16 October,2009 07:35 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar
City Christian community outraged with Albania's demand for her remains
Albania's insistence on getting the remains of Mother Teresa before her 100th birth anniversary in August 2010 is likely to strain relations with India.
The prospect of exhuming Mother Teresa's body has angered the Christian community here, which calls it a 'political game'. Mother was born in Albania.
Father Anthony Cherangat, spokesperson, Archdiocese of the Bombay Catholic Church, calls the demand, "An opportunity for parties to score political points in Albania."
He added, "Why should this become a bone of contention? It is ridiculous. Do not disturb Mother Teresa and let her get the rest she so richly deserves."
An angry Father D D'Souza opined, "Albania wants her remains because of her global renown." D'Souza's views find resonance with Maureen Sequeira, director, Headstart Activity Centre in south Mumbai.
"Does the Albanian government want the remains of other ethnic Albanians who may be buried in India? No. That's because they are not famous. Why all this fuss about Mother's remains?" asked a livid Sequeira.
Happy in India
Padma Shri Sister Karuna Mary Braganza explained, "Mother Teresa opted out of Albania and arrived here voluntarily, so the Albanian government should have no say in the matter.
She had not expressed a wish to be buried in Albania. She was happy to be in India.
We have to respect that." Mahim resident Peter D'Mello agrees. "Mother remains a saint for all countries.
She accepted an Indian citizenship and died here. So, her remains should not be allowed to go to Albania," believes D'Mello.
The Controversy
The Albanian government's demand to return Mother Teresa's remains to her ethnic homeland was rejected by India.
Albanian PM Sali Berisha had said, "She would be more calm than anywhere else if she could rest next to her mother and sister, who are buried in Tirana."
Mother Teresa is buried in a tomb in the Mother House, Kolkata, and is likely to be canonised soon.
She was an ethnic Albanian nun, born in what is now Macedonia, and was given an Indian citizenship in 1951. She died in 1997.
1979
The year Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize
