| It has been a decade since Kolkata's "Saint of | | | | Missionaries of Charity seen over the past decade? |
| Gutters", Mother Teresa went home to God. But | | | | Sister Nirmala: The changes have come in the form |
| Missionaries of Charity, the order established by | | | | of expansion. We have expanded to 14 new |
| Mother in 1950, still continues to feel her divine | | | | countries, and we are striving hard to expand further. |
| presence around. The moment one enters the | | | | The Missionaries of Charity has set up 166 new |
| premises of Mother's House on AJC Bose Road in | | | | homes across the world. The number of nuns has |
| central Kolkata, one is overwhelmed by a feeling of | | | | increased too. Everything else is the same (laughs)... |
| warmth, peace and serenity like one has never | | | | It is often alleged that Missionaries of Charity follows |
| experienced before. Two days before her tenth | | | | a static and rudimentary style of functioning.... |
| death anniversary, the spirit of Mother Teresa rests | | | | Sister Nirmala: It is our rule, you know. We follow our |
| in peace in a white marble tomb, built in the middle of | | | | tradition, we follow our spirit... |
| Mother's House, and is surrounded by devotees, who | | | | Don't you wish to modernise the Missionaries of |
| sit with their heads bowed, paying a silent tribute to | | | | Charity? |
| the lady who gave up everything to serve the | | | | Sister Nirmala: No. We prefer to keep it simple. That |
| "poorest of the poor". "Service to the poorest of the | | | | is the way Missionaries of Charity is (laughs). |
| poor" still continues to be the fundamental article of | | | | What about the funds and donations that are sent to |
| faith in Missionaries of Charity. | | | | Missionaries of Charity? Has there been any change in |
| "Jesus is the bread of life" is written in flowers over | | | | the amount of help you received during Mother's |
| Mother's tomb, and a soft fragrance of incense | | | | time? |
| wafts through the air to create an aura of | | | | Sister Nirmala: People are still sending us donations. |
| unmatched divinity. The room adjacent to Mother's | | | | They're helping us in many ways. We have more |
| tomb holds her possessions and pictures, and tells a | | | | than we need (smiles serenely). Mother's blessings are |
| tale of Mother's service to humankind. The pictures | | | | there with us. People still appreciate what she has |
| of Mother Teresa, along with her belongings displayed | | | | done. |
| with care, make one feel a close proximity with the | | | | What is it about Mother that still keeps her alive in |
| petite Mother. "She is everywhere in the House", | | | | people's hearts? |
| smiles Sister Nirmala, the Superior General of | | | | Sister Nirmala: Love. It is her love for them. The |
| Missionaries of Charity, before settling down with | | | | words of love that she spread is still carved in |
| HeadlinesIndia for an exclusive interview about life | | | | people's hearts. That is why people love Mother |
| during Mother's time, and beyond. | | | | Teresa. |
| It has been ten years since Mother passed away. | | | | It has been revealed that Mother Teresa suffered |
| How has life been in Missionaries of Charity after | | | | from a spiritual crisis in the last four decades of her |
| Mother? | | | | life. Did she have doubts about her own faith in God? |
| Sister Nirmala: Missionaries of Charity, by the grace of | | | | Sister Nirmala: She did not have any doubts about her |
| God, and with the presence, prayers and blessings of | | | | faith in God. It is just that she was disturbed by the |
| Mother, is continuing with its work and is going on. It | | | | silence of God. Don't we all feel the silence of God at |
| continues to be in the same spirit that it was in when | | | | times? She was after all, a human, who was also |
| it was founded by Mother. | | | | perturbed by the silence of the almighty. |
| It has also been ten years of responsibility for you. | | | | Did she ever share her apprehensions with you? Did |
| How does it feel to be in Mother's place? | | | | she tell you about the crisis that she was facing? |
| Sister Nirmala: I would not say I am in Mother's place. | | | | Sister Nirmala: She never told anything to us. She was |
| I can never replace Mother. I have my own place. I | | | | a very simple and reserved person, and she kept her |
| cannot be Mother, I cannot live her life. I have my | | | | problems to herself. She did not burden us with her |
| life, and I am living it the way Mother wanted me to. | | | | troubles. |
| I think Mother is irreplaceable. No one can ever take | | | | Did she not tell you even about her physical pains and |
| her place. | | | | problems? |
| How far do you think you have lived up to Mother's | | | | Sister Nirmala: She did only when she was in immense |
| expectations? | | | | pain. |
| Sister Nirmala: I am just continuing the work that she | | | | How do you feel about Mother Teresa's canonisation |
| was doing. I try my best to live up to her | | | | by the Pope later this year? |
| expectations. I feel, may be Mother is happy with me | | | | Sister Nirmala: For us, for the people, Mother was |
| (laughs). | | | | always a saint. Now they are making it official. Of |
| So, do you hear Mother's voice in your heart, saying | | | | course it is a beautiful feeling because though she is |
| she is happy with you? Do you feel her around you? | | | | already a saint, it is now being declared officially. All |
| Sister Nirmala: Yes, I feel her guiding me in everything | | | | her hard work, the challenges that she faced, the life |
| I do. I never felt that she is not happy with me. I | | | | she lived have been rewarded. It is a beautiful feeling |
| know she is there to look after everything. | | | | (smiles). |
| Apparently you shared a very close bond with | | | | So this year is special for Missionaries of Charity. |
| Mother. Tell us something about your relationship with | | | | Mother's tenth death anniversary is to be followed by |
| Mother Teresa. | | | | her canonisation... Do you have any special plans to |
| Sister Nirmala: See, we are sisters, but we are really | | | | commemorate her on her tenth death anniversary on |
| her daughters. I was like her daughter too... | | | | the of September 5 ? |
| And what kind of bonding did you share with her? | | | | Sister Nirmala: We will be organising a Feast Day |
| Sister Nirmala: She was a real mother for my future | | | | celebration on her death anniversary. A book |
| direction. She guided me in a lot of things. As I grew | | | | containing all her writings and prayers is also coming |
| up before her eyes, she taught me how to love, | | | | out this year on the of September 4. We will start |
| how to care selflessly. She guided me to spirituality, | | | | the day with Candlelight Procession and Rosary, and |
| and she encouraged me in whatever I wanted to do | | | | will follow it up with Holy Mass and Prayer for Peace. |
| (Mother Teresa had encouraged Sister Nirmala to | | | | The Catholic Association of West Bengal has also |
| study law). So I really shared a very special bond | | | | scheduled events which started on August 4, her |
| with her. | | | | birthday, and will continue till September 14. |
| With such special bond, do you miss her around? | | | | Anything other than this....? |
| Sister Nirmala: It is only her physical being that is | | | | Sister Nirmala: No. We would like to keep it simple, as |
| missing from here. Her spirit continues to be in every | | | | Mother preferred it to be (smiles). |
| part of the order. We feel here presence | | | | Okay, one last question. Is there any special message |
| everywhere. | | | | which you would like to convey to people on your |
| Coming back to the order, what changes has | | | | own, as well as Mother Teresa's behalf? |