Sri Chinmoy:
The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

Vijaya: An Indomitable Spirit

Vijaya was born Catherine Grace Claxton on 9 December 1947 in Atlanta, Georgia, into the
military family of Edward Wesley and Grace Catherine Claxton, joining her older brother,
Keith. She spent much of her childhood in tropical climes such as the Philippines and the
Caribbean, and eventually attended high school in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when her father
was stationed there.

After her mother’s untimely death, she asked to stay in North Dakota instead of following
her father to his next posting in Iran, so that she could finish her schooling there. It was at that
time that one of her teachers, Donna Fleming, generously invited Vijaya to stay with her family.
Donna became Vijaya’s foster mother and a lifelong friend. Vijaya finished high school
and one year of university in North Dakota, later receiving a B.A. with distinction from Ohio
State, with a major in theatre.

During university, Vijaya became very interested in realms beyond the physical, even working
with the police as a medium and locating crime victims. Vijaya eventually came to New
York to pursue a career in acting. In 1973, after attending a concert by the spiritual leader Sri
Chinmoy and being inspired by the deeply contemplative atmosphere, she became a member
of the Sri Chinmoy Centre.

Vijaya joined the UN in 1974, serving as Legal Liaison on Visa Matters between the United
Nations Personnel Office and the United States Mission to the United Nations, and also
recruiting Tour Guides for the United Nations Tour Guide Unit. From 1981 to 1990 she was
married to Henry Withers, who also worked at the UN. In 1989 she began serving as Coordinator
of the UN Panel of Counsel, a position which she held until her retirement on
30 June 2009.

In 1983, Sri Chinmoy gave Catherine the spiritual name Vijaya, which means “victory,” and
against any and all odds, Vijaya’s life was splendidly victorious in so many remarkable ways.
Indeed, Vijaya was untiringly courageous in conquering all obstacles, be it in acting as public
defender for United Nations staff, or swimming across the English Channel, or serving as
the main envoy of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations.

For over two decades, in her role as Coordinator, Panel of Counsel, Vijaya served as public
defender for UN staff in the UN’s internal justice system. She oversaw thousands of cases,
guiding and supporting staff with her wide-ranging legal knowledge, energy, concern and
compassion. It was her sincere dream to see the reform of the UN’s internal justice system, and
with her unique experience and insight, she was one of the most enthusiastic in spearheading
the effort.

Indeed, Vijaya’s contract was extended three times beyond her official UN retirement age
to enable her to continue as part of the team working to reform the justice system. It was only
when the new system took effect on 1 July 2009 that Vijaya retired after over 35 years at the
UN — again, with the satisfaction of a job well done that few would have had the vision and
energy to complete.

Actually, she was not even thinking of resting on her laurels or taking permanent retirement.
Towards the end of her UN career, Vijaya invested much time and energy in obtaining
certification as a mediator from Cornell University, with additional courses at Columbia University,
for a second career. She had already started mediating in the New York Civil Courts
in lower Manhattan, was serving on several Boards of Directors of mediation organizations,
and had received an offer to work in the UN’s newly created Mediation Division as an on-call
mediator/ombudsman after her retirement.

Over the years, because of her commitment to truth and her unprecedented concern for
each of her clients, Vijaya earned the respect and trust of countless UN staff. Her myriad professional
contacts and friendships, and her dedication to the goals and vision of the Peace
Meditation Group, prompted Sri Chinmoy to call Vijaya his main envoy at the UN. In all situations,
she used her wisdom and negotiating skills to find solutions. Most of this work was
done behind the scenes, with very few of us even aware of her astute interventions. Vijaya
was also one of the main spokespersons for the Meditation Group, serving as Master of
Ceremonies for many of our programmes held at the UN, with her usual grace and poise. Sri
Chinmoy was especially grateful that Vijaya, in cooperation with Ranjana Ghose, the curator
of the Jharna-Kala Foundation, organized several exhibits of his Jharna-Kala art at the UN,
which drew acclaim both from UN officials and from important figures in the art world.
In addition, for over 20 years, Vijaya was President of the United Nations SRC Film Society.
She organized many film showings with question-and-answer panel discussions, often
in conjunction with the UN Department of Public Information. At one point she orchestrated
the technical renovation of the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, raising thousands
of dollars from film studios and other sources. She was also Vice-President and then President
of the United Nations SRC Society of Writers, and helped edit the Reflections Magazine. She
served on the nominating committee of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council. In every
endeavour, her energy and capacity were extraordinary.

Vijaya on the boat before starting her successful English Channel swim in 2007.

