Paper Title: Sister Nivedita: Pioneering Women's Education in India with a Blend of Tradition and Modernity
Author:
Abstract:
The article discusses the pivotal role of Sister Nivedita in promoting women's education in India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a disciple of Swami Vivekananda and a believer in Advaita Vedanta, Sister Nivedita opened a girls' school in an orthodox Hindu locality in Calcutta in 1898, marking a significant shift in traditional educational practices. She emphasized the importance of rootedness in Indian culture while also advocating for modern intellectual development, scientific understanding, and national pride among women. The text underscores her belief that education should be moral and primarily concerned with character development rather than mere intellectual accumulation. Sister Nivedita's approach integrated household responsibilities with intellectual pursuits, fostering a holistic development of women. The text further explores the need for the modernization of women's education in the East, blending the deep wisdom of Eastern traditions with the scientific and intellectual rigor of the West. Sister Nivedita's vision for women's education continues to be relevant today, emphasizing the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern learning to create a balanced and enlightened society.
Keywords:Sister Nivedita, Women's education, Advaita Vedanta, Character development, Modernization.
DOI Link – https://doi.org/10.63431/AIJITR/2.IV.2025.87-92
Review By – Dr. Parimal Sarkar and Amit Adhikari