Sister Nivedita - A Chronology : 1867

1867-1897

1867 October 28 : Born at Dunganon, County Tyrone, Ireland-eldest daughter of Samuel Noble, a Congregational minister and Irish nationalist, and Mary Isabel Hamilton. (Younger sister May (Mrs. Wilson), and younger brother Richmond (Rev. Richmond Noble) born between 1870-74)
1877 Father dies of tuberculosis.
1884 Passes her final examination from Halifax College – Joins as teacher at a school at Keswick.
1886 Joins a school at Rugby.
1886 – 89 Joins a school at Wrexham – Falls in love with a young engineer from Wales. (He died before the engagement could be announced) – Busy in social, philanthropic and literary works-Welfare work in slum areas – Writes articles in journals under different pen names.
1889 – 91 Teacher at a school at Chester.
1891 – 94 At Madame De. Leeuw’s school at Wimbledon, London – Founds Wimbledon Literary Society. 1894 Opens her own Kindergarten school at Wimbledon, follows there Froebel and Pestalozzi methods – Moves away from orthodox Christianity, deep in scientific ideas and politics, becomes a ‘London journalist.’-One of the founders of the Sesame Club, a cultural body comprising both sexes. Lectures here on educational theories, reads papers like ‘Teaching the three Rs on Modern Principles’, meets G.B. Shaw, T.H. Huxley, W.B. Yeats- Recognised as a ‘woman. . . well established in a brilliant career as journalist, educationist, lecturer and fighter for every kind of emancipation.’
1895 November Meets Swami Vivekananda t Lady Isabella Margesson’s residence at West End, London. – Vivekananda brings to her ‘news from a far land’, full of ‘gentleness and loftiness’. He ‘lives much in meditation’, bears ‘that look. .that Raphael has painted on the brow of the Sistine Child’.
1896 April-December Listens to Vivekananda’s lectures and talks, accepts Vedanta as her own philosophy and Vivekananda as her Master.
1897 Organizes Vedanta Movement in London in absence of Vivekananda with the help of E. T. Sturdy and others-Raises money for famine relief work in India, started by the newly founded Ramakrishna Mission – Sends reports of London Vedanta activities to Bramhavadin of Madras-Wants to come to India to take up Indian work-Vivekananda at first reluctant, then agrees ‘I am now convinced that you have a great future in the work for India.’ Top

