Abstract
This chapter investigates the spiritualist and occult activities of the first Bengali Theosophist Peary Chand Mittra (1814–1883). Known for his social activism and literary works, Mittra was one of the most celebrated intellectuals of nineteenth-century Bengal. He earned a reputation in the spiritualist circles through his writings published in the notable spiritualist journals of Britain and America. It was through these works that Henry S. Olcott (1832–1907) and Helena P. Blavatsky (1831–1891) learned about him and inducted him as member of the Theosophical Society. He eventually went on to become the first President of the Calcutta lodge of the Theosophical Society. Tracing the footprints of Mittra, this chapter analyses the transcultural networks of esotericism and occultism, thus examining the early days of Theosophy in India.
Your name, respected Sir, is well known among all intelligent Spiritualists in America. Personally I have heard much of you and your studies from Mrs. Emma H. Britten (a member of the Council of our Society) and Mr. J.M. Peebles. I have also read what has been contributed by your pen to the London Spiritualist. Your views upon the Spiritual States […] so coincide with those of our revered colleague and teacher Mme. H.P. Blavatsky, that the Council have instructed me to respectfully request the privilege of enrolling your name among our Corresponding Fellows […].
You live so far away from here, and it requires so much time to exchange letters, that I will venture to transmit your Diploma without waiting to hear from you; at the same time expressing the hope that it may please you to retain it
—H.S. Olcott’s letter to Peary Chand Mittra, dated June 5, 1877 (TS Adyar Archives, Adyar, India. Accessed 3 January 2019)
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Notes
- 1.
Available sources give two different spellings of Peary Chand’s surname: “Mitra” and “Mittra.” However, since the latter is more common in spiritualist and Theosophical literature and also in the biographical essay written by his grandson (Mittra 1905), I will be using it in this chapter.
- 2.
This information is available from the Theosophical Society’s Membership Register at https://tsmembers.org. Accessed 18 September 2019.
- 3.
Bhadralok refers to the socio-intellectual elite community of Bengal which rose with the spread of Western education in the nineteenth century. Their influence in the culture and society of colonial Bengal inspired social change and progress.
- 4.
In general, Mittra’s career has been well-discussed in several accounts published in Bengali and English. One of the detailed biographical accounts came from Mittra’s grandson which was published posthumously in 1905 in the journal Calcutta Review. I will briefly mention some major aspects of Mittra’s life in this section but would not go into details. The purpose of this chapter is not to repeat his life accounts but, rather, to focus on Mittra’s activities in spiritualist and Theosophical circles—something which paved the way for a significant occult movement in colonial Bengal.
- 5.
Bengal Renaissance refers to a period in the history of modern Bengal during which a set of social reforms and intellectual developments took place which marked the cultural progress of Bengali society. It can be seen as the movement that modernised and rationalised indigenous Bengali society and ushered in Enlightenment values.
- 6.
The Mittra family of North Calcutta had connections to the elites of Bengali society. Peary Chand’s father was a friend of Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833).
- 7.
The Calcutta Public Library was converted into the Imperial Library in 1903, later (1953) to be renamed the National Library (Kesavan 1961).
- 8.
There is a confusion regarding leaving the Public Library. Although most of the sources suggest that he retired, Mittra’s grandson wrote that he actually resigned (Mittra 1905: 239–240).
- 9.
For example, the famous Bengali Theosophist Mohini Mohun Chatterji (1858–1936) was also a Freemason.
- 10.
This family’s members founded the famous Amrita Bazar Patrika, naming it after their ancestral village.
- 11.
J. G. Meugens’ office address was 3 Church Lane, Calcutta.
- 12.
“Peary Chand Mittra” file, TS Adyar Archives, Adyar, India. Accessed 3 January 2019.
- 13.
H. S. Olcott’s letter to P. C. Mittra, 14 September 1877, TS Adyar Archives. Accessed 3 January 2019.
- 14.
This incident was the first cremation ceremony organised in the United States. Baron de Palm requested Olcott to perform his last rites in accordance with Eastern rituals. After much resistance from the mainstream American society, Olcott arranged for the cremation and officiated it.
- 15.
H. S. Olcott’s letter to P. C. Mittra, 14 September 1877, TS Adyar Archives. Accessed 3 January 2019.
- 16.
Mohini Mohun Chatterji was a prominent Theosophist from Bengal during the mid-1880s. He made strong impact in Europe and America in regard to Indian spirituality and Advaita Vedānta philosophy. He was also the first Theosophist to translate the Bhagavadgītā into English.
- 17.
Chela is a Sanskrit word meaning “disciple” which was adapted into the Theosophical Society’s discourse. Blavatsky used this term to refer to the chosen ones and considered them as spiritually and mystically superior.
- 18.
‘Peary Chand Mittra’ file, TS Adyar Archives, Adyar, India. Accessed 3 January 2019.
- 19.
A weekly journal on spiritualism published in Boston between 1857 and 1907.
- 20.
The oldest journal on spiritualism published in the United Kingdom. It was based in London. The first issue appeared in 1869 and continued until 1882.
- 21.
I understand De-spatialisation as a process where an idea or a cultural movement is taken out of its original geographical and social space and planted into another one thus resulting to a cross-cultural exchange. It is one of the theoretical frameworks which connect South Asian and the Western cultural and intellectual worlds of alternative spirituality and esotericism. De-spatialisation can occur on various levels, both physical and intellectual. In this context, the Theosophical Society—whose roots were in the United States—was trying to set up its base in India thus uprooting itself from its original base. This can be seen as a physical form of De-spatialisation. For more on this see my paper “Grammars of Occultism: Understanding Modern South Asia in the Light of Esotericism” (Mukhopadhyay forthcoming).
- 22.
Interview with Mr. Ratan Chandra Das, secretary of the Bengal Theosophical Society, conducted by the author on January 5, 2019.
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Mukhopadhyay, M. (2021). Occult’s First Foot Soldier in Bengal: Peary Chand Mittra and the Early Theosophical Movement. In: Pokorny, L., Winter, F. (eds) The Occult Nineteenth Century. Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55318-0_13
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