LavernChitwood1 at 13:31, 6 May 2026

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{{short description|Indian Theosophist (1861–1936)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}
{{Peacock|date=October 2024}}
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{{use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gyanandra Nath Chakravarti
| honorific_prefix = [[Rao Bahadur|Rai Bahadur]]
| image = G. N. Chakravarti.jpg
| alma_mater = [[University of Calcutta]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1861|1|1}}
| native_name = জ্ঞানেন্দ্র নাথ চক্রবর্তী
| native_name_lang = Bangla
| education = [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]], [[Master of Arts|M.A.]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1936|10|07|1861|1|1}}
| birth_place = [[Benares]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[Company rule in India|Company Raj]]<br>(now [[Varanasi]], India)
| death_place = [[Lucknow]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(now in [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)
| caption = Portrait of G. N. Chakravarti
| occupation = Academic Administrator
| spouse = Monica Devi Chakravarti ('Yashoda Mai')
| children = 4 biological, 40 adopted
| appointer2 = [[Harcourt Butler]], [[List of governors of Uttar Pradesh|Governor of United Provinces]]
}}
'''Gyanendra Nath Chakravarti''' (January 1, 1861 – October 7, 1936), also known as '''G.N. Chakravarti''', was an Indian [[Theosophy|theosophist]] and [[scholar]]. In 1893, he lectured at the [[Parliament of the World's Religions#1893 Parliament|World's Parliament of Religions]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Angela Cavender |date=1996 |title=American Indian History or Non-Indian Perceptions of American Indian History? |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/1184936 |journal=American Indian Quarterly |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=3 |doi=10.2307/1184936 |issn=0095-182X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Chakravarti received his early education at a missionary school in [[Banaras]]. He studied at the [[University of Calcutta]] and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Law and a Master's Degree in Arts.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

== Career ==
Chakravarti began his career as a lecturer in [[physical science]] at a college in [[Bareilly]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. In 1893, he was appointed as Professor of Mathematics at the [[University of Allahabad]]. During his time at university, he became friends with [[Motilal Nehru]]. Later, he served as the Chief Inspector of Schools in the [[Uttar Pradesh|United Provinces]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

He was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Lucknow]] on December 16, 1920, after previously serving as [[pro-vice-chancellor]] at [[Banaras Hindu University]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-11-11 |title=How a two-room memorial school turned into a 225-acre Lucknow University |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/how-a-two-room-memorial-school-turned-into-a-225-acre-lucknow-university/articleshow/71999895.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst |access-date=2024-10-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Lucknow / Former Vice Chancellors |url=https://www.lkouniv.ac.in/article/en/past-vice-chancellors |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=www.lkouniv.ac.in}}</ref>

=== Theosophical Society ===
Chakravarti was introduced to the [[Theosophical Society]] by his uncle and became a member of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Binford |first=Harry |title=Mirtola: A Himalayan Ashram with Theosophical Roots |url=https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/mirtola-a-himalayan-ashram-with-theosophical-roots |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Theosophical Society in America |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Binford |first=Harry |title=Sri Krishna Prem: The Forgotten Theosophist |url=https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/sri-krishna-prem-the-forgotten-theosophist |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=Theosophical Society in America |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In 1893, the [[Theosophical Society]] sent a delegation to the [[Parliament of the World's Religions|World's Parliament of Religions]] in [[Chicago]] that included Chakravarti and [[Annie Besant]]. After traveling to [[England]], he sailed for the U.S. in August 1893 with Besant to meet with [[Theosophical Society in America|American Theosophists]] to organize lectures.<ref>[https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/wqj-echoes/EchoesOrient2-WQJ.pdf]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=October 1893 |title=Faces of Friends |url=https://www.ultindia.org/s/path/PathOct1893.pdf |journal=The Path |volume=VIII |issue=7 |pages=205}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Chakravarti was awarded the title and medal of "[[Rao Bahadur|Rai Bahadur]]" by the [[British Raj|British colonial administration]]. The Dr. Chakravarti Gold Medal is awarded annually at the [[University of Lucknow]] for achievements in academia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-08 |title=Storyteller with 1.75 lakh Insta followers to get LU's top medal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/storyteller-with-1-75-lakh-insta-followers-to-get-lus-top-medal/articleshow/113172397.cms |access-date=2024-10-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Writings ==
The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists two articles by or about Chakravarti.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

* ''The Influence of Theosophy on the Life and Teachings of Modern India''. 1906. Adyar Pamphlet Series No. 35. Reviewed in ''The Theosophic Messenger'' 7.8 (May 1906), 124.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* ''Spirituality and Psychism''. 1914. Adyar Pamphlet Series, No. 48<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakravarti |first=Gyanendranath |url=http://archive.org/details/spiritualitypsyc00chak |title=Spirituality and psychism |date=1914 |publisher=Adyar, India : Theosophical Publishing House |others=University of Connecticut Libraries}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Chakravarti was married to Monica Devi Chakravarti (1882–1944). The couple had four biological children and forty adopted children.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ashish |first1=Madhava |editor1-last=Prem |editor1-first=Shri Krishna |title=Initiation into yoga: an introduction to the spiritual life |date=1976 |publisher=Theosophical Publishing House |location=Wheaton, IL |page=22 |chapter=Forward: Shri Krishna Prem through the eyes of a disciple}}</ref> In 1928, Monika Devi sought her husband's permission to take ''[[sannyasa]]'' (renunciant vows) and continue her spiritual endeavors in the Himalayas. He granted her request and personally initiated her into a renunciant order, where she assumed the name Sri Yashoda Ma.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ashish |first1=Madhava |editor1-last=Prem |editor1-first=Shri Krishna |title=Initiation into yoga: an introduction to the spiritual life |date=1976 |publisher=Theosophical Publishing House |location=Wheaton, IL |page=23 |chapter=Forward: Shri Krishna Prem through the eyes of a disciple}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Indian scholars]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1936 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:Indian Theosophists]]
[[Category:Theosophists]]
[[Category:Rai Bahadurs]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Indian mathematicians]]
[[Category:Indian lecturers]]
[[Category:People from Varanasi]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Allahabad]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Banaras Hindu University]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philosophers]]

Gyanendra Nath Chakravarti - Revision history

LavernChitwood1 at 13:31, 6 May 2026