Sister Margaret (Sister Nivedita)

St. Margaret Convent School
Margaret Nobel (Sister Nivedita) was born in Ireland. The Irish lady devoted herself to selfless services at a very young age. At the age of twenty, she met Swami Vivekananda and was immensely influenced by his ideas and speeches. As suggested by Swami Vivekananda, Margaret Nobel came to India first in July 1897, subsequently in January 1898, and received her initiation from him in March 1898. Swamiji gave her the name Nivedita, “ The dedicated ”. Later he brought out the significance of that name in the following lines penned for her as his blessing.

“The mother’s heart, the hero’s will,
The sweetness of the southern breeze,
The sacred charm and strength that dwells
On Aryan altars, flaming, free;
All these be yours and many more
No ancient soul could dream before- Be thou to India’s future son
The mistress, servant, a friend in one!”

Nivedita embraced her adopted country as her very own. She selflessly gave her all to her beloved country and waged a relentless fight for India and the causes dear to India of the numerous instances of Nivedita’s Indian struggles in the fields of thought and activity such as religion, education, art, and politics show the extraordinary fighter she was.

Nivedita’s political struggles in India towards developing a sense of nationality among the Indians and making them free from the bondage of the British were very much significant in Indian History. She was a unique gift of Swami Vivekananda to the Motherland. Just like her Guru, she became a condensed Indian. All those who are interested in knowing India, with its heritage and culture, would be well-advised to approach India through Nivedita and the likes of her.

Sister Margaret believed in the need for woman’s education and empowerment, which was the vision of Swami Vivekananda. Thus she established Sister Nivedita School at Kolkata for girls. She wanted to educate girls who were deprived of even basic education.

Sister Nivedita loved India as her motherland and the Indians like brothers and sisters. She died on 13th October 1911 at the age of forty years.