After Vivekananda’s Passing
Swamiji passed away on July 4th, 1902 plunging his monastic brothers and students into grief. By Swamiji’s own assessment, Nivedita was as inspired as he. In a matter of a few years, Nivedita had assimilated the culture of India and truly became one of the people, always saying “we” and “our” when speaking of India and her peoples. In large and small ways, she continued her master’s mission, via women’s education, social service, and energizing Indian arts and science along Indian lines. After Swamiji’s passing, she channeled his message of man-making into nation-making and became sister and guru to many young nationalists, to artists, writers, and scientists. She lectured all over the country, wrote articles whenever asked, and continued the work of her girls’ school, while assisting Indian arts and science. Speaking on the “Unity of India” while lecturing in Madras, Nivedita emphasized Vivekananda’s message:
“Yet again shall come the great re-establishment of Dharma when the whole of this nation shall be united together not in a common weakness, not in a common misfortune or grievance but in a great, overflowing, complex, actual, ever-strong, ever-living consciousness of the common nationality, the common heritage, the common struggle, the common life, aye! The common destiny and the common hope. And so let me in all reverence and in all grateful memory and love repeat to you again these words that were spoken here in our midst a few years ago by a voice so dear, so well-remembered by you all – those words that were the text of his message to his land forever more – ‘Arise, awake, struggle on and rest not till the goal is reached.” – Nivedita, p. 155
Sister Nivedita broke through the barriers of race, creed, caste and gender with unselfishness, generosity, and above all a love for all she met, sharing their joys and sorrows, even while effacing herself for the sake of cultural and caste sensitivities where prudent. She cleaned gutters, slogged through flooded villages, comforted the sick and dying… Nivedita, the Dedicated One, sacrificed comforts, esteem, country, her energy and her health to continue Vivekananda’s message. She passed away October 13, 1911 at the age of 43. In a letter to Miss MacLeod, in 1904, “I only want – I only wanted, I shall always only want – to be allowed to carry His burden for Him. …I don’t care the least about Mukti.” – Nivedita, p. 286
“I think infinitely more of Sri Ramakrishna’s quiet life now than I used to do. I want to see our men standing in groups at all corners of India, not as workers – simply to pray and witness the lives of Swamiji and Sri Ramakrishna. These two lives ARE the unity of India. All that is necessary is that India should keep them in her heart. – Nivedita., p.159
The Footfalls
We hear them, O Mother!
Thy footfalls,
Soft, soft, through the ages
Touching earth here and there,
And the lotuses left on Thy footprints
Are cities historic,
Ancient scriptures and poems and temples,
Noble strivings, stern struggles for Right.
Where lead they, O Mother!
Thy footfalls?
O grant us to drink of their meaning!
Grant us the vision that blindeth
The thought that for man is too high.
Where lead they, O Mother!
Thy footfalls?
Approach Thou, O Mother, Deliverer!
Thy children, Thy nurslings are we!
On our hearts be the place for Thy stepping,
Thine own, Bhumya Devi, are we.
Where lead they, O Mother!
Thy footfalls?
– from Footfalls of Indian History,
a collection of essays on Indian history, cited in Nivedita, p.273
Bibliography:
Sister Nivedita, by Pravrajika Atmaprana (cited as Nivedita)
The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita (cited as CWSN)
Nivedita as I saw Her, Sarabala Sarkar (cited as NAISH)
The Master as I saw Him, Sister Nivedita (cited as Master)