স্বামীজীকে যেরূপ দেখিয়াছি

by Sister Nivedita

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Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Spirituality

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Sister Nivedita, born as Margaret Elizabeth Noble, was a Scots-Irish social worker, author, teacher, and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She met Vivekananda in 1895 in London and traveled to Calcutta, India (present-day Kolkata), in 1898. Swami Vivekananda gave her the name Nivedita (meaning "Dedicated to God") when he initiated her into the vow of Brahmacharya on March 25, 1898. She had close associations with the newly established Ramakrishna Mission. However, because of her active contribution in the field of Indian Nationalism, she had to publicly dissociate herself from the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission under the then president Swami Brahmananda. She was very intimate with Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna and one of the major influences behind Ramakrishna Mission and also with all brother disciples of Swami Vivekananda. Her epitaph aptly reads, "Here reposes Sister Nivedita who gave her all to India."

Nivedita wrote in 1904 to a friend about her decision to follow Swami Vivekananada as a result of her meeting him in England in November 1895:

"Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been like a headless dream, for I always knew that I was waiting for something. I always said that a call would come. And it did. But if I had known more of life, I doubt whether, when the time came, I should certainly have recognized it.

"Fortunately, I knew little and was spared that torture. . . . Always I had this burning voice within, but nothing to utter. How often and often I sat down, pen in hand, to speak, and there was no speech! And now there is no end to it! As surely I am fitted to my world, so surely is my world in need of me, waiting — ready. The arrow has found its place in the bow. But if he had not come! If he had meditated, on the Himalayan peaks! . . . I, for one, had never been here."

"The mother's heart, the hero's will The sweetness of the southern breeze, The sacred charm and strength that dwell On Aryan altars, flaming, free; All these be yours and many more No ancient soul could dream before- Be thou to India's future son The mistress, servant, friend in one." —A benediction to Sister Nivedita by Swami Vivekananda

Reviews

[Sumangali Morhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a precious and important book. I just finished reading it for the second time, and I'm sure I will read it again. It is an incredibly humble but intelligent description of Swami Vivekanada's life through the eyes of a close disciple.

I found myself almost wishing Sister Nivedita had not been so humble in her writing, as I wanted to know more about her own struggles and victories, but of course that very humility is one of her greatest strengths, and she has achieved exactly what the title promises: Swami Vivekananda as she saw him. She herself is all but transparent while relating what she has learnt and what she remembers. Her Victorian use of language is delightfully precise.

It has enough Western interpretation to make it relatable to a Western reader, but without losing the intensity or freshness of this remarkable life – a life instrumental in bringing Indian spiritual traditions to the West. It gives fascinating insights, not only into what it was like to be with Swami Vivekananda in person, but also insights into his teachings. It is moving and often breath-taking, without at any point being sentimental.

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most fascinating biography of Swami Vivekananda.

This book is a masterpiece of biographical writing and is a religious classic simultaneously. It is a wonderful offering from a dedicated disciple, giving a mesmerizing glimpse of her revered Guru. The book is so inspiring that it is worth reading again and again.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote about Sister Nivedita: "Because she had a comprehensive mind and extraordinary insight of love, she could see the creative ideals at work behind our social forms, and discover our soul that has living connexion with its past and is marching towards its fulfilment (The Complete Works of Sister Nivedita, Volume 2, page 253).

[Tanusree Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it so much informative about Swami Vivekananda as well as his thoughts against his work. This book is also an analysis of different religions and their similarity and dissimilarity with Hinduism.The book is a journey through the history, philosophy and spirituality.So I am having great pleasure to read it.

[F N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book for so long. This book gives us many insightful events of Swami Vivekananda and Nivedita's own understanding of her Master. Some events are well known and some are new to me. The way Nivedita tells us Swamiji's teachings, it feels like I am present there.

[Pradeep Mohandas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to finish this book early because it diverged from one of the ideas I have been recently considering with respect to books that I read. I want to read the books of authors who are still living. I am happy that I did so.

The book is in the form of several jottings of Sister Nivedita on the various aspects and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. The number of personal insights are few and far between and then too is clouded by the admiration that the Sister holds her Master in. It's a nice summary study of the teachings of Vivekananda and can be used as one, in my opinion.

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