Nobel Peace Prize winner Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, widely known as Mother Teresa, dedicated her life to serving the poor in Kolkata, a place where she spent 66 years. The catholic nun established ‘The Missionaries of Charity' which has over 5,000 members serving in over 130 countries today. On her 24th death anniversary, here are some photographs that reflect her legacy
Updated On: 2021-09-05 08:36 AM IST
Born in present-day Serbia on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu left her home at the age of 18 to join the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. After training in Dublin, she was eventually sent to India where she took her vows as a nun on May 24, 1931. This photo of her is from a visit to New Delhi in December 1991. Photo: AFP
In Kolkata, Mother Teresa taught at the Sr. Mary’s High School from 1931 to 1948. Moved by the suffering and poverty around her, she left the convent school in 1948 and devoted herself to working in the slums of Kolkata. Although she had no funds initially, she started an open-air school for slum children. Soon with the help of volunteers and financial support, she expanded the scope of her work. In this photo, Mother Teresa meets with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi on November 18, 1972, New Delhi. Photo: AFP
On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa established a new order ‘The Missionaries of Charity’. Dedicated to serving the poorest and those who nobody looked after, ‘The Missionaries of Charity’ gained support and spread across the globe. The Nobel Peace Prize was conferred on Mother Teresa for her humanitarian work in 1979. In this photo, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa wave to well-wishers at the Nirmal Hriday Home in Kolkata on February 3, 1986. Photo: AFP
Mother Teresa’s life of service inspired millions and she came to be known as a symbol of humanitarian efforts. Artists across the globe continue to feature the venerated nun in their works. Prolific Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain was so moved by her presence, he tried to capture it in his many works through the decades. In this photo, MF Husain commemorates Mother Teresa's beatification—the penultimate step to being canonised a saint—with a painting in Mumbai in 2003. Photo: AFP
Mother Teresa was canonised posthumously in 2016, where she was raised to the status of ‘saint’. Here, the faithful are seen waiting for the holy mass and Canonisation of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, on St. Peter Square in the Vatican, on September 4, 2016. Photo: AFP