1898

1898 January Leaves England for India-January 20. Reaches Madras – January 28. Reaches Calcutta – Vivekananda receives her at the docks – She stays for some time at a mansion at Chowringhee-Visits places, attends lectures, takes lessons in Bengali, cultivates acquaintances with Dr. J.C. Bose, the scientist, Rabindranath Tagore, the poet, and other prominent men of Calcutta.
February 27 First visit to Dakshineswar – Meets Aghormani Devi, known as ‘Gopaler Ma’ (Gopal’s Mother) who found in Ramakrishna the Child Gopala, i.e. Child Krishna.
March 11. First public speech in India, at the Star Theatre, Calcutta : ‘Influence of the Spiritual Thoughts of India in England’-
March 17. First meeting with ‘Holy Mother’ Sarada Devi, consort of Sri Ramakrishna, in company with Miss J. MacLeod and Mrs. Ole Bull, writes in her diary, ‘a day of days.’-March 25. Initiated by Vivekananda on the day of the Christian Feast of the Annunciation, as a novice of the Order of Ramakrishna, given the name ‘Nivedita’ (The Dedicated) – Stays in an old cottage at Belur (newly bought for the Math), with Miss MacLeod and Mrs. Ole Bull. May. Plague in Calcutta. Panic and plague riot in protest against Govt. measures-Writes plague pamphlet at Swamiji’s instance-May 11. Starts with Swamiji and his party on upper India tour. Swamiji wishes to show his Western disciples what is real India.-‘Clash and conflict’ with Swamiji over British rule in India and other issues. Swamiji attacks her blind worship of British flag. At the end he blesses her. (‘It was assuredly a moment of wonderful sweetness and reconciliation.’) – Furious at the information that the police are shadowing Swamiji through spies.
July 26. Starts from Srinagar in Kashmir for pilgrimage to the Cave of Amarnath with Swamiji, who wants that ‘his daughter…be dedicated to Siva.’
August 2. Reaches the Amarnath Cave. Swamiji gets vision of Siva. He says to her: ‘You have made the pilgrimage and it will go on working.’ August-September. Makes utmost to undo the mischievous act of the British Resident of Kashmir who vetoed thrice Maharaja’s proposal to handover a plot of land to Swamiji for a Women’s Math, but fails.
September 30. Swamiji starts alone for pilgrimage to Kshir Bhabani to worship Divine Shakti. He returns to Srinagar (October 6).-She sees him ‘transfigured and inspired…His soul and voice are those of a God.’ November 1. Returns to Calcutta after visiting Lahore, Delhi Agra etc. in company with Miss MacLeod and Mrs. Bull.-Stays for sometime at Sarada Devi’s residence at 10/2, Bose Para Lane, Baghbazar.-Shifts to 16 Bose Para Lane-November 12. Present at a meeting of the devotees of Ramakrishna at Balarama Bose’s house at Baghbazar, convened to consider the opening of her Girls’ school.
November 13. Sarada Devi inaugurates the School at 16 Bose Para Lane, and blesses it. Swamiji and some fellow-monks present-
November 14. The School begins. Top

1899

1899 January 9. Starts translating Girish Chandra Ghose’s famous religious drama Bilwamangal.
January 27. Tea-Party at her residence organized by her in pursuance of her effort to bring the Brahma and Ramakrishna Mission closer for Indian work. Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Mohini Mohan Chatterjee among those present.
February 13. Lectures on ‘Kali and Her Worship’ at the Albert Hall; creates sensation.
February 20. At the Jorasanko Tagore family residence with Swami Vivekananda to meet Maharsi Devendranath Tagore.
February 26. Lectures on ‘Young India Movement’ at the Minerva Theatre.
March 15. Writes to Mrs Bull about J.C. Bose, seeking help from her for Bose’s scientific work. (Bose eventually became Mrs Bull’s ‘son’, received huge financial aid, also other helps from her).
March 19. Lectures at the Ramakrishna birthday celebration at Belur Math.
March 21. Violent plague at Calcutta; risks her life nursing plague victims. Vivekananda objects against this unnecessary exhibition of courage, says, sanitation work more beneficial to the people.’
March 22. At Dakshineswar with Sarala Ghosal and Surendranath Tagore of the Tagore family.
March 26. Vivekananda makes her ‘’Naisthic’’ Brahmacharini of the Order.
March 28. Indian Mirror publishes her appeal for plague relief. ‘The Plague in Calcutta.’
March 31. Ramakrishna Mission starts Plague Relief Work in Calcutta slums under her supervision.
April 6. Statesman and Englishman publish her appeal for Plague Relief Fund: The Cleansing of Calcutta.’ April 22. Lectures on Plague at the Classic Theatre with Vivekananda in the chair, appeals to the youth to come forward and sacrifice-Publishes in Prabuddha Bharata report of interview with Vivekananda on the ‘Bounds of Hinduism.’
May 28. Lectures on ‘Kali Worship’ at Kalighat Temple.
June 20. Leaves for England and the West with Vivekananda and Turiyananda for collecting funds for School. – On board discusses with Vivekananda various matters, listens to his inspired utterances, feels it to be the ‘greatest occasion’ of her life.
July 31. In London. Vivekananda meets her family for the first time.-She sees with great delight, the whole family kneels ‘at feet of the Master.’
August 16. Vivekananda with Turiyananda leaves for America.-She stays for sometime in England to join marriage function of her sister.
September 20. Reaches Ridgely Manor, Mr. Leggett’s country house near New York, a big party staying there including Vivekananda, Turiyananda, Abhedananda, Mrs Bull, Leggetts and others.
October 18. Sees Vivekananda in a great prophetic mood, speaking about forthcoming Sudra Revolution. October-November. Completes her book Kali the Mother.
November 5. Vivekananda blesses her and Mrs Bull, gives them ‘power’ and obligation to work for the ‘Mother’. Feels it to be the ‘great turning point’ of her life.
November-December (also January-June, 1900). Lectures at different places of America, on topics like: ‘The Conditions of Indian Women’, ‘Religious life in India’, ‘Ancient Arts of India’, ‘Our obligation to the Orient’, ‘Ideals of Hindu Women’, ‘Mother Worship’. Highly appreciated as well as attacked scathingly, particularly from the supporters of Pandita Ramabai, a Christian convert, who maligns India in America. Fights against this onslaught-Writes to her ‘beloved Father’ Vivekananda, ‘I want to do things only because they are my Father’s will’. Top

