BLAVATSKY LODGE
The Theosophical Society
[Registered under B.P.T. Act, 1950 -
No.F/344(B)] ▪ [Founded in 1879]
7, French Bridge, Chowpatty
Mumbai 400007 ▪ Tel: 2368 5026
ANNUAL REPORT
2014-15
BLAVATSKY LODGE
The Theosophical Society
7, French
Bridge, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007. Tel: 2368 5026
notice
Date: 30th July 2015
Dear Sister/Brother,
The 135th Annual General Meeting of the
Blavatsky Lodge T.S. will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, the 6th September
2015 in the Blavatsky Lodge premises when your presence is earnestly solicited.
Yours fraternally,
K.B.
Khambatta
HON.
SECRETARY
AGENDA
1.
To read the circular convening the
Meeting.
2.
To read and confirm the minutes of
the last Annual General Meeting held on 20th
July 2014.
3.
To receive and adopt the Managing
Committee's Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2015.
4.
To receive and pass the audited
Statement of Accounts of the Lodge and Book Depot, as on 31st March 2015.
5.
To elect Honorary Auditors for the
year 2015-16 and fix their honorarium.
6.
To invite
suggestions and views of members to spread Theosophy, increase membership of TS
and make the Blavatsky Lodge, more vibrant and active.
7.
Any other matter with the
permission of the Chair.
PS:
The General Body meeting
will be followed by lunch for members. Senior Members of age 75 years or
above will be reimbursed taxi fare upto Rs.100/-. All
members are requested to confirm participation to the Lodge Assistant, Sister
Asha (Phone 022 2368 5026) or the Hon. Secretary, Sis
Kashmira B. Khambatta (Phone 9821459504) as soon as possible to facilitate
lunch arrangements.
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2015
We pay our homage to the Masters and the Great
White Brotherhood for their invisible guidance and assistance.
MEMBERSHIP:
We invite new members to attend our Rituals of
Mystic Star, and the Matreya Round
Table as also the meetings held on Tuesdays and Fridays.
MEMBERSHIP
DETAILS
|
Regular
|
Associate
|
Total
|
LIFE
MEMBERS
|
|
|
|
As on 1-4-2014
|
53
|
2
|
55
|
Transfer from Ordinary Members
|
2
|
|
2
|
Expired
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
As on 31-3-2015
|
54
|
1
|
55
|
|
ORDINARY
MEMBERS
|
--
|
|
|
As on 1-4-2014
(Including Associate Members)
|
84
|
6
|
90
|
New Members
|
5
|
|
5
|
Renewal of Membership
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Expired
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Resigned
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
Lapsed
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
Transfer to Life Membership
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
Transfer from other lodges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
As on 31-3-2015
|
84
|
6
|
90
|
|
TOTAL MEMBERS (as on 1-4-2015)
|
138
|
7
|
145
|
Obituary:
Bro. Jal Sanjana, Life
Member and Bro Swarajkumar Mittal, passed to peace during the year under
report.
There was a
Commemorative Meeting for Bro Sanjana who actively served and propagated
Theosophy over 70 years.
Managing
Committee: At the Annual General
Body meeting held on 20th July 2014, the following members were elected
unanimously as Office-Bearers and Members for the years 2014-16:
President Bro. Navin Kumar
Vice-President Sis.
Freny Pagdiwalla
Hon. Treasurer
Sis Aban P
Amroliwalla
Hon. Jt.
Treasurer Sis. Ruby
Khan
Hon. Secretary Sis.
Kashmira Khambatta
MEMBERS Bro Rustom Dalal
Sis. Aban Patel
Sis. Ketayun Irani
Sis. Jasmine Cawasji
Sis. Navaz Dhalla
Bro. Noor Baig
Bro.
Princey Mehta
Following Sub-Committees were formed:
Library Sub-Committee:
Sis Kashmira Khambatta (Hon.
