Monday 16 April 2018

Sister Nivedita: The Dedicated - Who gave her all to India – 45

यतो धर्म: ततो जय:


Nivedita as a writer - 3


Just one interaction! It infused true patriotism in Bharati's heart, and wiped away forever the sense of caste and sex differentiation. Bharati returned to Madras a completely changed man. Thereafter he appeared as a vibrant and fiery poet of patriotism. Never thereafter did he admit any caste differentiation. Throwing all the rules and prohibitions of the society to the winds, he, being a Brahmin himself, used to dine with everybody. He held the women kind in high esteem and used to involve his wife in all activities, and even walked along the road with her by his side. He would not care for anyone's frowning or criticism.

Subramanya Bharati used to regard Nivedita as his Guru, and dedicated his two poetry books to her name. In the preface of one of the books he wrote: 'I offer this little book at the feet of my Provider of Learning who, by unfolding the spiritual vision of Mother India, infused in me the love for the Motherland, just as Sri Krishna by showing His Cosmic form to Arjuna conferred on him true Self-knowledge.' The second one he dedicated with the words: 'I humbly offer this book to Devi Nivedita, the spiritual daughter of Bhagavan Vivekananda. Without uttering a single word and within a fraction of a moment she made me realize the true form of service to the Motherland and the glory of self-sacrifice'.

Dinesh Sen was good historian though not very courageous. Once when she was going out with him and one monk a bull came from the front, Dinesh Sen ran away to safety. But the monk came in front of Nivedita and stood ground. The bull retreated. Nivedita was shocked and unhappy about this selfish coward behavior of Dinesh Babu. But that did not make her reject him. At heart, Nivedita was very fond of Dinesh Babu. Nivedita used to say that she respected Dinesh Babu because she found true patriotism in him. She helped him much in the publication of his on the history of Bengal in English. For one year, she worked on this, going through the entire manuscript minutely and editing it. Sometimes they worked on it from morning till 10 o'clock at night with hardly an interval of a few minutes. Dinesh Sen wrote that if Nivedita would take over any responsibility, she worked thoroughly, involving herself as though it were her own task. She helped Jagadish Chandra Bose in a similar way with his scientific writing.


To be continued...





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