Indian Sisters Nivedita and Meeraben: Contemporary India through the Lives and Work of Two Disciples of Vivekananda and Gandhi/ ভারতকন্যা ভগিনী নিবেদিতা ও মীরাবেন : বিবেকানন্দ ও গান্ধির দুই শিষ্যার জীবন ও কর্মের দৃষ্টিতে সমকালীন ভারতবর্ষ

Abstract

Two great ladies, sister Nibedita and Mirabehn in their times became truely the daughters of mother India. Dependent India was their love, their dream. Poverty-stricken, malady-ridden India, covered by the clouds of superstitions, became their walk of life. These two distinguished foreign noblewomen, holding  the candle of love and bliss  for the welfare of mankind, walked on the dark paths of India and turned out to be the real torchbearer. Embracing misery they dedicated  their life  to the cause of welfare of humanity. Nibedita served the distressed humanity following with all heart the great ideals of Swami Vivekananda. She extended her pitious hand to the suffering people in the epidemic like plague and natural calamities like flood, drought. She discharged her extraordinary service for the development of underprivileged women. In her thoughts of India, patriotism and participation in freedom movement, her inquisitiveness and ideals were successfully reflected. Indians will remain ever indebted to her for her untiring contribution in pursuit of unity in diversity.

On the other hand, Mira Behn, an unctuous figure, an idol of sacredness, carrying the banner of saintlike image of Gandhiji, came to India from remote England. She heartily followed his path and gave him worthy assistance in leading his philanthropic and political activities. Young Madolin Slad became his daughter. Gandhiji adorably renamed her as Mira Ben following the name of mythical character, devotee of Lord Krishna, Mira. She came to India in 1925 and India became her pilgrimage. She took bramhacharya, began to wear white saree, became vegetarian, participated in freedom movement, got imprisoned, nursed the sick, helped the distressed and what not. Inspired by Gandhiji's ideals, she did cultivation, animal husbandry, bees conservation, cane work. After Gandhiji's assassination she stayed in India for eleven years more. She returned to England in 1959. At last she spent the rest of her life in Viena of Austria since 1960.

Nibedita and MiraBehn both had been mingled with the cultural heritage and spirit of India. Both kindling the light of love and welfare created a new road for the women to be flourished. The two great souls have remained in the olympus of truth.