Miss Rolande Genêt died in New York in April, 1960. The writer is a friend and admirer of the deceased and closely associated with the Vedanta Society of New York.

She was known as Rolande. Her family name was Genêt. She was born in Ottawa, Canada, in a wealthy and respectable French Canadian family. She was educated partly in a Catholic convent and partly by private tutors.

A pretty, blue-eyed red-head, the young Rolande was a voracious reader. Her searching mind delved into Tolstoy, Dostoievsky and the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and St. Theresa of France. During this period, a friend lent her a copy of Romain Rolland's Prophets of New India. Reading about Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda made an indelible impression on her mind.

Years later, in the United States, she saw in a paper, an announcement from the New York Vedanta Society, mentioning the name of Swami Vivekananda. She went to the Vedanta Society and met Swami Bodhananda, who was then in charge. At once she felt, "This is my home," and this feeling never left her. For many years she was a devoted member of the Vedanta Center, under spiritual guidance and fatherly care of Swami Bodhananda.

As a child, Rolande loved to dance. In New York she continued to work at dancing, not for ordinary reasons, but for the love of it, out of her inner feeling. Though she could have had successful career, she gave up all these things when Swami Bodhananda became ill. She came to live at the Vedanta Society to cook for the Swami, nurse him during his final illness and take up varied duties as a managing agent for the Society.

After the passing away of Swami Bodhananda, Rolande stayed on to do the work of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda under Swami Pavitrananda.

She worked tirelessly, from morning till late at night, keeping the large house and everything in it spotlessly clean, like a Temple. It was a worship with her. Completely indifferent to her self-interest, she lived only for the work, and for others. She was always cheerful, and never disturbed by anything. She was never too tired to receive all visitors graciously and offer them food. She was a mother to the members and devotees of the Vedanta Society. Many got comfort, strength and solace from her. Newcomers to the Vedanta Society felt at once that this was their home. Indian students were all admiration for Rolande, not simply because she helped them in so many ways, but because of her own qualities. To them, she was a sister.

There are many instances of practical assistance she rendered others. To cite a few.

One day in a large gathering of members, a devotee casually mentioned that he had stepped on a nail. No one else paid much attention, but Rolande immediately asked him to take off his shoe, noticed that the foot and leg were swollen, gave him first aid, and insisted that he should go to a doctor at once. The nail was rusty, and without quick medical care, the devotee might easily have lost his leg or even his life. At another time, she helped a newly widowed devotee who lived far from the Vedanta Center in a large apartment, loaded with the accumulated possessions of many years. She located a small apartment in the neighbourhood, and helped her to pack, move and get settled. Another devotee found herself and two little daughters with very little money and had two weeks to wait until she could get passage abroad to join her sick husband. Rolande arranged for the mother and children to spend the time in the country home of the devoted members of the Vedanta Society, bringing joy to all concerned.

People of widely differing types, cultures and positions were strongly attracted to her. She was a favourite with neighbours and tradespeople. Children loved her very much. What was the source of her popularity with all kinds of people? She was completely unselfish, and this impressed others deeply. She was self-effacing, feeling that she was unworthy of the position she held, regarding it as a great privilege. Many felt that she helped them to understand themselves and the Vedanta teachings better.

After nearly twenty-seven years of Vedanta work, she was struck down by a painful illness, passing away on April 15, 1960. From her sick-bed, she continued to direct the work of the Center. Till the last minute of her life, she was patient, cheerful and uncomplaining. She received all visitors, inviting them to take food. She was full of the most minute consideration for those around her. Seeing unselfishness, carried to such a degree, those near her were amazed. To see with one's own eyes how one could be so forgetful of one's little self was unbelievable. More than one person, on different occasions, said, "Rolande is like a modern saint!"

After she could no longer walk, she would insist on being lifted to a chair, ask the rest of us to leave the room, and sit there for long periods of time. Three days before she passed away, I was alone in the room with her. I saw her sitting in her chair, her eyes and her hands under the blanket that covered her. The strain of illness was gone from her face and she looked beautiful in a way I had never before seen her, and so full of peace. The thought came to me, "her mind is indrawn".

Shortly before the end, she said: "I may look weak on the outside, but I feel very strong inside." What could be the source of such strength? The Gita says complete unselfishness brings purity of heart, and this gives real strength.

A newcomer to the Vedanta Society wrote after her passing away : "We have lost someone who by her very life was an inspiration and a guide. I dare to say 'we', for even though I knew Rolande only fleetingly, the love she radiated was a tangible thing always. If then even a comparative stranger can so feel, what must it be for you who basked in her warmth daily?"

Though uneventful, her life was important to many. How many lives were integrated and stabilized by her! Whether they regarded her as mother, sister, devotee or nun, those who knew Rolande feel that they will never forget her.

Actually, her life was Vedanta in practice.

This article was first published in Amrita Bazar Patrika, an English daily newspaper of Calcutta, on May 29, 1960.

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