Nivedita, Sister (1867–1905)

Anglican nun. Born into a Church of Ireland family, Noble moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, in 1897 and converted to Hinduism a year later. She was a disciple and biographer of Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), who spread the message of Hinduism in the West. At her conversion, Vivekananda renamed her Nivedita (‘Dedicated One’). After Vivekananda's death, Nivedita became actively involved in the campaign for an independent India and promoted it among her pupils.

In the course of her career, Nivedita established schools in Wimbledon, England, in 1892, and Calcutta in 1898. She assisted Calcutta plague victims, and publicly defended Hinduism in the USA in 1899. She died after ministering to Bengali flood victims. Her epitaph reads: ‘Here reposes Sister Nivedita, who gave her all to India’.