Who among the following founded the Theosophical Society in India?

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York City in 1875 by Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott [c2][t1]. The founders later moved to India in 1879 and established the society's international headquarters at Adyar, near Madras, in 1882 [c1][c3]. While Annie Besant played a pivotal role in the movement's growth in India after her arrival in 1893 and eventually became its president in 1907 following Olcott's death, she was not a founder of the society itself [c1][c4]. The movement in India became closely allied with the Hindu renaissance, advocating for social reforms such as the abolition of caste discrimination and the improvement of the condition of widows [c4]. Therefore, the primary individuals responsible for founding the society and establishing its presence in India were Blavatsky and Olcott [c1][c2].

Sources

1. [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Theosophical Society > p. 220
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > The Theosophical Movement > p. 233
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Theosophical Society (1875) > p. 302
4. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > The Theosophical Movement > p. 234