London/IBNS: A statue commemorating Sister Nivedita, an Irish-born educator and advocate for women’s education and India’s nationalism, will be unveiled in London’s Wimbledon on July 1.
The statue will stand as a testament to her remarkable contributions and will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.
Sister Nivedita, born Margaret Elizabeth Noble (1867-1911), founded schools in Wimbledon before dedicating her life to India at the behest of her master Swami Vivekananda.
She played a pivotal role in promoting women’s education and was actively involved in the nationalist movement through her efforts to espouse India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
This statue will be located prominently in front of Richard’s Lodge High School for Girls, paying tribute to Sister Nivedita’s legacy as a strong and independent educator of women.
The statue will face southeast towards Bengal, symbolizing the connection between the two regions.
The bronze statue, standing at an impressive height of 6 ft 2 in. above an octagonal plinth, was designed by Swami Vishwamayanandaji. It was fabricated and cast in India by artist Nirjan De.
The project was made possible through a successful crowdfunding campaign led by Sarada Sarkar of the Sister Nivedita Celebrations Committee in the UK.
The London Borough of Merton provided essential support, and Marcus Beale Architects, in collaboration with LB Merton, oversaw the selection of the location, obtained the necessary consents, and directed the installation carried out by FM Conway.
Multilateral served as the structural engineers for this magnificent project. The generous donation of the statue and plinth came from Dr Chanchal Dey of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Kendra, Bidhan Nagar and Dr Satyajit Chakrabarty of the University of Engineering and Management.
The formal inauguration of the statue will take place on 1st July 2023 at 3:30 pm. Revered Swami Sarvasthanandaji Maharaj, the Minister-In-Charge of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, UK, along with several dignitaries will be present on the occasion.
This statue will not only commemorate Sister Nivedita’s extraordinary life and work but will also foster stronger ties between the United Kingdom and India.
