B'day Special: Sister Nivedita, Swami Vivekananda's devout disciple

"Struggle for knowledge, for strength, for happiness and for prosperity. Let all these be your aim in life": Sister Nivedita.Margaret Elizabeth Noble- a Scots-Irish lady, famously known as Sister Nivedita was one of Swami Vivekananda's closest disciples. In fact, the Swami himself had given her the name ‘Nivedita'.The word Nivedita is used to refer to someone who is highly dedicated to the almighty God.Swami Vivekananda gave her this name when he initiated her into the vow of Brahmacharya on 25 March 1898.Sister Nivedita was a social worker, author and an educationist. She dedicated and consecrated her life to serve India as her own motherland.She met with an early death on October 13, 1911 at the age of 43, in Roy villa, Darjeeling.Today, she celebrates her 148th birthday anniversary. Let us know more about Sister Nivedita:Margaret Elizabeth Noble was born on October 28, 1867 in Dungannon in County Tyrone, Ireland to Mary Isabel and Samuel Richmond Noble. Her father always taught her that, service to mankind is the true service to God. His words made an impression on Nivedita's mind.Her father died when she was merely ten years old. Hence she was brought up by her maternal grandmother. She had a sister too. The siblings attended Halifax College that was run by a member of the Congregationalist Church.The headmistress of this college taught her about personal sacrifice.After college, she first worked in Keswick as a teacher of children. Subsequently she established a school in Wimbledon. She was an influential writer and wrote in the paper and periodicals.She was engaged to be married to a Welsh youth who died soon after engagement.She had met Swami Vivekananda in November, 1895, when he was in London on his first visit to the West.In 1904, she wrote a letter to a friend declaring her commitment to Swami Vivekanand as a result of her meeting him in England in November 1895.“Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been like 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 recognized 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.'In the year 1898, Sister Nivedita established a school for girls, who were deprived of even basic education. She was instrumental in various altruistic activities.Her aim was to bring about an improvement in the lives of Indian women belonging to various social classes and castes. She tried to bridge the gap and put an end to the caste distinctions.She had good relations with many intellectuals of the Bengali community such as Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Nobel laureate writer.Swami Vivekanand inspired her to work for the welfare of Indian women. Seeing the fire and passion in her to transform the society, Swami could foresee her futuristic role as Mother India.But owing to poor health conditions Sister Nivedita died at an early age on October 13, 1911 in Darjeeling.Her death was grieved by many, including Swami Vivekananda. Aggrieved by her death he wrote a benediction to Sister Nivedita.Swami Vivekananda wrote a poem for her -A benediction to Sister Nivedita -“The mother's heart, the hero's willThe sweetness of the southern breeze,The sacred charm and strength that dwellOn Aryan altars, flaming, free;All these be yours and many moreNo ancient soul could dream before-Be thou to India's future sonThe mistress, servant, friend in one.” It is said that in Sister Nivedita's book Kali, the Mother influenced Abanindranath Tagore who painted Bharat Mata.