veeraswami Pillai in the Garden of Remembrance (Dr Besant's samadhi in the T.S. estate) in Adyar, Soobiah went over to where George Arundale, the third President of the TS, was seated, and they spoke in a subdued manner. The whole atmosphere had changed in these places. Later, it was learnt that one of the Great Masters was present on these occasions. Soobiah was always aware of the presence of the Great Ones whenever they came. When during the Second World War the Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi both came to Adyar and walked around the TS estate, building a Guardian Wall of Will to protect it from evil forces created by the great conflict, Soobiah Chetty called me and told me about it. I went from him straight to attend a talk by George Arundale. DrArundale also spoke there about Their visit and the protective invisible wall!! But neither of them had contacted each other! Soobiah Chetty's contact with the Great Masters was frequent; he was always conscious of his Gurus. He was certain that there could be no compromise in spiritual life. Though one trod the razor-edged path in spiritual life, there was great happiness and fulfillment for one who had the courage to push forward in it.

13 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND EXTRACTS

THIS part of the booklet has miscellaneous notes and extracts, and also what Soobiah had written in brief about himself.

I

The following is a brief write-up about himself, particularly about his career in the Customs department.

I was educated at the Christian College; before coming out of it and after passing the first examination in Arts, I was a constant visitor at Sir William Robinson's, who was then the senior member of Council. Sir William was a friend of my father who at the time of his retirement from service held the position ofa judge of the Court of Small Causes at Madras, one of the highest appointments then thrown open to Indians. Sir William once said to me that he could help me in the best way he could if I went to him after passing the B.A. exams. I failed in this exam & and feeling unhappy over the failure was unwilling to see him and so lost the chance of being brought forward by him. I learnt to my regret afterwards that by failing to see him I had lost a fair chance of being selected for the statutory civil service. For a short period I was undecided as to what line of work I should take up. Finally in June 1880 agreed to take up a small appointment in the custom house. In those days the Collector of Customs was also the collector of Madras, Protecl.o.r of Emigrants' tax etc. To attract the attention of the Collector while working as a clerk in the subordinate ranks was a very difficult matter. Not­ withstanding this difficulty, I suceeded in attracting Mr FaIton's notice, and he put in my charge a staffof about twelve clerks-some of whom were drawing better salaries than I did-to all the goods that entered the customs sheds. He was well pleased with my work and unsolicited by me left on record the testimonials dated November 7, 1881. Owing to the abolition of import duties in 1882, the customs

14 establishment was reduced to almost a fourth of what it had been and promotions became very rare. Just as I was about to • leave the service as offering no opportunity for advancement, Mr Barlow (~fterwards Sir Richard Barlow Bart.}-offered me the post ofhead clerk in the office ofthe Protector of Emigrants and appointed me to it in Februry 1886. In this situation I worked for about 3 years and during this period the work done by me was pronounced to be excellent by Messrs McCartie & Frose (vide testimonials dated August 12th 1886 & November 13th 1886). Subsequently I was transferred to the customs side & Mr McWatters appreciating the services rendered by me as Baggage Superintendent promoted me to the position of import manager-now the S.P.S. In 1894 on the re-imposition of important duties I was selected for the position of an Appraiser. My knowledge of goods and of the market helped me in the detection in many cases of attempts to defraud Government of its revenue. Mr Cardew while forwarding my application to the appointment of Cotton Piece Goods Appraiser in the Bombay customs, spoke very highly regarding my capacity and work. In 1910 when the Government of India sanctioned the creation of a Custodian of Customs for this presidency, I was selected to fill the post. In this office my expectations in securing uniformity of procedure in classification and appraisement in outposts were fruitful. Mr Thomas in his letter to Mr Kerman, the Secretary to the Board of Rev. has well described the work done by me. Subsequently when Mr Deane was given medical leave, through the good & kind intervention of Mr W-the usefulness of my work was brought prominently before the Government and I was accordingly given the chance to show my capacity for work as the head of the appraising section. The retention ofmy services after attaining the age of 55 show that I have done good work and well deserve the recognitions made of me. I belong to the Vysia community, a class ofmerchants whose fitness for good service was not much in the early 70's and 80's. I corne from a respectable family and it may not be out of place , here to mention that one ofmy ancestors was specially selected

15 by Sir Hector Munro to take charge of his Treasury and to act as a contractor for military supplies when he was Commander­ in-Chief of forces in Madras. My activities as a society man or a social reformer are confined to a limited circle. I have not much faith in creating noise....

