Mother of Swamiji. Goodlooking lady with strong physique, possessed keen intelligence, a prodigious memory, taste for music and all-round versatility. Pious and well-versed in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, could recite well. Only daughter of Nandalal Bose of 7, Ramtanu Bose Lane, Simulia. Of her four sons and six daughters, only Mahendranath and Bhupendranath and Swarnamayee, her third daughter, lived up to a ripe old age. Her children, Swamiji in particular, inherited her physical and mental characteristics to a fair extent. According to Swamiji her power of recall was stronger than his (Udbodhan, 77.1.23). Handicapped in rearing her children by premature widowhood, animosity of relatives and poverty, was compelled to seek shelter in parental home, living with her mother till 1903. A spirited woman, she handled her mischievous little son “Biley” (Narendranath) very ably in his childhood and taught him English herself at home when he stubbornly refused to learn “a foreign language” at school. Saw the Master several times at Ramchandra Datta’s house and enjoyed the affection of the Master who presented her with a sari for use during worship. Even visited the Master at Cossipore but though her son was deeply devoted to her, failed to persuade Narendranath to return home leaving the bedside of the ailing Master.
As mother of Swamiji, received a letter of felicitations from his American lady-devotees with a picture of Virgin Mary with the child Jesus (Saint Sara, p. 118). She was proud of her youngest son Bhupendranath’s fiery patriotism and consequent incarceration, being felicitated at an assembly in Dr. Nilratan Sircar’s house at 61, Harrison Road on 9.8.1907 where she was presented with a scroll of honour. In her reply she declared she had dedicated her son to the cause of the country (Udbodhan, 75.11.640-43; 77.1.22-24). In Swamiji’s last years she visited Chandranath and other pilgrimage sites in East Bengal with him. Later too went on pilgrimages accompanied by some monk or brahmachari and to Puri once with Swami Brahmananda. When Swamiji was at Belur Math sometimes she visited him there and is said to have been by the side of her dead son on 4.7.1902. Swamiji’s brother-monks had close ties with her and respected her. She regarded them as her sons and contributed Rs. 10 each year towards Swamiji’s birthday celebrations, which, either Swami Brahmananda or Swami Premananda personally collected from her. Died in July 1911.
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