Sister Nivedita (continued)

If we remain indifferent to this outstanding example of heroic self sacrifice, because it exists in our backyard, we will lose out significantly. We cannot simply presume upon it and claim it arrogantly as part of our natural inheritance given to us by our society. We have to rather, take very careful cognizance of the splendid power, the intelligence, the heart, the sacrifice and the overall luminousness of self which made a life such as Nivedita’s, possible.

If we truly realized the enormity and extent of Nivedita’s sacrifice, we would lose a great deal of the pride that we derive from being Hindu. We ascribe her greatness to the Hindu way of life or to the Hindu religion. We are simply making her an instrument for augmenting our cultural pride.  By attributing her greatness to the greatness of the Hindu religion, by arguing that her unique selflessness arises from her being Hindu at heart, we are significantly taking credit away from her and giving it to ourselves.

If we try to establish her as being just Hindu, we will face obstacles in our journey. I am afraid I can’t agree with the position that she was Hindu in the way one generally understands it. If we closely analyze how she assessed Hindu society through  scientific and historical perspectives, how she  refused to be tied to dogma, how she tried to explain the various moods and manifestations of Hinduism through  liberal understanding and  imagination, some of the central premises of what one considers ‘Hindu’ would perhaps be demolished or shaken. If   historical truth is asserted as greater than the truth of the Puranas, then may be that aids in determining what the truth of Puranic premises might be, but belief in historical truth does not come so readily. Whatever the case may be, she is worthy of our respect and reverence not because she was Hindu, but because she was great. We cannot pose as her equals, she was greater than us. It is not her Hinduism that enfolds us in her glory, but her Humanism, that does it. 

What on