The Hands that Built Asia - Mother of the People - 'Sister Nivedita'
Despite the vast distance and cultural differences between Ireland and Asia; some of Ireland's most adventurous people left a lasting impact on the continent. These men and women led movements like the Suffragettes; wrote India's National Anthem; built schools and universities; reshaped China's economy and became trusted figures across Asia. Hailing from places like Roscommon, Tyrone and Armagh, their legacies live on in street names; schools and shrines. Today, Irish influence continues in business and industry in the Far East. Noel Murphy travels to Asia for this series to follow in the footsteps of these people.
‘Mother of the People’: Sister Nivedita became known in India as ‘The Mother of the People’. Accordingly, she gave her life to helping and educating the people; especially the women of this vast country. Originally from Dungannon in Tyrone, she was born Margaret Nobel and grew up to become a notable educator among the intellectuals of London. Indeed, Margaret felt inspired to follow a guru to India, where she left her former life behind and embraced her new name, ‘Sister Nivedita,’ meaning ‘the dedicated one.’ Furthermore, she organized women’s teaching; led in the movement towards India’s freedom and wrote ferociously. Additionally, she engaged in intellectual debates, driving new ideas forward. Simultaneously throwing herself into helping the poorest of Calcutta and wider regions.
High on the tea hills of Darjeeling, looking upwards on Mt Everest, is the shrine close to where she died and was cremated. Schools, Universities and bridges carry her name and she is remembered in poetry and on a national postage stamp.
