Biography of Bhagini Nivedita


(October 28, 1867 - 1971)

Bhagini Nivedita was born on October 28, 1867 in Northern Ireland. In fact her grandfather was a Scottish but they had settled in Ireland. Nivedita's grandfather was a great nationalist and her father, Samuel Richmond, was a Protestant.


From her childhood Nivedita had a soft corner for the poor. Many Indians used to visit her house and discuss the Indian political situation with her father. Once she became fully aware of Indian's culture and its subjugation by the British she became desperate to visit India.


Nivedita's real name was Margaret Elizabeth. She came to India in 1898. Margaret became teacher in a school and founded a school "Nivedita Balika Vidyalaya'. In her school, social work and philosophy were introduced as compulsory subjects. Initially, the number of students was much less. But as time passed, the number of students increased in leaps and bounds. She wrote many books. Her most famous book was 'The Master As I saw him'. She died in 1911.