West Bengal CM unveils Sister Nivedita’s plaque

Sister Nivedita’s London home gets a blue plaque

Diaspora

November 14, 2017

/ By / Kolkata



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West Bengal chief minister delivering a speech on the occasion

West Bengal chief minister delivering a speech on the occasionCourtesy- Ananya Roy

On her 150th birth anniversary, Sister Nivedita gets a permanent place in the history of UK.

English Heritage and Ramkrishna Mission came together on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Margaret Noble, famously known as Sister Nivedita, to commemorate her London’s home with a blue plaque.

A blue plaque in the United Kingdom is a permanent sign installed in public places with the idea of linking, the people of the past with the buildings of the present. The plaque pays tribute to Sister’s work as a staunch campaigner for women’s education and Indian independence.

For the occasion, West Bengal’s chief minister was invited as the chief guest, who unveiled the plaque at Sister Nivedita’s family home, where she lived before moving to India in 1898.Later, the Indian community of London along with devotees of Ramakrishna Mission gathered to celebrate Sister Nivedita’s 150th Birth Anniversary at a ceremony in Wimbledon Library.

While addressing the Indian diaspora and the locals, chief minister Mamata Banerjee mentioned Sister Nivedita’s dedication towards women education and Indian independence. She further added, “Ramkrishna Mission have been trying their best for this Blue Plaque ceremony. We are really honoured and privileged by the English Heritage for their concern of Nivedita and what they have done. They have given her the respect and we cannot forget that.”

Children performing on the occasion

Children performing on the occasion Courtesy- Ananya Roy 

The plaque also signifies another important milestone for Indians; it marks the 70th anniversary year of India’s independence. The inauguration of this plaque received praise from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who acknowledged the installation of the plaque, as it was the first public recognition of Sister Nivedita in London.

English Heritage, a registered charity that manages the National Heritage Collection in the United Kingdom, cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites. “Sister Nivedita already has a place in Indian history; thanks to the blue plaque, she now has a permanent place in the history of London,” said Kate Mavor, CEO, English Heritage.

Sonali Mukherjee, a resident of Hounslow, London, was among the several Indians who attended the event. She said, “It was truly a historical and momentous occasion as Sister Nivedita (Margaret Noble), or the fondly remembered Sarada Maa ‘little daughter’s home on 21A High Street Wimbledon received a Blue Plaque from the English Heritage. The ceremony once again ushered light on empowerment of women. This is probably the greatest respect that could be shown to sister Nivedita even after a century later. I am overpowered by different shades of emotions today, on hearing so many thoughts of different speakers on Sister Nivedita. If I say, I have enjoyed attending the ceremony, it is an understatement. Actually, it is more of a sense of fulfilment, which actually has enriched my soul and enriched my mind.”

The event was scheduled to be held on October 28, but it was later shifted to November 12, 2017, as Kolkata was hosting the Under 17 World Cup Finals on the same day.

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