Librarian), Sis. Aban Amroliwalla
(Asst. Librarian) Sis Jasmine Cawasji
(member)
Book Depot Sub-Committee:
Sis Freny Paghdiwalla (Book
Depot Manager), Sis Nawaz Dhalla
& Sis Bana Mehta.
Housekeeping Sub-Committee:
Sis Nawaz Dhalla, Sis. Ketayun Irani, &
Sis. Jasmine Cawasji.
Building Supervision Sub-Committee:
Bro. Rustom Dalal, Sis Nawaz Dhalla & Aban
Amroliwalla.
Programmes Sub-Committee:
Sis Aban Patel, Sis. Jasmine
Cawasji & Bro Princey Mehta.
The President
and the Hon. Secretary are ex-officio members of all the Sub-Committees.
Managing
Committee Meetings: The details about members’
attendance at the meetings are as under:
No. of meetings attended by the
Managing Committee Members
(July 2014 to June 2015)
[Out of 12 meetings]
PRESIDENT: Bro. Navin Kumar 10
VICE
PRESIDENT : Sis.Freny Pagdiwalla
4
HON. TREASURER Sis Aban P Amroliwalla 8
Hon.
Secretary: Sis. Kashmira
Khambatta 10
Jt. Hon
Treasurer: Sis. Ruby Khan
6
MEMBERS
: Bro
Rustom Dalal 6
Sis.
Aban Patel 8
Sis. Ketayun Irani 8
Sis. Jasmine Cawasji 12
Sis. Navaz Dhalla 9
Bro. Noor Baig 2
Bro Princey
Mehta 2
LODGE
MEMBERS’ MEETINGS, THEOSOPHICAL TALKS & DISCUSSIONS
which took place during the year, included:
Members’
Meetings:
·
Members’ meeting were held on Fridays. Dhammapada
study which had started in the previous year under the guidance of Bro H K
Saran was continued and completed in the month of June with a one day wrap up
session on Sunday the 15th June 2014.
·
The study of “Text Book of Theosophy” by CWL
under the guidance of Bros Rustom Dalal, Navin Kumar, Arni Narendra and Roy
Mathew, Sis. Aban Patel, Navaz Dhalla Aban Amroliwalla, and “Clairvoyance” by
CWL under the guidance of Sis Aban Patel was taken up in Members Meetings after
June 2014 onwards.
·
Sis Kashmira Khambatta gave a power point
presentation on ‘The Result of Theosophical Study’, Chapter 10 From the Book
“Clairvoyance” by C.W. Leadbeater, on 24th April 2015.
·
A full-day Special Members’ Meeting was held at
Aarey Colony guest house to wrap up the study of “Clairvoyance” under the
guidance of Sis Aban Patel on 21st December 2014.
·
From the month of January 2015 onwards Bro
Dhananjay Singh is conducting talks cum discussion on Episodes from
Mahabharata.
·
Sis Maharukh Shroff and Sis Meher Contractor
give several talks on different aspects of Zoroastrianism.
·
“Gandhi” movie directed by Lord Attenbourough
was screened at the Lodge on Sunday the 6th April 2015.
·
A special meeting was held at the Lodge on 23rd
November, 2015. The members walked from Lodge to Manibhavan to take darshan of
Gandhiji’s photographs and rooms where he used to stay while in Mumbai. After
returning to the Lodge and lunch there was a symposium on “The Life of Mahatma
Gandhi”. Each participant was given a copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography.
·
Bro Zafar Iqbal, a former member of the IAS,
gave two talks on “Islam”. Sis Meher Aria also gave a talk on “ Beauties of
Islam “
The 83rd Annual Session of Bombay Theosophical
Federation
was held from 10th to 12th October 2014 with Chief guests
Bro Sundaram and Sis Manju Sundaram of the Indian Section.
Allied Activities:
·
Bharat
Samaj Pooja on 1st Sundays of every month.
·
Mystic
Star Ritual on 2nd Sundays of every month.
·
Maitreya
Round Table on 4th Sundays of every month.
Red Letter
Days were celebrated jointly with B.T.F. through talks, readings and
audio visuals as under:
1.