1900

1900 January 28. ‘A public school man’ in USA requests her to write “Indian stories” (Later to take the form of Cradle Tales of Hinduism) for publication.
February. Forms ‘Ramakrishna Guild of Help in America’, with Mrs Leggett as President and Mrs Bull as Secretary, publishes a booklet ‘The Project of the Ramakrishna School for Girls’.
March. Meets Prof. Patric Geddes of Scotland, ‘the first sociologist since Spencer to produce a new and living theory of society.’
June 28. Sails for Paris, to act there as Secretary to Patric Geddes, organizer of the various sessions of the International Association at the Paris Exhibition of 1900-Fails ‘absolutely’ in this work as she finds it impossible to go on cataloguing, indexing and reporting of lectures. (But ‘Some Notes of Lectures Heard in Paris at the International School of Science, 1900’ were published in Hindusthan Review, June, 1907, under the title ‘The relation between Famine and Population’)
July. First publication of her book Kali the Mother, by Swan Sonnenschein & Co., London, Dedicates it to Vireswar, Lord of the Heroes, meaning Vivekananda.
August. Meets the Bose’s at Paris. Bose comes to take part at the International Congress of Physicists. Vivekananda rejoices at Bose’s success at the Conference they become great friends.-She stays with Mrs Bull at the village Perros-Guirec in Brittany.-Deeply hurt at Vivekananda’s mood of unconcern about her, complains, receives from him a poem of ‘Benediction’, and great blessing. ‘Go forth into the world, and there, if I made you, be destroyed! If Mother made you, live.’-Writes enthusiastically about Kropotkin’s social and political ideas.
November. In London. Takes leading part in discussions with Govt. officials about Tata Research Institute Scheme. Issues circular letters to some prominent sympathetic. Europeans seeking support for the Tata Scheme, to counteract Government of India’s opposition to it.-Translates some of Rabindranath Tagore’s short stories including Cabuliwallah.-Starts helping Bose in writing scientific papers and books.
December. Helps Bose when ill and operated upon-Keeps the Boses in her family residence and attends on Bose during his convalescence. Top

1901

1901 February-March. Lectures extensively in England and Scotland on Indian topics.
April. Writes about Mr. Ole Bull, famous Norwegian violinist and national leader, on the occasion of ‘the unveiling of his statue’ in Norway.-Starts writing ‘Lambs among Wolves’, in reply to Missionary attacks against Indian culture, and publishes it in West Minister Review. (Published as a book in 1903).
May. In Norway as guest of Mrs Bull-The Boses and Romesh Chandra Dutt also there. Dutt becomes her God-father, inspires her to write Web of Indian Life.-She writes some chapters of the book here.
July. Expresses final disillusionment about British rule in India.
September-December. Continues helping Bose to write The Living and Non-Living-Vigorously goes on with ‘Bose war’ to protect Bose’s interest against conspiracy by Anglo-Indian officials and interested scientific circle.-Meets and discusses with Kropotkin.-Starts corresponding with Kakaju Okakura, an exponent of Japanese Art, at Miss MacLeod’s instance.-Decides to take up political course of activities for India’s emancipation. Top

