Mother Teresa was a woman of exceptional personality and a prodigy of our time. She was the world’s most decipherable emblem of kindness and loving. She was always clothed in white sari with blue edge. She was born on 26th August 1910 at Skopje, Yugoslavia, in the kingdom of Albania and was named Agens. She was the daughter of an Albanian builder and the youngest of three children. Her father breathed his last breath when she was seven. At 12, she made her mind to grow to be a nun. At 18, she decided to join the Loreto Order of nuns in Ireland. She arrived in India during November 1928. After spending a few days in Calcutta (Kolkata) she was sent Loreto Novitiate in Darjeeling to begin the life of learner. She learnt Bengali and English there. That is why she is also known as the Bengali Teresa.
On September 10, 1946, she heard a ‘Call within a call ’. She left the convent and dedicated herself for helping the poor. Within two years, she had set up a dispensary for the dying underprivileged inhabitants. She, soon, became a distinguished name among her preferred people. She took her name Mother Teresa from a 16th century nun called St. Teresa. She first lived in Creek Lane and in the long run moved to an edifice on Lower Circular Road which came to be identified world greater than as Mother House. In 1952, she opened her first home, “Nirmal Hriday”. More or less 469 educational institutions, 1369 treatment centers and 755 residences run in almost 120 countries in her name today. However, Mother Teresa made Calcutta her home and also breathed her last on 5th September 1997 in this metropolis. In 1979, she was awarded by Nobel Peace Prize. She progressively achieved global appreciation. She donated the whole money to feed the sick and the poor. She was awarded Padamshree and Bharat Ratana respectively in 1962 and 1980. She was also honoured by the Megasaysay award, Leo Tolstoy International award and Pope John Peace Prize. Her record of honors is continual. She accepted over 50 national and international awards. Her outstanding influence of uncomplicated meekness and her indomitable devotion in divinity touched the spirit of millions on all sides the world. She journeyed assiduously the streets of the world, helping, caring and loving the poor and the children who were unwanted. She felt and gave a message to us -“The poor do not wish for bread, they yearn for love. The naked do not desire clothes, they want self-esteem”. She lived among the poor as a poor woman. She was an Indian woman; barely 5ft of height wearing an inexpensive sari, with neither riches nor helps. In fact, she was a legend of our time.