White
Lotus Day meeting of BTF was jointly celebrated by Anand Lodge and
Blavatsky Lodge at Juhu Theosophical Colony on 8th May 2014 at 6.30
pm.
2.
Dr.
Annie Besant’s Birth Anniversary on 1st October
2014 was celebrated jointly by BTF and Blavatsky Lodge in Besant Hall.
3.
Foundation
Day Meeting on 17th November 2014 at Blavatsky
Lodge.
4.
Adyar
Day on 17th February 2015.
Special
Ceremonies which took place included the following:
WESAK
BLESSINGS OF LORD BUDDHA conducted on 14th May 2014 by Bro.
Keki Palkhiwalla.
o CELEBRATIONS OF THE MAITREYA ROUND
TABLE held on 18th May 2014 with performance of the Wesak
Ceremony.
o ASALA POORNIMA MEETING
was conducted on 12th July 2014 by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla.
PUBLIC TALKS AND OTHER PROGRAMS held were:
LORD BUDDHA’S MOVIE AT BLAVATSKY LODGE:
As the study of Dhammapada, conducted by Bro. H. K. Sharan
over a year for the benefits of Brethren of Mumbai, was coming to an end, it
was decided to show an animated movie on the life of Lord Buddha. This is an
initiative of Blavatsky Lodge’s President Bro. Navin Kumar. This movie is of 4
hours, so it was shown in four parts over 4 Friday Meetings in May & June
2014. This artistic inspiring movie has been an opportunity to know Lord
Buddha’s Life and to learn about His teachings.
DR. DARIUS H.
UMRIGAR’S FULL DAY WORKSHOP ON ‘GOOD
HEALTH WITHOUT MEDICINE’ at Blavatsky Lodge on Saturday 7th June 2014: was sponsored by Gustad
Mehenti & Hormuzd Chinoy Trust. He gave useful guidelines on ‘Let Food be your Medicine and Your Medicine
be your Food’.
MAITREYA ROUND TABLE WITH VAISHAKH CEREMONY on
Sunday 18th May 2014: It was an Annual Gathering with Past Chief
Knights of India Bro. Russi Toddywalla & Bro. Mahdeo Desai and other Senior
Knights gracing the ceremony.
IMPRESSIONS OF THE 139TH INTERNATIONAL
TS CONVENTION BY BTF BRETHREN:
Video clips of the opening session
and the Presidential address were shown on 4th January 2015 at the
Blavatsky Lodge at 6 pm. This was followed by the narration of the impressions
of the convention by Dr Ajay Hora, Sis Urvi Hora, Bro Vinayak Pandya and Bro
Noor Baig who had attended the Convention.
SUPPORT CONVENTION
DECEMBER 2014
In Christmas Spirit, we welcomed Brethren for the Support Convention at Blavatsky Lodge
with colourful decorations and inspiring charts by Sis. Navaz Dhalla.
Opening of the Support Convention on Thursday 26th December 2014:
Prayers of All Religions followed by the Universal Prayer were led by
Blavatsky Lodge President Bro. Navin Kumar. Bro Keki Palkiwalla delivered a talk on ‘Invocation, Introspection and Self
Realisation.
On 27th December 2014 there was a Cultural Evening which was
decicated to the “Women of India”. National Anthem sung by women celebrities
was screened. Members gave musical/instrumental items. An interview of Malal
Yusufzai was screened in the end.
On 28th December 2014 morning Mystic Star
Ritual was performed in the memory of Bro Jal Sanjana.
On 30th December 2014 The complete Presidential Address
at the Adyar Convention was screened.