1902

1902 January 9. Starts for India from Marseilles with R.C. Dutt and Mrs Bull.
February 3. Reaches Madras.
February 4. Given public reception at Madras Mahajana Sabha. Speaks at length on great Indians and their achievements, particularly on Bose’s scientific achievements. – Returns to Calcutta.
February 28. Meets for the first time. E.B. Havell, Principal Govt. School of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta, says, ‘passion for India’ can bring ‘tide of art.’ (Beginning of a friendship with far-reaching influence on Indian Art Movement.) March. Meets Okakura, (who comes to take Vivekananda to Japan), introduces him to important persons of Calcutta, joins him to form a revolutionary group.-Starts re-writing Okakura’s book, Ideals of the East. – Vivekananda disapproves hasty political actions without preparing the people.
March 23. Lectures at Classic Theatre on ‘Hindu Mind in Modern Science.’
April. Christine arrives from America and joins her at School work.
May. At Mayavati with Okakura and others.
June 26. Returns to Calcutta.
June 28. Vivekananda comes to visit her at her residence at 17 Bose Para Lane.
June 29. Goes to Math to discuss urgent matters.
July 2. Goes to Math. Vivekananda, ‘all blessing.’ Insists on serving her meals; at the end pours water on her hands and dries them with a towel, as Jesus did to his disciples ‘at the last time’.
July 4. Swamiji passes away at 9 P.M.
July 5. Receives news in early morning, comes to the Math immediately, fans the body till 2 P.M., feels Swamiji’s presence even after death.
July 10. Goes to the Math, long talks with Brahmananda and Saradananda on her political affiliations, decides to sever formal connections with the Math in conformity with the Rules and Regulations of the Math framed by Swamiji, “One belonging to the Order can have no ‘connection with politics.’
July 19. Publishes a note in the newspapers stating that ‘her work shall hence-forth be regarded as free and entirely independent of their (Mission’s) sanction or authority.’ Signs as ‘Nivedita of Ramakrishna’, (Later as ‘Nivedita of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda’.
July 17. Writes an inspiring and illuminating article for Hindu, ‘The National Significance of the Swami Vivekananda’s Life and work.’
August. Writes Introduction to Okakura’s Ideals of the East.
September 22. Leaves for Bombay with Swami Sadananda, on lecture tour, for preaching nationalism and Vivekananda’s national ideas.
September 26. Speaks on Vivekananda at the Gaiety Theatre, Bombay, creating tremendous enthusiasm.-More lectures in the following days on ‘The Unity of Asia’, ‘Hindu Mind in Modern Science,’ ‘Indian Woman-hood’, ‘Indian Woman as she strikes an English Woman’, ‘How and Why I adopted the Hindu Religion’.
October 7-18. Lectures at Nagpur, Wardha, Amraoti.
October 20. Reaches Baroda and lectures for three successive days, meets Gaekwar of Baroda, also Aurobindo Ghose, then in service at Baroda. (This meeting produces far-reaching results in the Indian political struggle)
October 26-29. Lectures at Ahmedabad. Reviews Bose’s book, The Response in the Living and Non-Living, in the Review of Reviews of England.
November 3. Visits Caves of Ellora.
November 7. Returns to Calcutta.
November 19. Becomes suspicious about Okakura’s real intention behind his revolutionary activities in India. (Ultimately thought that Okakura was a Japanese agent). S.K. Ratclifie, editor statesman, now comes regularly to her house and becomes ‘an integral part of the …little group. He supports India’s national cause in Statesman, and urges her to write regularly for Statesman.
December 8. Leaves for South Indian lecture tour.
December 13. Spends night on Khandagiri hill, near Bhubaneswar, observes Christmas Eve, feeling within ‘Resurrection’ of Swamiji.
December 19. Reaches Madras, stays there under guiding care of Swami Ramakrishnananda.
December 20-28. Lectures and meetings with the students.
December 30-31. Lectures and discourses at Conjeevaram. Top