II

The notes from the Mahatmas and comments are all published in the 'Letter from the Masters of the Wisdom' series II, edited and published by Mr C. Jinarajadasa. They are quoted below:­

Letter 48

'To (j. So06ia1i Cfiett!f

'YO'll 6etur come. (jive m!f tlianf(§ to !four fattier. 9Ie lias aone wliat fie coula, ana- coula ao no more.

Letter 48, P.87

Transcribed from the original at Adyar. This brief note comes in a letter sent by HPB on 17 July 1883, from Ootacamund, Nilgiri Hills, to Mr G. Soobiah Chetty in Madras, in which she sends him an invitation to visit her in the hills. The main part of the letter refers to Mr G. Muttuswamy Chetty, a judge of the Small Causes Court of Madras, and father of Mr G. Soobiah Chetty. Mr Muttuswamy Chetty received in Tamil a letter, posted at Amritsar, from the Master K.H., the translation of which, I am informed, was as follows: 'Sinnett's paper is the only saviour for India. You must work towards it. Koot Hoomi.' On receipt of this, Mr Muttuswamy Chetty tried among his friends to raise something towards the capital required to The Phoenix newspaper (see Letter 14). He was not, however, successful.

16 Letter 14

'To !Mofiini!M. Cfiatterjee

'E:r:r'EC'TS oftlie c!Ide: !Mr Sinnett wasgiven notice 6!1 fiis proprietors to quit tlie 'Eiitor's office 12 TTWntfis lience -forsupporting tlie natives ani 6eing a tlieosopfiist. 'Unfess a native capitalist comes out to start a rival paper - one tfiat woufricrusfi tfie Pioneer- witfi!MrSinnett as its eiitor, I wi/[ d'espair ofIniia inrieeri. 'I1ie a60ve is secret entrusteito !lour fionour. 'But I wil[ write to ?[preniro 'J{s. ani fiave a tal( witfi fiim upon tlie su6ject. Ttf[ tlien - not a worri.

K.H.'

III

What follows is a collection of extracts from one of th~ last letters of Madame Blavatsky to Soobiah.

17, Lanrisiowne !!(pai 'l(ensington Sept. 10, 1887 !M!I 'Dearest So06iafi,

I fiave alwa!ls answerei!lour fetters immeiiatef!l' 'I1ie fast, as tliere was no aiiress on it, if I remem6er, tfirougfi /Jlnania. !J{ow can !Iou compfain tlien, tfiat !lour fast Was not answerei? Perfiaps, it was lost. 'To answer rigfit awa!l !lour principal question" 'Wil[ I return tfiis !lear" -Ianswer ll£.. I io not f:.!Joww.f'J&J1.o~wlietlier I wi/[ever return . !for two !fears after mg feamng !ll.i!lar I fiave suffereri immensefJ. I woufi fiave given m!lfuture 'l(arma forgooa, I wou[ifiave iamneim!lsefj to return ani ii.e in m!lIniia.. ... 'I1ie!l uSe !Master's sacreiname Il/lainst 111£. ani!Master sa!ls onfJ ''.Leave tfiem to tlieir 'l(arma."