GRATITUDE:
The
Blavatsky Lodge TS acknowledges with sincere thanks kind donations from:
(1)
Executors
of Estate of Late MS Sillo M Gandhi Rs 250000/-
(2)
Sis
Jasmine Cawasji Rs 10,000/-
(3)
Sis
Aban Patel Rs 5,000/-
(4)
Sis
Meher Minoo Contractor Rs 5,000/-
(5)
Sis
Kashmira Pastakia Rs 3000/-
(6)
Sis
Pervin C Pastakia Rs 3000/-
(7)
Bro
Cyrus J Pastakia Rs3000/-
(8)
Sis
Renu Toola Rs 1000/-
(9)
Sis
Shernaz Vachha 1000/-
(10) Bro Minocher N Sahukar Rs 900/- (for
Library
Fund.
BOOK-DEPOT:
During the financial year 2014-15 books
worth Rs.27507/- were purchased. Sales amounted to Rs.32170/-. At the end of
the year closing stock at cost price was Rs.35778/-. We thank TPH, Adyar for
their cooperation. The Book-Depot displayed books at their sales counter during
workshops held at the lodge and BTF session at Juhu.
LIBRARY:
Books
|
Balance as on 1-4-2014
|
Purchased
(+)
|
Donated
(+)
|
Discarded
(-)
|
Balance as on 31-3-2015
|
English
|
8349
|
--
|
103
|
--
|
8452
|
Gujarati
|
370
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
370
|
Marathi
|
264
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
264
|
Hindi
|
529
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
529
|
Sanskrit
|
44
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
44
|
TOTAL
|
9556
|
--
|
103
|
--
|
9659
|
2. Library Membership:
Nos.
Membership as on 31-3-2014 44
Add: New Members 3 -----
47
Less: Lapsed/Expired/Transferred, etc. 21
------
Membership as on
31-03-2015 26
====
We thank our
donors Centenary Lodge – Bandra and
other donors for their contribution of
good books.
We would greatly appreciate the services of our members and
sympathisers in our project of rearranging the Lodge Library and for manning
the Book Depot. Interested persons may contact Bro. Navin Kumar for
volunteering their services.
We also request our members and sympathizers to devote some of
their valuable time towards attending our study classes, programs & allied
activities and assisting in programs, library, book depot, housekeeping and
building maintenance. Interested persons may contact the Secretary or other
Committee members.
AUDITED ACCOUNTS:
The Audited Income
and Expenditure Account for 2014-15 shows an excess of Income over Expenditure
of Rs.312558.74/- for the Lodge & surplus of Rs.1613/- for the Book Depot.
Audited Accounts Statements are given hereinafter for the perusal of members.
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BLAVATSKY
LODGE T.S. HELD ON 6TH
SEPTEMBER AT BESANT HALL OF THE LODGE.
The 135th Annual General
Body Meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge T.S held in the Besant Hall of the Lodge
was commenced with recital of Prayers of
all Religions and the Universal Prayer by Members present. A total of 37
members were present for the AGM against the required quorum of 18.
The President Bro. Navin Kumar
welcomed the Members present for the meeting and also thanked them for making
it to the AGM.
Thereafter the Members rose and observed
silence for a minute in remembrance of the Members who expired during the year under
report and in recognition of their
dedication and services to the Blavatsky Lodge.
Thereafter, the agenda items were
taken up and the deliberations were as under:
1. To read the circular convening the Meeting:
The circular dated 20th
July 2014 convening the AGM which was circulated to members earlier, was reckoned
as read.
2. To Read and confirm the Minutes of the last Annual General
Body Meeting held on 20th July 2014:
The Minutes of Annual
General Body Meeting held on 20th July 2014, copies of which were
circulated to the Members, were read by Hon. Secretary, Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
and the same were confirmed the following resolution proposed by Sis Navaz
Dhalla , seconded by Sis Aban Patel and carried unanimously.
“Resolved that the minutes
of the AGM held on July 20, 2014 are hereby confirmed.”
3. To receive and adopt the Managing Committee’s Annual Report
for the year ended 31st March 2015:
The President placed
before the members the salient features of Annual Report which were as follows:
a. Total Members of Blavatsky
Lodge are 145.
b. Sister Jasmine attended
all the 12 meetings of the Managing Committee during the year under report.