1903

1903 January. One of the five members of a Central Committee of Revolutionary Groups, formed under the leadership of Aurobindo.
March. Nivedita’s letters being intercepted by police.
March 20. Writes to G.K. Gokhale inspiring words of nationalism. (Already in friendship with him.)
April. Sends boys of her ‘Vivekananda Home’ on mission of adventure to Pindary Glacier under Sadananda. Corresponds with William Stead, editor of Review of Reviews, regarding starting of an Indian review.
May. Lectures at Midnapore; establishes contacts with the revolutionaries there.
July. At Darjeeling with the Boses. Works on her own book, also on Bose’s papers.
September 7. Finishes Web of Indian Life, dedicates it to her Guru, Vivekananda. Feels Vivekananda has written the book through her.
December 10. Gopuler Ma. Comes to stay with her at the ripe old age of ninety. (She stayed in the house for two and half years. Nivedita felt her house had been sanctified by her presence).
January-December. Goes on writing vigorously on nationalism and kindred subjects from this year onwards in almost all the important journals of India. Top

1904

1904 January 22-24. Three lectures at Patna. Visits Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Benares.
January 30. Reaches Lucknow. Delivers four lectures.
February 26. Lectures on ‘Dynamic Religion’ at Town Hall, full of fiery nationalism. (Bepin Chandra Pal called it ‘Dynamite’).
March 20. Lectures on ‘Islam in Asia,’ at Corinthian Theatre, under the auspices of Calcutta Madrassa. Delivers 3 lectures at Benares.
April 1. Lectures on ‘Bodh Gaya’ at Calcutta. (Lectures on the same topic several times in different parts of India, to counteract Anagarika Dharmapala’s communal Bodh Gaya Movement).
May – June. At Mayavati, with Sister Christine and the Boses. Here Bose begins his second book Plant Response. (First published in 1906).-Helps him in writing.
June. Her second book. The Web of Indian Life, published by William Heinemann. (Gets tremendous ovation as well as bitter criticism. Many call it epoch-making. Englishman calls it, ‘political pamphlet in disguise’. Missionaries publish ‘a counterblast’-Things As They are, by Miss Anny Wilson Carmichael. Rudyard Kipling and F.A. Steel appreciate).
September. Starts ‘Vivekananda Boarding House’ for students.
October 8-15. At Bodh Gaya with a party which includes the Boses, Rabindranath Tagore, Prof. Jadunath Sarkar. Intends to show these prominent men the ‘place of Bodh Gaya in Hinduism.’
December 1. Recommends ‘Thunderbolt’ as India’s ‘National Emblem.’
July-December. Lectures continuously throughout this period, trying to create an awareness of culture, tradition and progressive nationalism.-Lord Curzon passes ‘University Act’ to curb higher education, especially science education. Raises her voice against it through pen and platform.-Made contacts and recruits through after-speech talks and organizations like Dawn Society, Anusilan Samity, Vivekananda Society, Young Men’s Hindu Union Committee.-donates a few hundred books on economics, political science, history of political movements and revolutions etc., to the revolutionary group, led by Barindra Kumar Ghose. )These books might have been given earlier). Top

