Was it fate that brought Margaret Noble to this very spot? This Sister Nivedita Blue Plaque commemorates a remarkable woman. She was an educationalist and campaigner for Indian independence. The plaque is at 21A High Street in Wimbledon. This was her family’s home.
Margaret Elizabeth Noble was born in 1867 in Northern Ireland. She became Sister Nivedita later in life. She opened her own kindergarten, the Ruskin School, here in Wimbledon. That was in 1895.
A turning point came when she met Swami Vivekananda. He was a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Vivekananda’s message of religious universalism resonated with her. Noble helped him organize the Vedanta Movement in London. She persuaded him to let her join him in India in 1898.
Vivekananda initiated her as a brahmacharini. He named her Sister Nivedita meaning ‘The Dedicated’. He recognized her potential. He said she had a great future in India. He believed a woman was needed. A real lioness was required to work for the Indian women.
Sister Nivedita opened a girls’ school in Calcutta now Kolkata. She assisted in relief work during the bubonic plague epidemic in 1899. She lectured on Hindu culture.
She returned to London with Vivekananda in 1899. They stayed at her mother’s home at 21A High Street. Vivekananda soon left for the United States. Nivedita followed in September. She came back to London in 1900. She stayed at this address periodically for a couple of years. Then she returned to India.
After Vivekananda’s death in 1902, Nivedita focused on Indian independence. She relaunched her school. It included classes for married women. She promoted traditional Indian art and architecture. She also collected Indian myths and stories. Nivedita proposed a design for a national flag. It was presented at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1906.
Weakened by malaria and meningitis she contracted while working in famine-stricken areas. Sister Nivedita died of dysentery in 1911. She passed away in Darjeeling.
This blue plaque unveiled in 2017, marks her former London home. It is a tribute to her lasting legacy. The Mayor of London called it the first public recognition of Sister Nivedita in London. It acknowledges her contributions.
Sister Nivedita’s work might be less known in the UK than in India. This plaque ensures her story is remembered here too. It stands as a reminder of her dedication. She was dedicated to education. She was devoted to Indian independence. This plaque is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman.