Author(s): Dr. Bipul Chakraborty¹, Krishnakali Bhadra², Madhumita Chattopadhyay³

Abstract:

Sister Nivedita’s philosophical vision of women’s empowerment emerges from a unique integration of Indian cultural ideals, spiritual humanism, and social reform, shaped deeply by the Vedantic teachings of Swami Vivekananda (Basu, 2016). Her writings consistently emphasized the inherent dignity, strength, and intellectual capacity of Indian women, challenging both colonial misrepresentations and restrictive cultural norms (Chakrabarti, 2015). This study examines her perspectives on women’s roles through the interrelated dimensions of culture, education, and spirituality, highlighting how she critiqued the gender discrimination embedded in early twentieth-century Indian society (Bhattacharya, 2018). Using a qualitative, analytical, and interpretive textual method, the research analyzes Nivedita’s major works, speeches, and reform activities to understand her philosophical contributions to redefining Indian womanhood. The results of the study indicate that Nivedita perceived women’s empowerment as indispensable for national regeneration and advocated multidimensional strategies, including cultural revitalization, value-based education, and the strengthening of women’s self-reliance (Nussbaum, 2000; Narayan, 1997). The findings further reveal that her approach harmonized Indian cultural identity with progressive gender principles, presenting a balanced alternative to Western feminist models (Butler, 2004; Rountree, 2015). The study concludes that Nivedita’s insights remain profoundly relevant in addressing contemporary forms of gender inequality in India, offering a robust philosophical framework for present-day debates on women’s rights, cultural identity, and social justice (Sharma & Banerjee, 2017; Ghosh, 2021).

Keywords: Sister Nivedita; Women Empowerment; Indian Culture; Gender Discrimination; Feminist Philosophy; Social Reform; Vivekananda; Women’s Education; Cultural Identity; Gender Equality.

DOI: 10.61165/sk.publisher.v12i11.5

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Sister Nivedita’s Vision of Women Empowerment: A Philosophical Study of Indian Culture and Gender Discrimination

Pages:32-45