| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Sister Nirmala: I am just continuing the work that she |
| It has been a decade since Kolkata's Saint of | | | | was doing. I try my best to live up to her |
| Gutters, Mother Teresa went home to God. But | | | | expectations. I feel, may be Mother is happy with me |
| Missionaries of Charity, the order established by | | | | (laughs). |
| Mother in 1950, still continues to feel her divine | | | | So, do you hear Mother's voice in your heart, saying |
| presence around. The moment one enters the | | | | she is happy with you? Do you feel her around you? |
| premises of Mother's House on AJC Bose Road in | | | | Sister Nirmala: Yes, I feel her guiding me in everything |
| central Kolkata, one is overwhelmed by a feeling of | | | | I do. I never felt that she is not happy with me. I |
| warmth, peace and serenity like one has never | | | | know she is there to look after everything. |
| experienced before. Two days before her tenth | | | | Apparently you shared a very close bond with |
| death anniversary, the spirit of Mother Teresa rests | | | | Mother. Tell us something about your relationship with |
| in peace in a white marble tomb, built in the middle of | | | | Mother Teresa. |
| Mother's House, and is surrounded by devotees, who | | | | Sister Nirmala: See, we are sisters, but we are really |
| sit with their heads bowed, paying a silent tribute to | | | | her daughters. I was like her daughter too... |
| the lady who gave up everything to serve the | | | | And what kind of bonding did you share with her? |
| poorest of the poor. Service to the | | | | Sister Nirmala: She was a real mother for my future |
| poorest of the poor still continues to be the | | | | direction. She guided me in a lot of things. As I grew |
| fundamental article of faith in Missionaries of Charity. | | | | up before her eyes, she taught me how to love, |
| Jesus is the bread of life is written in flowers | | | | how to care selflessly. She guided me to spirituality, |
| over Mother's tomb, and a soft fragrance of incense | | | | and she encouraged me in whatever I wanted to do |
| wafts through the air to create an aura of | | | | (Mother Teresa had encouraged Sister Nirmala to |
| unmatched divinity. The room adjacent to Mother's | | | | study law). So I really shared a very special bond |
| tomb holds her possessions and pictures, and tells a | | | | with her. |
| tale of Mother's service to humankind. The pictures | | | | With such special bond, do you miss her around? |
| of Mother Teresa, along with her belongings displayed | | | | Sister Nirmala: It is only her physical being that is |
| with care, make one feel a close proximity with the | | | | missing from here. Her spirit continues to be in every |
| petite Mother. She is everywhere in the | | | | part of the order. We feel here presence |
| House, smiles Sister Nirmala, the Superior General | | | | everywhere. |
| of Missionaries of Charity, before settling down with | | | | Coming back to the order, what changes has |
| HeadlinesIndia for an exclusive interview about life | | | | Missionaries of Charity seen over the past decade? |
| during Mother's time, and beyond. | | | | Sister Nirmala: The changes have come in the form |
| It has been ten years since Mother passed away. | | | | of expansion. We have expanded to 14 new |
| How has life been in Missionaries of Charity after | | | | countries, and we are striving hard to expand further. |
| Mother? | | | | The Missionaries of Charity has set up 166 new |
| Sister Nirmala: Missionaries of Charity, by the grace of | | | | homes across the world. The number of nuns has |
| God, and with the presence, prayers and blessings of | | | | increased too. Everything else is the same (laughs)... |
| Mother, is continuing with its work and is going on. It | | | | It is often alleged that Missionaries of Charity follows |
| continues to be in the same spirit that it was in when | | | | a static and rudimentary style of functioning.... |
| it was founded by Mother. | | | | Sister Nirmala: It is our rule, you know. We follow our |
| It has also been ten years of responsibility for you. | | | | tradition, we follow our spirit... |
| How does it feel to be in Mother's place? | | | | Don't you wish to modernise the Missionaries of |
| Sister Nirmala: I would not say I am in Mother's place. | | | | Charity? |
| I can never replace Mother. I have my own place. I | | | | Sister Nirmala: No. We prefer to keep it simple. That |
| cannot be Mother, I cannot live her life. I have my | | | | is the way Missionaries of Charity is (laughs). |
| life, and I am living it the way Mother wanted me to. | | | | What about the funds and donations that are sent to |
| I think Mother is irreplaceable. No one can ever take | | | | Missionaries of Charity? Has there been any change in |
| her place. | | | | the amount of help you received during Mother's |
| How far do you think you have lived up to Mother's | | | | time? |
| expectations? | | | | |