Sister Nivedita

“The world is in need of those whose life is one burning love – self-less. That love will make every word tell like a thunder-bolt. Awake, awake, great souls! The world is burning in misery. Can you sleep?”

Swami Vivekananda’s this appeal received a huge response from young generation.  And one of the responders was Sister Nivedita. Her real name was Margaret Elizabeth Noble. She was born on 28th October 1867, in ‘Dungannon’ town in Ireland.  There she spent her childhood and youth.  From her father Samual Nobel, she learnt that service to mankind is the true service to God.

Margaret took her education from Halifax College, with subjects, including physics, arts, music, and literature. In 1884, when she was seventeen, she started her career as a school teacher. From childhood, she had a religious background and she develop respect to all religious teachings. But as she grew up, she found that her philosophical questions are getting unsolvable through her knowledge of christian doctrines. As the doubts became stronger her faith in it was shaken.  She struggled to keep her mind steady, for seven years. In spite of that she was becoming more and more unhappy.  She was after the absolute truth. To console her mind, She started serving in a church.  She started studying natural science.  She studied the life of Buddha and was deeply moved by the sacrifices and renunciation of him.

By the end of 1885, a turning point came in her life, when she met Swami Vivekananda for the first time.  Swamiji had come from America to London, for a three months tour. Swamiji was in London.  One of the aristocrat families of London, invited him to speak at their home.  Margaret came to know about the meeting through a teacher from Ruskin school.  She also went to attend the meeting on 10th November 1885.  She however did not know then that this evening is about to change her life forever. Swami Vivekananda Talked on the Vedanta Philosophy.  Later, Margaret attended several lectures of Swami Vivekananda.

About his impression of Swami Vivekananda, she late said,
“Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been a headless dream, for I always knew that I was waiting for something. I always said that a call would come. And it did. But if I had known more of life, I doubt whether, when the time came, I should certainly have recognised it. Fortunately, I knew little and was spared that torture … Always I had this burning voice within, but nothing to utter. How often and often I sat down, pen in hand, to speak, and there was no speech! And now there is no end to it! As surely I am fitted to my world, so surely is my world in need of me, waiting – ready. The arrow has found its place in the bow. But if he had not come! If he had meditated, on the Himalayan peaks! … I, for one, had never been here.”

She asked a lot of questions to Swamiji. And his answers dispelled her doubts. This established her faith and reverence in Swami Vivekananda. Swamiji readily recognised the fire and passion in Margaret’s heart and could foresee her future role in India.  In a letter Swami Vivekananda writes to Margaret, “Let me tell you frankly that I am now convinced that you have a great future in the work for India. What was wanted was not a man but a woman, a real lioness, to work for the Indians, women especially.” Margaret responded to the call from Swami Vivekananda. She decided to serve India and Indian people.  She left behind her family, her mother and reached India on 28th January 1989.

Soon after she came to India, on 17th March, she met Sri Sarada Mata. Leaving all language and cultural barriers, Sarada mata affectionately called her, ‘Khooki’ or ‘Little girl’ in Bengali. On 25th March 1898, in Nilambar Mukharji’s Garden, Swami Vivekananda initiated her in the vow of Brahmacharya and gave her the name ‘Nivedita’ which means ‘the dedicated one’.

Nivedita travelled to various places in India with Swami Vivekananda, Josephine Mcleod and Sara Bull. During the travels she could meet many Indian people and study Indian life, culture closely. Very soon after she came to India, on 13th November 1898, She opened her school for girls. It was the Kali puja day, when Holy Mother Sarada Devi visited and inaugurated her school at Bagbazar.  Sister Nivedita had to collect funds by writing articles and giving lectures and thus she managed the expenses of the school.

There was a big outbreak of Plague in Calcutta in 1899.  Nivedita immediately engaged herself in nursing and caring the patients.  She started cleaning lanes after lanes. Soon the local youth joined her.  She devoted herself wholeheartedly in the welfare of the people.  She appealed for help in English newspapers and collected funds for the patients.  During this time, people of Bengal started admiring her and her work.  She could meet eminent persons like Ravindranath Tagore, Jagdish Chandra Bose, Abindranath Tagore, etc. 

Through her lectures, Sister Nivedita inspired hundreds of youth. She appealed to the Indian youth to work selflessly for the cause of the motherland and to follow the ideals of Swami Vivekananda. She wrote many books and articles about Indian culture and life, books on Swami Vivekananda, in Indian History etc. She became a true Indian and remained so till her death. She died, on 13th Oct 1911 at Darjiling, She was 44 years old.