(she was honored by a general applause by all members)
c. Sister Kashmira khambatta
gave a power point presentation on The Result of Theosophical Study on 24th
April 2014.
d. A four hour movie on the
life of Buddha was screened in four parts during four members meetings in May
and June 2014.
e. The study of the book
“Clairvoyance” by Leadbeater was completed under the guidance of Sis Aban
Patel. The wrap up session was held at the Aarey Clony Guest House on21st
December 2014.
f.
Screening of the Gandhi Movie in the Lodge and a visit to
Mani Bhavan on 23rd November 2014 followed by a symposium of Gandhi’s
Life.
g. Completion of the Study of
the Book “Text Book of Theosophy in members meetings.
h. Two talks on Islam were
delivered by Bro Zafar Iqbal during members meetings.
i. Sis Maharukh Shroff and
Sis Meher Contractor gave several talks on different aspects of Zoroastrianism.
j. The Red Letter days viz
The White Lotus Day, Annie Besant’s Birth Day, Foundation Day and the Adyar Day
were celebrated joyfully as usual.
k. Similarly the Bharat Samaj
Puja, The Mystic Star Ritual and the Maitreya Round Table were performed every
month.
The following resolution
was proposed by Sister Jasmine Cawasji , seconded by Bro Khusrav and carried
unanimously:
“Resolved that the Annual
Report of the Blavatsky Lodge for the year 2014-15 be approved unanimously”.
4. Satement of accounts of the lodge and the Book Depot, as on
31st March 2015:
The Hon Joint Treasurer,
Sister Ruby Khan highlighted the income and expenditure figures of the year and
expressed the satisfaction that the financials of the lodge are in order to
carry out its objects. The following resolution was proposed by Sis Ruby Khan ,
seconded by Sis Ketayun and carried unanimously.
“Resolved that the Annual
Accounts for the Year 2014-15 annexed to the annual report be approved.”
5. To elect honorary auditors for the year 2015-2016 and fix
their honorarium:
The President mentioned
that the current auditors, R.T.Kapasi and Associates, Mumbai, are doing
satisfactory Audit Work of the Lodge. He expressed that the Managing Committee
is of the view to reappoint them for 2015-16 at a Total audit fees of Rs.10,500/-,
E-filing of Income Tax Returns Rs.3,500/- and TDS Return filing (if any)
Rs,1,000/- per Return.
The proposal of the Managing Committee was accepted unanimously by the Genenral Body
and the following resolution proposed by Bro Arnie Narendran, seconded by Sis
Navaz Dhalla and carried unanimously:
“Resolved that R.T. Kapasi & Associates,
Mumbai, be and is hereby appointed as the statutory auditors of the Blavatsky
Lodge T.S. for the financial year 2015-16 at a total audit fees of Rs.10,500/-,
E-filing of Income Tax Returns Rs.3,500/- and TDS Return filing (if any)
Rs.1,000/- per Return.”
6. To invite suggestions and views of Members to spread
Theosophy, increase membership of T.S. and make the Blavatsky Lodge more
vibrant and active:
Sis. Navaz Dhalla expressed
happiness at the response of many members who are coming to the Lodge for
attending to various tasks at the Lodge. She stated that now in addition to the
members meeting the SS meeting of workers is regularly taking place on every Tuesday. She appealed to all members
to come to the lodge in these meetings as often as possible for them. She also
thanked the present workers and servers who come regularly on Tuesdays.
7. Any other matter with the permission of the chair:
Distribution of T.S.
Diploma Certificates.
Sis. Rajam Pillai received
her Diploma Certificate at the hands of Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla to the
accompaniment of a general applause by all members.
8. Vote of Thanks
Sis. Mahazaver Dalal
extended the Vote of Thanks on behalf of Vice President Sis. Freny Pagdiwala.
She thanked the President Bro. Navin Kumar, all the Managing Committee Members
and all the Members present for coming to the AGM and for their efforts to make
the Blavatsky Lodge a more vibrant centre of Theosophy.
HON. SECRETARY PRESIDENT