Love is the best feeling of Humanity which makes him a true human being. Love towards humanity cannot bound in the narrow bounds of caste and religion. A person who has the affection and pity in his heart can devote his whole life in the service of mankind. Mother Teresa, ‘The Angel of Mercy’ was one of the most admired personalities of the twentieth century. She was a Roman Catholic Missionary. She belonged to that rare breed of people who live their life for others. She is called the idol of affection, love, pity, and selfless service.
Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910, to Albanian parents in the small town Skopje of Yugoslavia. Her childhood name was Agnes Gontha Bojaxhim. She decided to become a nun at the age of 18. For this, she joined the Albanian center of nuns. She came to India in 1929 to become a teacher at Loerolt Atlay School. She taught Geography from 1929 to 1948 at Calcutta. Due to her ability, hard work, and feeling of social service, she soon became the principal.
In 1946, she was permitted to work in Calcutta slums. She established a new congregation, “Missionaries of Charity”. The Vatican, the spiritual and administrative center of Roman Catholics, approved it in 1950.
Mother Teresa became a nationalized Indian Citizen in 1962. She founded `Nirmal Hridey’ near Kali Temple whose doors were always open for destitute, retorted, sick and helpless people. Now it has branches in 125 countries. This institution runs 169 educational centers, 1369 welfare centers, and 755 shelter houses. She was granted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Besides, the Nobel Peace Prize, she also received the Magsaysay award (1962), Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1972), John F. Kennedy International Award (1972), Jawahar Lal Nehru Award (1972) and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana award in 1993. She was bestowed with the highest civilian award “Bharat Ratna” by the Indian Government in 1980.
Mother Teresa suffered from heart disease. She had been pulling on with the help of pacemaker since 1989.
Her service to humanity shall live in the hearts of people forever. So great was her love for her inmates that she thrice came out of the jaws of death to serve them. She breathed her last on September 5, 1997, with the name of Lord on her lips. Coming generations would always wonder whether such a person ever walked on this earth in flesh and blood. The Missionaries of The charity carry on the work saying that Mother Teresa is “back with us spiritually.” Sister Nirmala succeeded her.
We should follow her path in serving the destitute, helpless, and sick people. This will be our true homage to her.
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