1905

1905 February 8. Designs India’s national flag.
February 11. Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, in his Convocation Address at the Calcutta University, makes as persons against the truthfulness of the people of the East.
February 13. Contributes an unsigned note in Amrita Bazar Patrika, exposing Curzon himself to be untruthful. The note gets wide publicity.
February 14. Again writes on the same topic in the Statesman, ‘The Highest Ideal of Truth.’
March 11. A mammoth protest meeting at Town Hall.-She thinks Curzon ‘an incarnation of insolence and evil.’-Finishes Aggressive Hinduism. (Publication as book, later in the year, by G.A. Natesan & Co., Madras)
March 13. Seriously ill, meningitis.
April 4. Sarada Devi comes to see her. (“I never saw a face so full of love.”
May-June. At Darjeeling with the Boses.
July 20. Announcement of Partition of Bengal, on plea of better administration. – Protest meetings all over the land.
August 7. Huge protest meeting at the Town Hall. –She warmly and actively supports ‘Federation Hall’ proposal-Swadeshi Movement sweeps the country.
August. First publication of her An Indian Study of Love and Death, by Swan Sonnenschein & Co., London, a book of poems, mostly free translations of Sanskrit prayers, hymns and litanies.
September. Gokhale goes to England. –She introduces Gokhale with a letter to William Stead.
September 20. Writes to Gokhale in England about the tremendous power of Bengal’s Swadeshi Movement.
October 16. Govt. implements Partition. Two provinces come into being. ‘Bengal’ and ‘Eastern Bengal and Assam’.-A day of mourning for the Bengalees and Indians.
December 25-31. Annual session of the Indian National Congress at Benares; President Gokhale.-She joins, makes a speech, instrumental in persuading Gokhale the moderate, to support Boycott proposal for Bengal, successful for a time in her efforts at averting parting of the Moderates and the Extremists. Top

1906

1906 January. Visits Sanchi, Ujjain, Chitor, Ajmir, Amber etc.
April. Government’s severe repressive measures; agitation takes revolutionary turn.-She begins publishing Master as I Saw Him serially in Prabuddha Bharata, and Notes of Some Wanderings with the Swami Vivekananda in Brahmavadin.
May 30. Apprehends imprisonment.
June 2. Swami Swarupananda, editor Prabuddha Bharata, her much respected brother-disciple, dies.
July 8. Gopaler Ma dies.
July. Arranges for reproduction of pictures by great masters in Prabasi, edited by Ramananda Chatterjee. September-October. Goes to famine and flood-affected East Bengal, stays there for two months, immersed in relief work.-Seriously ill after return, brain fever.-Goes to Mussorie for convalescence.
November-December. Writes ‘Occasional Notes’ for Prabuddha Bharata (These notes came out as a book in 1915, ‘Religion and Dharma’). Revises English translation of Mahabharata.-Helps Bose in writing his book “Comparative Electro Physiology.”-Exhibits the national flag (designed by her in 1905) at the 1906 Congress Session. (Writes an article on the subject in Modern Review, November 1909, ‘The Vajra as a National Flag’.) Top

1907

January. Publishes in Modern Review, “Function of Art in Shaping Nationality’. (first instalment). (Thus begins her long and fruitful connection with Modern review, in which she wrote hundreds of articles and notes, signed and notes, signed and unsigned. She wrote not only on politics, nationalism, history or sociology, but also on art. Her encouraging and illuminating writings on the paintings of Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose and others, stimulated the Art Movement to a great degree).
March. Modern Review starts publishing her ‘Glimpses of Famine and Flood in East Bengal-1906.’ (Published as a book the same year).
May 19. S.K. Ratclifie writes to inform her about his resignation from the Statesman. May – June. At Mayavati with Sister Christine and the Boses.
June 9. Possibility of imprisonment.
June 24. Writes the Introduction to the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, ‘Our Master and His Message.’
July. Thanks Gokhale for securing offer of service for Ratclifie in an Indian Newspaper. Bhupendranath Dutta arrested for his assumed editorship of Jugantar, a revolutionary paper. – She offers bail for him; Englishman calls her ‘a traitor to her race.’-Political situation being critical and the Government more and more aggressive in curbing personal freedom, decides to travel to the West.
August 12. Leaves Calcutta.
September 6. Reaches England, stays for some time in the happy family circle.
November-December. Meets Prof. T.K. Cheyne of Oxford, noted authority on Christian theology.-Leaves for Europe-Meets the Boses in Germany, and Miss MacLeod in Paris (their first meeting after Swamiji’s demise)-Returns to England and works with Bose.-Reviews Kropotkin’s Mutual Aid in Prabuddha Bharata.-First publication of her widely appreciated book, Cradle Tales of Hinduism, by Longmans, Green & Co., London. Top

