Mother Teresa’s successor visits Nepal

New Delhi – Sister Nirmala, Mother Superior of the Missionaries of Charity and successor of Mother Teresa, made a historic trip to Nepal, her country of origin, on January 13.

Sister Nirmala, was born into a Hindu family in 1934 in Putalibazar, Shyangja District, Nepal. A daughter of an Indian Army officer, Sister Nirmala is the eldest of eight sisters and two brothers. Six of her sisters and both brothers are still Hindus. Her Christian sister Bindu is principal of Carval school in Patna, India.

Sister Leslie, head of the Missionaries of Charity in Nepal, said that Sister Nirmala had been unable to visit Nepal because of her busy schedule.

The headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity are located in Kolkata, with affiliates in 130 countries, representing 710 social service organizations working with the elderly, the disabled, the sick and the poor. The Nepal branch was established in 1980 with the active involvement of Sister Nirmala. This charity has branched out into Pokhara and Kathmandu.

During her two–week long stay in Nepal she met the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramesh Nath Pandey at his residence in Bishal Nagar.

“Everyone should make efforts for peace; we in India are praying for peace. Man makes mistakes, one should beg pardon for the mistake and he/she should be forgiven. We should believe in God’s love; we should love all,” Sister Nirmala said to the press following the meeting.

“Only mutual understanding and love is the way for peace,” she said.

Asserting that love for humanity has always inspired people for peace, Sister Nirmala added, “I’ll pray to God that the wish of all the Nepalese for peace to come true.”

Briefing the media persons about the talks, Minister Pandey added that on the occasion Sister Nirmala told him that since the present problem in Nepal is transient, peace would soon be restored.

He quoted Sister Nirmala as saying that Nepal is at present passing through a situation of transition and that all should pray for the restoration of peace in the beautiful country, strengthen the culture, tradition and belief, and that durable peace would come in Nepal on the basis of these values.

Stating that the words of blessing of Sister Nirmala are for the welfare of humankind, Minister Pandey quoted the Sister as saying that Nepal’s tradition has always kept this country independent and the Nepalese should keep this intact.

Sister Nirmala first came to India as a student of Hinduism in the 1940s and was so deeply impressed with Mother Teresa's work that she was inspired to leave the Hindu religion.