RKM president maharaj releases book on Sister Nivedita's letters

Kolkata: Swami Smaranandaji, president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission on Friday released a revised and enlarged edition of Letters of Sister Nivedita in two volumes in connection with the sesquicentennial birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita.

The volumes have been published by Advaita Ashrama, the publication house of Ramakrishna Math. The first copy of this monumental edition was received by Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, at Belur Math on Friday morning.

Revered president Maharaj said that this publication contains a wealth of information and should be read and reread by the new generation Indians.

Her 886 letters presented in these two enlarged volumes tell the unique story of her love and sacrifice for the land she lovingly adopted as her own. 1897 to 1911—the intervening years of growing turbulence in Indian history are the backdrop of these letters that Sister Nivedita wrote to her family, friends and acquaintances all over the world. They include princes, politicians, businessmen, newspaper editors, poets, artists, scientists and other men and women of eminence. The letters throw inspiring light on the history of an important age and some of its most representative personalities. For new generation Indians, Nivedita's letters are invaluable source-material on many counts. They reveal for the first time various unknown and startling facts about the Raj during the Curzons, Mintos and Hardinges; draw us to the India of Vivekananda, Rabindranath and Aurobindo; and give readers a picture of India groaning under the Raj and yet rising to a great purpose.

Eighty five new letters of Sister Nivedita have been added to the new edition. Some letters incomplete in the first edition have been fully restored.