Amidst all this UN activity, Vijaya threw her heart and soul into training for and preparing
to swim across the English Channel, all the time maintaining her demanding work schedule.
After seven years, she finally succeeded on her fourth try, on 8 September 2007, a few
months before her 60th birthday. Afterwards, Vijaya would wryly note that because it took her
so many attempts, she attained the distinction of being the oldest American woman ever to
have accomplished this feat. She never wanted to surrender to age, and some staff cited her
achievement as proof that it was time to reform the UN’s retirement policy as well.
We have all been inspired by the video showing Vijaya climbing at last onto French shores,
after over 22 hours of non-stop effort. Her heroism won her the Gertrude Ederle Award from
the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, named after the first woman to swim the
Channel, for the most meritorious swim of the year by a woman, as well as the Cape Storm
Award 2007 for the longest solo swim of 2007.

Vijaya also had a love of beauty and the capacity to create beauty. It is hard to imagine that
when she bought her house in Queens about 12 years ago, the grounds were totally barren and
littered with old oil tanks and other such debris. Undaunted, Vijaya worked indefatigably to
transform her house and garden, from doing much of the sheet rock installation, painting and
other renovations of the house herself, to turning her backyard into a beautiful oasis adorned
with flowers and statues. There was an enormous hole on one side of the yard where the previous
owner had kept a boat. In her inimitable style and with her amazing strength, Vijaya single-
handedly filled in the hole one day, pushing wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow full of dirt
that had become available on the next block as a result of some neighbourhood landscaping
project. She was always someone who managed to get the job done. It helped considerably that
she was an avid weightlifter and runner who completed 27 marathons!
Vijaya always maintained her love of acting, and the Sri Chinmoy Centre many a time enjoyed
seeing her on stage in homespun productions, be it in comedy or drama. In comedy, Lucille
Ball was one of her idols, and there was nobody who could do the “I Love Lucy” style
better. Needless to say, no matter what the genre, Vijaya always stole the show.
Vijaya was an artist as well, for years studying Chinese painting and also receiving lessons
from art teachers at the UN. She painted quite a few portraits of UN colleagues over the years.
Her portrait of President Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa Maximovna, was on display at the memorial
for Raisa Maximovna held at the UN in 1999 and again when President Gorbachev
came to visit Sri Chinmoy in Queens in October 2006. At one point, the Channel Swimming
and Piloting Federation commissioned Vijaya to design its logo. Vijaya also loved painting
Indian gods and goddesses, and many of us have received T-shirts and cards she designed
and printed herself.

Just as she approached life with phenomenal strength and fortitude, even so Vijaya courageously
battled illness for several months, always looking forward with dynamism and hope.
Vijaya was extremely grateful for the tremendous outpouring of concern and support from
UN colleagues, family and friends during her hospital stays. Her room was always flooded
with flowers, cards, photographs, stuffed animals of every size, videos and CDs, and food and
drinks.

Visits from her brother, Keith, and her mother, Donna, meant the world to Vijaya and gave
her much joy, as did visits from friends and colleagues. She was so appreciative of her tirelessly
dedicated English Channel supporters — also UN staff — as well as an amazing nurse-friend,
along with some of my mother’s devoted former caregivers and myself, who were with her
24/7 in the hospital during these months.

On her good days, Vijaya would be sitting up and entertaining her guests and anyone who
came by, quite endearing herself to all the hospital staff. When she had finished her treatment
in New York Hospital-Queens, and was preparing to transfer to Calvary Hospital, Vijaya or-
dered 200 roses and chocolates to give to the hospital staff, along with thank-you cards with
Sri Chinmoy’s aphorisms. The hospital had never seen anything like it. There was a steady
stream of doctors, nurses, case managers, technicians, transport workers and others, coming
to thank her and wish her well, calling her their princess, and saying how inspired they were
by her resolute determination. Many said that very few had ever thanked them for their service,
and they were deeply moved by Vijaya’s initiative. No matter what the circumstances, Vijaya’s
appreciation and concern for others always came forward.

Sri Chinmoy often said that life and death are like two rooms of our own house. When we
are in the living room, it is full of activity; and when we are in the bedroom, it is all rest. We
can be sure that Vijaya is now taking a well-deserved rest in a realm fit for a tireless truth-warrior
who fought valiantly for both divinity and humanity on earth.

NILIMA SILVER Programme Coordinator of Sri Chinmoy:
The Peace Meditation at the United Nations; and UN staff member

see also:

• Celebration of Life of Vijaya (Catherine) Claxton – Introduction to programme  22 Jan 2010 and and family member’s tributes

• UN colleagues and Friends Tributes
• 7 of Vijaya’s favorite Poems and songs 

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