Sister Nivedita : A true Indian and an Exponent of Indian Knowledge System

Born as Margaret Elizabeth Noble on 28th October, 1867 in Ireland, she came to India in 1898 and became a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, who gave her the name “Nivedita” which means “ the dedicated one”. Actually she became a true “Indian” in every sense of the term and she dedicated her life for the people of India. She worked to improve the condition of Indian women and empower them by spreading education among them; struggling against all odds she established a girl’s school in the year 1898. She relentlessly nursed underprivileged people during the outbreak of plague epidemic in Calcutta in 1899, and above all, she promoted pan-Indian nationalism. 

 Sister Nivedita advocated for a revival of Indian cultural identity encouraging the Indian principles in art,literature and scientific research. For her, Indian national consciousness was about awakening of pride in all spheres.With this vision and belief she became a mentor of Bengal School of Art and inspired the artists like Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Asit Kumar Halder, Surendranath Gangopadhyay et.al. She wrote extensively on the paintings of these artists. Moreover, she endeavoured to stop young indian artists from imitating western art and made them look towards the traditional art of India for inspiration. Under her insistence and financial support Nandalal Bose and other young artists from Bengal went to Ajanta caves to copy the frescos.

Along with inspiring young Indian artists to establish a distinct Indian form of art she encouraged Indian scientists to do their original research work and championed the idea of forming an advanced scientific research institute for Indian scientists. Sister Nivedita actively supported Dr. Jagadish Chandra Bose, the Indian Scientist, by helping him financially to pursue his research, as well as in getting due recognition when he was faced with an indifferent attitude from the British Government. Jamshetji Nussarwanji Tata dreamt of establishing an advanced science research Institute in India, which he related to Swami Vivekananda in a chance meeting in a steamer from Japan to Canada in the year 1893. Later,Vivekananda pursued the idea through his ardent disciple Sister Nivedita. At first the British Government was not ready to encourage the idea, but after her relentless campaign for the scheme,the Government formed a committee and in the year 1909 the institute came into existence.

Sister Nivedita was closely associated with the nationalist activists who fought against British Rule in India like Aurobindo Bose and Anushilon Samiti. She played a pioneering role in organizing the Indian independence movement when Lord Curzon initiated the partition of Bengal in1905. She designed a national flag of India and introduced the singing of the song Vande mataram in her school as a prayer.
Thus it can be said that there could be no better title than the title “Lokmata” which was given to her by Rabindranath Tagore. “Lokmata” means mother of the people, she was truly the mother of the Indian people.