The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 jointly by Madame H.P. Blavatsky, a Russian, and Col. Henry Steel Olcott, an American, assisted by others. In 1879, the World Headquarters  was shifted to Bombay and later in 1882 to Adyar, Madras. Adyar, in South Madras, is at the confluence of the river  of  that  name  with the Bay  of Bengal  and  is  a  place  of  beauty  and great  peace.

The Theosophical Society is an international organisation with members in more than 56 countries. The members are united by their approval of the objects of the Theosophical Society by their wish to promote harmony and understanding at all levels, to draw together men of goodwill whatever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study truths and to share the results of their  studies with  others. Their  bond of union is not the profession of common belief, but a common search and aspiration  for Truth.

The three declared objects of the Theosophical Society are:

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

(2) To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.

(3) To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.

The Society has drawn the peoples of the world closer to each other by its work for these three objectives and has been a strong factor for unity and harmony among mankind. Its members belong to different religions-Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and other faiths-and also include persons who may profess no religion except that of service to mankind and all life.

The Theosophical Society has been celebrating the centenary of its foundation during the last one year. These celebrations were inaugurated on November 17, 1974 at a meeting held at the World Headquarters of the Society in Adyar, Madras. The 1,200 branches of the Society at the national, regional and local levels all over the world are commemorating the centenary  with  their own programmes. The Centenary World Convention of the Society will meet at Adyar from  December 20 to December 30, 1975.

The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department is privileged to associate itself with these celebrations of the Theosophical Society by issuing a  special stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India