J. Krishnamurti, the philosopher sage, straight-backed with the majesty and beauty of an ancient deodar tree, wandered around the world, teaching and healing the minds of the vast numbers of young and old, the intellectual and the simple human beings who come to him burdened with conflict and sorrow. Born on the 11th May, 1895, in Madanapalli, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, the eighth child of a telugu brahmin petty official, the signs of his mystical nature were evident in Krishnamurti from early childhood. Leadbeater, a clairvoyant and one of the top men in the Theosophical heirarchy in Adyar was struck by the luminous aura of the child Krishnamurti, an aura which he maintained was pure and free of all selfishness. Dr. Annie Besant took the child and his brother Nitya under her protection maintaining hat Krishnamurti's body was to be the vehicle for Lord Maitreya, the World Teacher to be. As a boy, Krishnamurti had the supreme beauty of a forest fawn. The face was oval. The Large, wide, open eyes gazzed into vast distances. There was in him a gravity and supreme dignity.

The death of Nitya in 1925 was Krishnamurti's first contact with sorrow. It posssibly triggered the awakening in him of that illumined intelligence, that while dormant, had sustained him through the years. He grew aware of the illusions and ambitions that made up his environment and the pettiness of most of the so called great ones. He saw that the structures and hierarchies that had ben built in his name were seeking to imprison him. On August 3, 1929 at a camp held at the 5,000 acre estate in Holland, Krishnamurti dissolved the Order of the Star, the main organization built by the Theosophical Society for the coming of the World Teacher. The vast funds and estates including the 5,000 acre estate in Holland were retuned to the original donors. He was to say 'My only concern is to set man absolutely unconditionally free." In 1933, with the death of Dr. Annie Besant he served his last links with the Theosophical Society and alone with a few friends started his pilgrimage, speaking to audiences in Europe, te U.S.A., Australia and India.

In 1947-48 Krishnamurti was to return to India after an abscence of nearly ten years. Drawn by Krishnamurti's supreme presence the beauty, stillness and compassions of his being and his capacity to heal the mind and unburdened sorrow, the young and the old, the man seeking God, the social worker and the politician came to him. In his public discourses, in his small discussion groups, in the individual interviews he gave, he negated all spiritual authority, beliefs and gurus as clutches to raelity. With infinite compassion, he tackeled the problems of violence, fear, hatred, anger, as they arose within the individual. Over the years, Krishnamurti held discussions with scientists, psychriatists and thinkers working at the frontiers of knowledge.

He met religious heads, political leaders, and often spoke to young men, women and children. Krishnamurti was in India in the winter of 1985 visiting the educational centres set up by the Krishnamurti Foundation holding discussions with Budhists and Vedantists, with educators and with the asociates who had been wit him for over fifty years. He had premonitions of his death and in his last talk at Madras spoke of what lay beyond te beginning and the ending. In January, 1986, he fell seriously ill. He died at Ojal, California, U.S.A. on the 17th February, 1986.

The Department of Posts is previleged to bring out a stamp in honour of the great Seer and Philosopher, Shri Krinamurti.

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