Mother Teresa and conversion: Mohan Bhagwat doesn't know a thing
I have been working with the Missionaries of Charity for more than 50 years. All I can say is that the Rashtriya Swayamswevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is misinformed. Not even once have I witnessed a single act of coercion into religious conversion. Mother served God by serving the poorest of the poor with great love and affection, regardless of their religious beliefs. Infact, the Missionaries of Charity will never impose Catholic faith on anyone and they have always respected other religions.
From a humble one room beginning. The Missionaries of Charity now have 735 homes in 139 countries. The 5,000 sisters and 1,000 brothers look after all these homes.
It's amazing that mother spent her entire life from 1948 to the day she passed away serving, looking after the poorest of the poor, sick and suffering. There were no holidays or weekends off. She and her sisters are totally dedicated to their work with children and the elderly. Her work has flourished because of the great trust in the Missionaries of Charity. They receive funding and voluntary support from several corporate organisations within India and abroad in the form of clothes, medicines and food items. There is absolutely no religious discrimination. Often royalty, politicians and millionaires come incognito to serve the poor at Mother's homes. Almost all the homes that Mother has are gifts from people who have seen her work at close quarters.
Some of the activities that need mention include Shishu Bhavan, home for orphans, abandoned and handicapped children. There are homes for HIV patients, unwed mothers and mentally challenged all over the world. She started with the home for the lepers by the name of Gandhi Nivas at Titagarh. Nirmal Hriday home for the dying started from the streets of Kolkata. There are 19 homes in Kolkata alone.
Volunteers come from all over the world to work for the Missionaries of Charity and serve the poor. They look forward to the prayers and blessings from Mother regardless to their religious believe.
When she passed away on September 5, 1997 her body was buried in Mother House according to her wishes. Mother House has become a place for pilgrimage. Her tomb is engraved with the words of Jesus: "Love one another as I have loved you". This is what Mother Teresa did all through her life. Mother's advice to all of us was "Give until it hurts," means that we sacrifice one of our favourite requirements such as cigarettes, chocolates or anything and donate that money to the needy.