1908

January. Article, ‘Civic Ideal’ in Modern Review, first of a series. (Included in her posthumous book, ‘Civic and National Ideals’).
February. Publishes in Modern Review her interview with Kropotkin, ‘A Chat with a Russian about Russia,’-Lectures extensively in English on Indian topics.-Discusses with and seeks supports from sympathetic Europeans for Indian cause, organizes pro-Indian Lobby.-Hears about break-up of Surat Congress.-Writes in Modern Review, February 1908, ‘The Recent Congress.’-Stresses the need of unity at this critical time.-Hears of the Muraripukur Bomb case, attempt on the life of the Lt. Governor of Bengal, murder of the approver Naren Gossain, arrest of Aurobindo, Bepin Ch. Pal, deportation of Aswini Kumar Dutta and eight other prominent nationalists.
September-December. In U.S.A., visits places and institutions, meets friends and acquaintances, including fugitive Indian revolutionaries, arranges for Bose’s scientific lectures and demonstrations.-Lectures extensively.-Collects letters of Vivekananda, also material about his life. Top

1909

January. Starts for England after receiving news of her mother’s serious illness due to cancer.-Reaches in time.
January 26. Mrs. Noble dies ‘an Indian death,’ and cremated by her wish.
February 23. Writes bitterly against Shyamji Krishnavarma’s irresponsible utterances and vain claims.
May. Aurobindo now free, starts two weeklies, Karma Yogin in English, Dharma in Bengali.
June 26. Wants to publish a volume on Aurobindo’s Trial.
July 1. Wants to review Kropotkin’s ‘French Revolution.’
July 18. Returns to Calcutta in disguise. –Sees Nationalists coming to ‘Holy Mother’ to make pranams. Feels present awakening caused by the spirit of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda.-Starts correcting Dinesh Chandra Sen’s History of the Bengali Language and Literature.-Hears about possible deportation of Aurobindo.
August 7. Reviews Ananda Coomaraswami’s ‘Mediaeval Sinhalese Art’ in Modern Review.
September 19. Writes consoling Mrs. Leggett on her husband’s death. (Mr Leggett, a great friend of Vivekananda, and benefactor).
September 29. Writes about the scheme of Bose’s laboratory.
October. Reviews E.B. Havell’s ‘Indian Sculpture and Painting’ in Modern Review.
November. Writes. “Havell on Hindu Sculpture” in Modern Review
November 25. Ramsay Mac-Donald, leader of the British Labour Party, comes to meet her at her residence. (They met for more than once). –Writes about the terrible repression and cruelty by the Government.
November 30. Romesh Chandra Dutta dies.
December. Writes, “Havell on Indian Painting” in Modern Review. – At Ajanta with Lady Herring-ham. Top