17 Jf.n.a now save !lourseff, m!l son, poor .9tnanaa & perfiaps 'l3fiavani !l{ao - I fiave not a jriena feft in Inaia. 'J{p use teUing me tfie contrar!l' I00W it, I feef it. 'Wfi!l sfioula I go tfien? 'Jy{!I amva!1.iJoula onfJ 6e a signa! for neW scanaafs. I 6etter starve fiere tfian return unier sucfi circumstances...... m!l Secret 'Doctrine ... 1'or two !lears I fiave 6een writing it wfiife suffering pfi!lsica!, 60au!I & menta! agon!l' 'During tfiat time I woula not write one fine for tfie !l{ussian papers, tfierefore coula not earn one pie . ... I wiU not, nor wiU I go, untuI am wanted. I fiave too few !lears to five in tfiis woda to pass tfiem in figfiting ana menta! agon!l as I am sure to fiave at .9ta!lar. I am noW eiiting tfieJouma! of tfie 'l3ritisfi 'Tfieosopfiist anaas I ao it gratis, I fiope tfie!l wiU not fet me starve or aie in tfie poor fiome. .9tna if tfie!l ao - wiUit 6e m!l 1(arma. ... 'Jy{!I iearSo06afii!la if!Iou f(new fiow fiaPP!l I woulafeef to see !Iou once TTUire in tfiis fife. 'Wfien I reaa !lour fetter to tfie 1(eigfitfe!ls, tfie!l saii- 'V fet fiim come, ana stop witfi us. 'Tfiere wiU 6e room for Iiim a!wa!ls." l'or tfie!l 00W fiow I !ove !Iou, "1!f son - afso, "1!f fast one perfiapsj ...

(jooa 6!1e iearestSo06fii!la & ma!l tfie 'Jy{asters 6fess ana protect !Iou. If !IOU ao come it wiU6e tfie fiappiest aa!l I wiU fiave fiai in tfiese tfiree !lears Ofel(ife! ... I fiope !lour iear wife ana cfiuaren are aa wea. (jive tfiem m!l6fessing iftfie!l accept it.

'Yours ever affectwnatefJ,

51. P. 'l3favatsl(y

I sena !Iou m!l Lucifer, Love to aUjrienas - iftfiere are an!l feft

:Jf. P. 'l3

18 IV

There are two illustrative notes from Annie Besant, one which speaks of the erection of a statue (perhaps of Col. Olcott), and another, which was interesting because it spoke briefly about a message on the future of India, long before India had gained independence from British Government.

1tailwa!l Station S5(9{71-1('U?(J!A

'1J'E'J{}f.~ CM{T. 'B'F/J{}f.1(J:S cn,),filp 27 1907

.'lIianR§ as to tfie famp-c!lfinier. 'Ifi£ otfier sfia[[6e returnea. I wi£[ write to !Mr 'Dliaramse!l !M {jocu!tfas to sena !Iou '1(§ 500 for statue; pa!l.JJi[eJ(penses, R!eping account & fet me RJrow iftfiere is a6afance eitfier wa!l' Cou!tf tfie statue 6e R!pt at tfie Sclioo{ oj.5'trtfor tfie present, to m!l ortler. Pa!l for tfie pfaster in mJ/ name not in tliat oftfie 'IS I wi£[ tefegrapli !Iou, wfien I R!fow tfie resuft. !Meanwliife ao not 6e

. an~ious .

'Ever!lours

5Wni£ 'l3esant

!M!I.Lonaon 51taaress: 31. S. James Pfaa, .Lonaon. S. W.

19 10, Buckingham Street, Westminster, S.W. l. Victoria 2077 on tour 6.8.25 'Dear son, 'Ifian/(!Jou for tli£ Muni's message. It is vefg encouraging. Yf.na I KJtow from tli£ same source to wliicli Ii£ goes, tliat Inaia wi£[ frofa a very great position in tli£ future....

Yf.ffectionatefg gours

Yf.nnie 'l3esant

V

The two letters from Dr. Arundale show the warmth, love and esteem that existed in their relationship up to the end.

