Binodini (1863-1942)
Famed stage actress of Calcutta, child widow. Acting genius blossomed under the guidance and assistance of Girish Chandra Ghosh the actor-dramatist. The Master witnessed her epoch-making performance in the title role of Girishchandra’s play Chaitanyalila and moved by her performance, commented, “I found the representation the same as the real” (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 556). At the close of the play Binodini having sought his blessings, the Master placed his hand on her head saying, “Mother, may you realize God!” In Girishchandra’s other plays—Prahlad-charitra, Brishaketu, Das Mahavidya, Nimai-sannyas—too the Master witnessed her performances in the roles of Prahlad, Padmavati, Sati and Nimai respectively. He even saw her perform in the role of “Karforma” in the play Vivaha-vibhrat (Ibid., p. 705). When visits to the ailing Master were restricted at Shyampukur, Binodini, in the guise of a Western devotee, succeeded in seeing him aided by Kalipada Ghosh, the Master’s lay devotee. She fell at his feet and gazing at him, wept. The Master, amused, had blessed her. After his passing, she retired from the stage. In her advanced years she came in contact with Swami Abhedananda at Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta Math.
Swami Shivananda Smriti Samgraha (1.188) mentions her picking vegetables from the vegetable garden of the Math with the freedom of a married daughter returned to her father’s house and eating them with due reverence as sanctified food. The author of Basana, a book of verses, Kanak O Nalini, a narrative and her autobiography, Atmakatha, she herself has been the subject of much literary effort and a stage production based on her life proved highly successful.
Documentary: Story of Binodini – A Text of Betrayal : Aamaar Katha