Paying tributes and homage to Mother Teresa at a function held at Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata yesterday evening, Chief Minister Shri Lal Thanhawla said “Mother Teresa was one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20^th century”. The function ‘Blessed Mother Teresa Canonisation Celebration” was organised by Mother Teresa International Award Committee as a part of a three day celebration commemorating the Canonization of Mother Teresa. 

Chief Minister Pu Lal Thanhawla spoke of the humility, piety and faith of Mother Teresa and her life and her unconditional love, devotion and service for the unloved, the uncared and the unwanted. He added that her life was one of love and sacrifice and her serving the poorest of the poor has very few parallels. He pointed that her canonization was matter of great pride not just for the Christian community but for the entire country and also for the people of Kolkata – her chosen home. He extended heartfelt thanks to the organisers for arranging the celebration on behalf of the people of Mizoram. 

He mentioned that if was befitting that a delegation led by External Affairs Minister Shrimati Sushma Swaraj and the Chief Minister of West Bengal attended the Canonization Ceremony in Vatican on the 4^th September 2016. He recalled the privilege of knowing and meeting Mother Teresa and visiting the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity on a couple of occasions when she was alive and said that her presence always offered solace, reassurance and piety. He said, though she was physically frail but strong emotional strength which came from her faith was a source of inspiration. He further added that her larger than life contribution in serving the poor, the downtrodden, the destitute, the infirm and the marginalised cutting across religious barriers earned her admiration and respect not just from Christians but from people of all faiths and beliefs and walks of life. 

He said ‘we must continue to serve the poor, the dying and the desperate in whatever way we can and become tools in the hands of God and his mercy’. He further said that even before Mother Teresa was officially proclaimed a saint by the Vatican, people already accepted her as a saint and often referred to her as ‘Saint of the Gutter’ due to her work and her message of life. He requested people to strive in becoming better human beings and do more for our fellow humans.

The function was inaugurated jointly by former Chief Justice of India Justice Atlamas Kabir and former West Bengal Governor Justice Shyamal Sen. Ministers from the West Bengal Government -  Shri Siddiqulla Chowdhury and Shri Abdur Rezzak; Kolkata Archbishop Pu Thomas D’Souza; Missionaries of Charity, Superior General Sister Mary Prema; representatives and leaders from other faiths were attended the function.

Missionaries of Charity was established by Mother Teresa after getting permission from theVaticanin 1950. Today her work has spread to 139 countries through 5160 Nuns in 758 Homes and Tabernacles that her order has established.