17June, 1941. 'Verg rfear fj'riena: On mg assumption of tli£ secona term of office to wliicli I liave 6een caffea 6g tli£ wi£[ of tli£ majoritg ofmg 6retli£ren, I slioultf fif:g to taf:g tli£ opportunitg oftemng gou frow rfeepfg I appreciate gour resirfence at Yf.agar, KJtowing so we[[ tli£ precious inJfuences tliat comes tlirougli gou to us af1. I am sure tliat mgfirst term ofoffice lias 6een verygreatfg li£fpetf 6g gou, ana I wisli to tlian/(!Jou as I enter upon a secona tenn, asfjng gou to 6egooa enougli togive me tli£ same strengtli tliat I KJtow gougave me auring tli£ fast seven gears. I as/(!Jou to 6egracious enougli togive me gour 6fessing as I enter upon a secona term ofoffice. JJtffectionatefg gours, qeorge 5Irunaafe '/(ao Safte6 Su£,6Wi Cli£ttg, 'T. S. qarrfens, Yf.agar. 20 PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

'Jriaa!J

'l1ie first tning I ao on tnis auspicwus aa!J is to tnin/(0f!Jou witn aeep affection anagratitutk.

9'"ou are a Hessing to J'ta!Jar &' to tfie wfiok Societ!f, ana !Jour Stearifastness is fiefping tfie :Master's rrwvement to win tfirougn tfie rrwst aifficu[t perWa tfirougn wliicn it lias so far Iiari to pass. J't aa!J ofjuagement is upon us af!, but tfie el(ampk of sucli as !Jou wif{ strengtfien us to be faitnfu[ &' true. :Ma!J !Jou five more !Jears ifonf!J for tnis pricekss service. I /(ztow tfie :Masters Hess !J0u, ana as smaffer peopk praise !Jou - in tfie oM bib[icafsense oftfie wod- for !Jour man!J bkssings upon us.

'Ever affectwnatef!J

george J'trunaafe

VI

The extract from .Ms Beatrice Hastings' letter is clearly indicative of the acknowledged awareness of Soobiah on various aspects of the Theosophical Movement on those early days.

On, :Mr Soobiali, tfiere is not tfie tiniest tktaif in !Jour memory tliat woufa be too insignificant to serve to relia6ifitate 1I.P.'B . If !Jou /(new fiow I fiave pord ana pord over ever!J scrap of tkscriptwn­ ana fiow I fina over ana over ana over afwa!Js tliat tfie true fact is afwa!Js on fier sitko 'Beatrice 11astings

21 VII

Finally, the date of joining the TS, etc. of Judge Muthuswami's family, in the year 1882 are given below :­

Date: 27/4/1882 375 1117 Grandhi Muthuswamy Chetty Acting Judge, Court of Small Causes, Madras (Later, Judge) 383 1122 Grandhi Soobiah Chetty Rao Sahib Sea Customs Office, Madras 384 1123 Grandhi Narasimhulu Chetty Presidency Magistrate's Office, Black Town 385 1124 Collah* Goor08wamy Chetty R~ fbcv1u~ Dated: 3/5/1882 425 1174 Grandhi Guruswamy Chetty ­ R.a..o-Ba bad'll; Among others at the time was also C. Sambiah Chetty from the family, . who was involved in the movement. The Judge was the first of 5 (and now perhaps. 6) generations of members of the T.S.

Note Besides the article by G. Soobiah Chetty in The Theosophist of 1926, on how Adyar was bought, readers are recommended to another interesting article entiled Echoes from the Pa{Jt' by Damodar K. Mavlankar in The Theosophist of May 1907, reproduced on pages 307-309 of the book Damodar and the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement by Sven Eek. The experience recorded is that of the visit of one of the great Masters in the Mayavi-Rupa.

·pronounced 'Challa' (an eminent lawyer and brother-in-law of Soobiah)

22 We thank the following Donors:

ELGI POLYTEX LIMITED

ELGI FINANCE LIMITED

SR ASSOCIATES (SOFTWARE) PVT. LTD.

GENERAL AUTOMOBILES

THE WALKERS IN TS ESTATE

T. H. IYER

AND OTHER FRIENDS

Published during the International Convention 1991

The Theosophical Society

Printed at the Vasanta Press The Theosophical Society Adyar, Madras 600020, India MR. SOOBIAH CHErry