When I went to my alma mater IIT Kharagpur, I was surprised to see the largest ladies hostel in the campus was named after Sister Nivedita. A bit curious as almost all the hostels in IIT KGP are named after freedom fighters, I was not able to place sister Nivedita among them. Luckily National Book Trust released this book for free for public reading during the Corona lockdown. This gave me an insight into this great soul and the multifaceted character she is. The book is concise note on the sister's life. Almost a breeze read.
Sister Nivedita got enchanted into Hindu philosophy with Swami Vivekananda's discourses. She decided to lead the Hindu ways of life and had set herself the path to come to India and help set up education for women in India. Although, she partially was successful in that mission, she has contributed to spreading of Hindu ways of life in the west, helping scientists like Dr. J. C. Bose in funding and encouraging their research. Culturally, connecting with Rabindranath Tagore and other Tagore clan members in spreading the importance of Indian culture. She has contributed and at times led the void in leadership during the early freedom struggles of India. She interacted with Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh and Khudiram Bose who had extreme views on Indian freedom struggle while maintaining an equally close association with the moderates. Moreover, she had Lady Minto, the wife of the viceroy as a regular visitor to her school. She has expressed her views on varied areas of interests related to India and Indian culture and Hindu heritage that are published as works of literature, simple children stories or as speeches. For me the book was an eye opener to know a great soul from Indian history who does not get as much of a mention as she should be.
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