Walker Benjamin

George Benjamin Walker, who wrote under the pen name Benjamin Walker and sometimes Jivan Bhakar, was born in Calcutta in 1913 and passed away in 2013. He was an Indian-born British citizen, recognized as an authority on religion, philosophy, and esoterica. His early life was influenced by his parents' humanitarian and educational work in India. His mother, a medical doctor, and his father, a humanist, instilled in him a broad intellectual curiosity, despite his mother's condition that the children be raised as Christians. Walker received a strong education in Calcutta, earning degrees in English and Philosophy, and later an honorary doctorate. His career began with the British Consulate-General in Persia and later included service in India's government, working in various diplomatic and supervisory roles across Asia, and with the Indian Military Mission in Berlin. He retired in 1968 to focus on his writing.

Born George Benjamin Walker in Calcutta on November 25, 1913, he was the son of Dr. Simeon Benjamin Walker and Mary Emily Fordyce. His father was a humanist involved in extensive humanitarian and educational projects in India, establishing a center for studies that unfortunately burned down shortly after its opening. His mother, who earned a medical degree in England to serve Indian women, was also active in the Suffragette movement. The family, including George, was raised with access to his father's extensive library, which contained many critiques of religion, despite his mother's Christian upbringing for the children. This environment likely shaped his later intellectual pursuits.

Walker received a distinguished education in Calcutta, attending St. Xavier's College and Calcutta University, where he earned degrees in English and Philosophy. He also participated actively in Scouting. His professional life began in 1937 with the British Consulate-General in Persia, where he served in various capacities and traveled extensively, gathering material for his first book. During World War II, he was stationed in Meshed, Iran, involved in supervising war commodity transport. It was here he met and married Xenia Dagmar Andrea Stevens-Williams in 1945. Following the war, his career transitioned to the newly formed Republic of India, where he held positions in intelligence and diplomatic service across Asia and later with the Indian Military Mission in Berlin.

After retiring from his diplomatic career in 1968, Walker dedicated himself to writing under the pen name Benjamin Walker, also utilizing Jivan Bhakar. He authored numerous works on religion, philosophy, and particularly esoterica. His writing spanned various forms, including short stories, poetry, and articles. He was a regular contributor to publications like Shankar's Weekly and was a joint-editor of the journal 'Asia.' His prolific output included over 250 articles on diverse subjects, with some titles indicating a focus on esoteric themes, such as 'Esoteric sexuality.' Walker also delivered lectures on topics ranging from psychology and mysticism to history and literature, avoiding politics throughout his career.