Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa

About 20 years before India gained its freedom, Christian missionaries from Yugoslavia came to India to render humanitarian services. They were extremely affected by the conditions of poverty rampant in India and so invited people from their country to serve here. Amongst these was a special girl called Agnes Goxa Bojaxiu, who is today known as Mother Teresa.

Arrival In India

Agnes was born on August 27, 1910 and was just 19 years when she came to Calcutta on January 6, 1929. And she never left this country. Her aim in life was to serve the sick and the poor and she dedicated her full life towards this purpose. She would roam the dangerous dark and dirty streets of Calcutta at night, covering the cold and offering food and shelter to the poor. When she first arrived in Calcutta, she had just Rs. 5.00, and was helped by a priest. She lived in a small room for 9 years, where she nursed the ill back to health. Compassion, dignity and sympathy marked her every action.

Mission Of Charity

Through her efforts she managed to open several institutions to help the downtrodden e.g. 'Missionaries of Charity', ' Nirmal Hriday', and 'Shishu Bhavan' whish houses the mentally and physically challenged children. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980. Besides these she also received the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Peace (1972), Ramon Magsaysay Award (1962) and the Templeton Foundation Award (1973). As the Mother- General of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa has a thousand Missionary institutions working under her.

Despite all the public acclaim, national and international honours, mother Teresa remained humble, kind and generous till the end. The Florence Nightingale of India passed away in September 1997.

I am sure there could be nobody in the world who has been admired as much as the Angel of India, she gave so much of herself in helping the people who had so very little. But I have put a few pictures below with words that were spoken by another great man of India. Though sad I am sure they must both be, as they gaze down from the heavens and see the beauty that could have been, is still not within the boundaries of this beautiful country.







Reeshav Chatterjee
12 years old - India
"Mother is ready to do anything for the happiness of mankind"

"Mother Teresa was the true Mother of the world. She was an angel sent by God to serve the poor, who believed in the policy of love and care. I feel that nobody can exceed her qualities. For that I admire her more than anyone else. If she can care for the poor she can even skate for happiness of mankind!"