Sister Nivedita’s 150th birth anniversary to be observed today

The 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita will be celebrated by the state government in a grand manner.

The inaugural function will be held at Sisir Mancha on Friday, where state Education minister Partha Chatterjee and president of Bagbazar Math Swami Nityamuktananda will be present.

The state government has set up a committee, comprising dignitaries of Ramakrishna Math and Mission including general secretary Swami Suhitananda, assistant secretary Swami Suvirananda and Swami Suvakarananda.

The Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Education Department, and Principal Secretary of Information and Cultural Affairs Department are also part of the committee. Other members include noted scholars Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri and Radharaman Chakraborty.

It was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who took special interest in acquiring and renovating the house of Sister Nivedita at 16 Bosepara Lane and hand it to Ramakrishna Sarada Math. Nivedita established her girls’ school at the house in November 1898. The school was opened on November 13, on the day of Kali Puja. Sri Sarada Devi was present at the opening. Nivedita played an important in spreading education among women in India.

The Chief Minister also acquired Roy Villa in Darjeeling, where Nivedita died on October 13, 1911, and handed it over to Ramakrishna Mission.

A programme will be held at Bosepara Lane, where renovation of the building is being carried out in full swing. Noted personalities of the 19th century – from Tagore to Jagadish Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghosh to Gopal Krishna Gokhale – used to visit the house.

Nivedita initially started the school with five girls. She also played a major role in serving poor people during the plague, which broke out in 1899. Nivedita wrote articles in several newspapers to draw the attention of the civic body and British administration. She was the first person to translate Tagore’s Kabuliwalla to English. Her books, particularly ‘Footfalls of Indian History’ and ‘Studies from an Eastern Home’ brought her fame as a litterateur.