Early Life
Sister Nivedita was born Margaret Elizabeth Noble on October 28, 1867 in Northern Ireland. Her father was a minister, and mother, Mary Noble, was the daughter of a minister. Margaret was their first born. Her mother confided once that before her birth she prayed to God for a safe delivery and vowed to dedicate the child to God. As a youth, Margaret attended Hallifax College and studied with zeal, developing and pursuing her interests in art, music, and the natural sciences. In 1884 she graduated at the age of 17 and began teaching. Margaret also began spending time in social works and discovered she could effect change via journalism. She continued her study of education and became involved and influential in the “new education,” focusing on the theories of the day emphasizing learning through play. In 1891 she accepted a position in Wimbledon and in 1892 started her own school. Margaret’s status as an educator, along with her great intelligence and experience, lead her into the company of some of London’s most influential intellectuals of the time, including Lady Isabel Margesson, Lady Ripon, and others who organized a small literary group called The Sesame Club.
Meeting Swami Vivekananda
In November 1895, Margaret was invited by Lady Margesson to attend a parlor gathering at her home with “the Hindoo Monk,” as Vivekananda was known. “…He sat amongst us, in his crimson robe and girdle, as one bringing us news from a far land, with a curious habit of saying, now and again, ‘Siva! Siva!’ and wearing that look of mingled gentleness and loftiness, that one sees on the faces of those who live much in meditation, that look, perhaps, that Raphael has painted for us, on the brow of the Sistine Child.” Master, CWSN 1.18 Drawn by the power of Swamiji’s character, his selflessness, renunciation, eloquent and compelling presentation of Vedanta, Margaret surrendered herself to him and to his mission of women’s education and the upliftment of his impoverished country, Mother India.
One day during a satsang in 1896, “Swami suddenly rose and thundered: ‘What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but God. Who will go?’ And again, ‘Why should one fear? If this is true, what else could matter? If it is not true, what do our lives matter?’”