Sister Nivedita: The Dedicated - Who gave her all to India – 23

यतो धर्म: ततो जय:

Nivedita as ardent devotee of Mother India awakened national consciousness - 2

When Nivedita went to Morris College, Nagpur in October 1902 one incident happened. She was invited to preside over a meeting, and later was made to give away prizes to the participants of the cricket game. After the prize-giving ceremony, she took the students to serious task in her lecture. That was the time of the Dusserah festival. Nivedita said, 'It is indeed a matter of great shame for the students to enjoy joyously a foreign game during the days of Dusserah when you should instead worship war weapons, and invoke strength from the Goddess Durga by worshipping her. If I had known this before that I have to give prizes for cricket game, I certainly would not have agreed to preside over the meeting. I had hoped that in the capital of the great 'Bhonsle' kings, I will see some demonstration of heroic feats of the Marathas. I am indeed sad not being able to see that'.

Nivedita demanded from the students that on the next day they must demonstrate before her sword-fighting, wrestling and other exercises on martial arts. Most of the college students did not know any such exercise. Somehow a few boys from outside and only one college student were made ready for this; they showed her the exercises as desired by her. She then addressed the students, 'You are lately getting more of higher studies. More than the required number of graduates are being turned out from the universities, who with their broken health can hardly protect themselves, not to speak of protecting the dignity of their mothers and sisters. The society will not derive any benefit from these heaps of debris. The country demands true patriots, powerful in body and mind. The country has no need of those people who would serve their foreign masters while hounding their fellow countrymen. Love India, my dear students! Love her intensely as only powerful patriots can raise the country and make their own life meaningful'.

It was during the summer days of 1903. Nivedita was coming to Medinipur. Many people assembled at the railway station to greet her. The moment she alighted from the train, the crowd shouted, 'Hip, Hip, Hooray'. They thought that the white-skinned English woman should better be greeted in that fashion. However, Nivedita looked utterly shocked. With her hand she asked them to stop. Then she explained that 'Hip, Hip, Hooray' was the victory shout of the English people, and the Indians should by no means use that. She raised her hand and shouted three times – Wahe Guruji ka Khalasa Wahe Guru ki Fateh. The entire crowd joined her in shouting.

To be Continue

http://www.sisternivedita.org

 
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हमें कर्म की प्रतिष्ठा बढ़ानी होंगी। कर्म देवो भव: यह आज हमारा जीवन-सूत्र बनना चाहिए। - भगिनी निवेदिता {पथ और पाथेय : पृ. क्र.१९ }
Sister Nivedita 150th Birth Anniversary : http://www.sisternivedita.org
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