Sister Nivedita s Vision Of A Spiritual India
Who can forget the evocative W retelling of the story of Shaba Rana in Cradle Tales of Hinduism or the compelling narrative of the spread of Buddhism in Footfalls of Indian History? The two companion pieces were written by a woman whose love for India and dedication to the cause of India's resurgence have become legendary Indeed, her guru called her Nivedita, ‘the dedicated one'. Transformed by the clarion call of Swami Vivekananda, Margaret Noble left home and hearth in Ireland to plunge into the task set out by her preceptor, to immerse herself completely in the Indian renaissance. She was so dedicated that Rabindranath Tagore was to call her Lomita, 'mother of the people', and Aurobindo’s described her as Agnishikha, 'flame of fire'. They were only reinforcing what her own teacher Vivekananda thought of her, 'a real lioness'. Nivedita loved her adopted motherland. Her multifaceted persona inspired and guided the talent of JC Bose, Abanindranath Tagore and Subramanian Bharati. She herself led a simple and austere life, in the tradition of her teacher. The spiritual trigger provided by Vivekananda was expanded by Nivedita to encompass nationalist causes. She would say, "I will look to India; India may look to the west if she wishes... My task is to awaken the nation." She inspired Abanindranath Tagore to revive the Indianness of Indian art and dispel with Hellenic influences. She helped Jag dish Bose not only with sponsorships but also by providing editorial assistance for his research papers. Nivedita encouraged Subramania Bharati's vision and ideals in his fight for women's rights and against casteism. Bharati would say that in the presence of Sister Nivedita, he could feel a tremendous power, a shakti. Her work among the poor and the most destitute in Kolkata, mark her as an early forerunner of Mother Teresa. Her work and inspiration during Kolkata's 1899 plague is legendary. She initiated relief work and help camps by sweeping streets and cleaning drains. Thousands came out on the streets to help her, in recognition of the ideals of service and sacrifice, which Nivedita embodied completely. It was this tremendous willpower and strength that saw her going house-to-house to enlist girls for her school in Kolkata in the same period, in an effort to break down old prejudices about girls' education. Her involvement and concern made her practically a member of the families she tended to. Despite want of funds and extreme privation, she kept the girls' school going and became the 'Sister of Kolkata'. Her spirit of seas her wade through muddy whelp people in villages during thBengal floods. Nivedita's love for everything Indian was eloquently remonstrant her serving of tea to Lady Minwho was on a visitto the Dakshinetemple. Swami Tathagatanandarecords that everything was swa -biscuits, tea, sugar, cups and saBharati's poem on Nivedita describes her thus: "... Sun dispel my soul's darkness/helper of the helpless..." JC Bose got the image woman stepping forward, lamp ininstalled at his centre in Nivedita ‘memory. But nowhere is Sister Nivedita's life more poignantly sump than in an epitaph to her in Darling: "Here repose the ashes of SisNivedita who gave her all to India.
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The views expressed in the Article above are Pranav Khullar kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Pranav Khullar Speaking Tree ,Times of India
Sister Nivedita s Vision Of A Spiritual India
Who can forget the evocative W retelling of the story of Shaba Rana in Cradle Tales of Hinduism or the compelling narrative of the spread of Buddhism in Footfalls of Indian History? The two companion pieces were written by a woman whose love for India and dedication to the cause of India's resurgence have become legendary Indeed, her guru called her Nivedita, ‘the dedicated one'. Transformed by the clarion call of Swami Vivekananda, Margaret Noble left home and hearth in Ireland to plunge into the task set out by her preceptor, to immerse herself completely in the Indian renaissance. She was so dedicated that Rabindranath Tagore was to call her Lomita, 'mother of the people', and Aurobindo’s described her as Agnishikha, 'flame of fire'. They were only reinforcing what her own teacher Vivekananda thought of her, 'a real lioness'. Nivedita loved her adopted motherland. Her multifaceted persona inspired and guided the talent of JC Bose, Abanindranath Tagore and Subramanian Bharati. She herself led a simple and austere life, in the tradition of her teacher. The spiritual trigger provided by Vivekananda was expanded by Nivedita to encompass nationalist causes. She would say, "I will look to India; India may look to the west if she wishes... My task is to awaken the nation." She inspired Abanindranath Tagore to revive the Indianness of Indian art and dispel with Hellenic influences. She helped Jag dish Bose not only with sponsorships but also by providing editorial assistance for his research papers. Nivedita encouraged Subramania Bharati's vision and ideals in his fight for women's rights and against casteism. Bharati would say that in the presence of Sister Nivedita, he could feel a tremendous power, a shakti. Her work among the poor and the most destitute in Kolkata, mark her as an early forerunner of Mother Teresa. Her work and inspiration during Kolkata's 1899 plague is legendary. She initiated relief work and help camps by sweeping streets and cleaning drains. Thousands came out on the streets to help her, in recognition of the ideals of service and sacrifice, which Nivedita embodied completely. It was this tremendous willpower and strength that saw her going house-to-house to enlist girls for her school in Kolkata in the same period, in an effort to break down old prejudices about girls' education. Her involvement and concern made her practically a member of the families she tended to. Despite want of funds and extreme privation, she kept the girls' school going and became the 'Sister of Kolkata'. Her spirit of seas her wade through muddy whelp people in villages during thBengal floods. Nivedita's love for everything Indian was eloquently remonstrant her serving of tea to Lady Minwho was on a visitto the Dakshinetemple. Swami Tathagatanandarecords that everything was swa -biscuits, tea, sugar, cups and saBharati's poem on Nivedita describes her thus: "... Sun dispel my soul's darkness/helper of the helpless..." JC Bose got the image woman stepping forward, lamp ininstalled at his centre in Nivedita ‘memory. But nowhere is Sister Nivedita's life more poignantly sump than in an epitaph to her in Darling: "Here repose the ashes of SisNivedita who gave her all to India.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Pranav Khullar kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Pranav Khullar Speaking Tree ,Times of India