1910

1910 January 9. Release of Aswini Kumar Dutta and other deportees.-She celebrates the occasion by decorating her school.-First instalment of The Ancient Abbey of Ajanta in Modern Review, (Later included in her posthumous book, Footfalls of Indian History.)
February 1. First publication of her The Master As I Saw Him by Udbodhan, Calcutta, on Swamiji’s birthday.-She Takes a volume to Belur Math and places it in Swamiji’s room.-Again cautions Aurobindo about his possible arrest. - Aurobindo secretly goes to Chandernagore, then to Pondicherry.-At Aurobindo’s request takes charge of his paper Karma Yogin, and carries on the work for a few months.
March 2. Visit of Lady Minto, the Vicereine, to her 17 Bose Para Lane residence.-Takes the Vice-reine to Dakshineswar.-Goes to the Government House for tea at Lady Minto’s request.-Goes to see the Commissioner of Police for the same reason.
March. First instalment of ‘Papers on National Education’ in Karma Yogin. (Later included in her posthumous book, Hints on National Education).
April. Government attack on Karma Yoga and Dharma.-Chief of the Detective Department says that she was behind the dacoities.
May-June. Pilgrimage to Kedarnath and Bodrinarayan with the Boses.
July. Apprehends Ramananda Chatterjee’s arrest, on false charges of dacoity.
August. Secretly trying to get financial assistenace for Bose’s laboratory from the Gaekwar of Baroda. September. Reviews Ananda Coomaraswamy’s Essays in National Idealism in Modern Review.-First instalment of her Northern Tirtha: A Pilgrim’s Diary, in Modern Review. (Posthumously published in book form).-Writes one-third of her proposed book, Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists.-Apprehends arrest.-Grieves at the death of P. Mitra, pioneer leader of the revolutionaries.
October. At Darjeeling with the Boses.-Receives information re Mrs. Bull’s serious illness. (Mrs. Bull her ‘mother’ and provider; gave abundant financial help for her educational endeavours, and Bose’s science.)-Rushes to America.-Travels incognito as ‘Mrs Theta Margot.’ November. Reaches Cambridge in Boston, by Mrs. Bull’s side, nurses and comforts her.
December. Sends paper, ‘The Present Position of Women’s to the ‘Universal Races Congress’ at London.-Writes to ‘Holy Mother’ praying for Mrs. Bull’s physical and mental recovery.-Plans with Mrs. Bull for taking asylum in French Chandernagore. Top

1911

January. Mrs. Bull dies.-Immediately leaves America, as Olea, Mrs. Bull’s mentally deranged daughter, attacks her maliciously and viciously, because Mrs. Bull leaves money for her School and Bose’s Laboratory.- Prof. Cheyne reviews her book The Master as I Saw Him, considers it to be a religious classic. April. Returns to India in secular dress and assumed name.-Starts corresponding with Miss Mac Leod and Mrs. Leggett re bas-relief of Swamiji at the ‘Grave-Chapel’ at Belur Math.
May-June. At Mayavati with the Boses, helps him to write 12 chapters of his book irritability of Plants.-Christine informs her that she will no more be available for school work.-Returns to Calcutta.-Writes.-Busy finishing her Footfalls of Indian History and Studies from an Eastern Home.
July. Bhubaneswari Devi, mother of Vivekananda, dies.-By her side at the time of death and attends the funeral.
August. Swami Ramakrishnananda, the ‘roof-tree’ of the Order in early years, dies.
September. Sudhira Devei, another of her colleagues, leaves her School.
October. Goes to Girish Chandra Ghose, dramatist and ‘Father of Bengali stage’, and a great devotee of Ramakrishna, before starting for Darjeeling.-Goes to the Holy Mother’s House, meets Saradananda, Golup-Ma, Jogin-Ma. )Holy Mother then in her village home)-At Darjeeling stays at Roy Villa with the Boses.-Attack of blood dysentry.-Prepares her Will, leaving everything for the education of Indian women.
October 13. At 2-30 in the night says, ‘The frail boat is sinking, but I shall yet see the sunrise.’-Dies in the morning. (“The sun had just risen over the snows when a shaft of light came streaming in, and the great striving soul went forth to wake up in another dawn.”). (Ganendranath of Ramakrishna Mission, performed the last funeral rites. There on the spot a memorial has been erected which bears these words: “Here Reposes Sister Nivedita, Who Gave Her All To India.”) Top

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The Dedicated - Sister Nivedita