We knew her as "Our Mother". She brings home many memories from the day I met her in person, on a task assigned to me in 1989 while I served as a National Officer with UNICEF Calcutta (now Kolkata). It was task big enough for me. Subhashda (late Subhash Das Gupta) had the confidence that I would deliver.
It was a personal note from Jim Grant to Mother Teresa inviting her to the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a special guest. My instructions were to bring back a positive response. Time was of the essence. The event was scheduled to take place in less than a fortnight.
I made my way to the Head Quarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Sealdah, hoping to find Mother there. I was told on arrival that she was at her Annual Retreat in Dum Dum, close to the airport and I could try my luck to meet her there if I was to deliver the invitation in person. I had to meet her. There was no other option.
On arrival at the Retreat, I learnt that Mother was "busy" at her annual planning meet with her global units. I further understood that they come every year to the Retreat for that purpose. It was a different kind of a planning meet, no doubt, from our country program planning exercise in UNICEF although the purpose was somewhat similar. The nun at the Reception was kind enough to take the letter to Mother while I waited.
After a short wait, Mother appeared, holding the letter in her hand, still sealed. Her first words were: "Do you have a car?" which took me somewhat by surprise. I replied. "Yes, Mother..." and before I could say anything further, she joined in with "...let's go!" She led, as always. I followed. Our UNICEF driver, Raibabu, was delighted as she hopped into the car. I joined in. Mother's instructions were short and crisp: "Let's go to the airport!"
It was all a big surprise as I struggled to put together the whole episode, which unfolded. We arrived at the airport, which was only a short drive away. Mother got off and I trailed behind. It was the old airport, with lesser security restrictions. Besides, everyone in the city knew Mother. She walked past the crowd that was gathering and soon disappeared into the departure lounge.
I followed but preferred to stay at the entrance, from where I could observe her. A young woman with a child no more than six or seven in age approached her and touched her feet with respect as we do in our tradition. Mother kissed and blessed them both and walked back to me.
Till today, I don't know who the woman with the child was or the cause for the urgency Mother displayed.. I guessed they were going far away and they were fortunate enough to receive Mother's blessings in person.
On our way back to the Retreat, Mother opened the envelope and read Jim Grant's invitation. She regretted that she would not be able to attend since she was at the Retreat through the next few weeks. "I will pray for the children!" she added. I returned with her blessings in her writing, which I continue to cherish.
I am sharing it with you here along with a few pictures of our recent visit to Skopje in October 2023. I call my visit to Skopje, Mother's birthplace, a pilgrimage to pay my homage to Mother.
There are other snippets added to my first encounter with Mother. It takes me back to my UNICEF Baghdad days, where I was a regular visitor to one of her units close to our UNICEF office, along with K.S. Sundaresan (Anna) while we served under a complex emergency in the immediate aftermath of the first Gulf War. The unit looked after close to a dozen infants, some with special needs, all victims of the conflict, with three nuns in attendance.
I reserve those stories for some other occasion!
"Come Be My Light": Mother's Memorial, Skopje 
I made my way to the Head Quarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Sealdah, hoping to find Mother there. I was told on arrival that she was at her Annual Retreat in Dum Dum, close to the airport and I could try my luck to meet her there if I was to deliver the invitation in person. I had to meet her. There was no other option.
On arrival at the Retreat, I learnt that Mother was "busy" at her annual planning meet with her global units. I further understood that they come every year to the Retreat for that purpose. It was a different kind of a planning meet, no doubt, from our country program planning exercise in UNICEF although the purpose was somewhat similar. The nun at the Reception was kind enough to take the letter to Mother while I waited.
After a short wait, Mother appeared, holding the letter in her hand, still sealed. Her first words were: "Do you have a car?" which took me somewhat by surprise. I replied. "Yes, Mother..." and before I could say anything further, she joined in with "...let's go!" She led, as always. I followed. Our UNICEF driver, Raibabu, was delighted as she hopped into the car. I joined in. Mother's instructions were short and crisp: "Let's go to the airport!"
It was all a big surprise as I struggled to put together the whole episode, which unfolded. We arrived at the airport, which was only a short drive away. Mother got off and I trailed behind. It was the old airport, with lesser security restrictions. Besides, everyone in the city knew Mother. She walked past the crowd that was gathering and soon disappeared into the departure lounge.
I followed but preferred to stay at the entrance, from where I could observe her. A young woman with a child no more than six or seven in age approached her and touched her feet with respect as we do in our tradition. Mother kissed and blessed them both and walked back to me.
Till today, I don't know who the woman with the child was or the cause for the urgency Mother displayed.. I guessed they were going far away and they were fortunate enough to receive Mother's blessings in person.
On our way back to the Retreat, Mother opened the envelope and read Jim Grant's invitation. She regretted that she would not be able to attend since she was at the Retreat through the next few weeks. "I will pray for the children!" she added. I returned with her blessings in her writing, which I continue to cherish.
I am sharing it with you here along with a few pictures of our recent visit to Skopje in October 2023. I call my visit to Skopje, Mother's birthplace, a pilgrimage to pay my homage to Mother.
There are other snippets added to my first encounter with Mother. It takes me back to my UNICEF Baghdad days, where I was a regular visitor to one of her units close to our UNICEF office, along with K.S. Sundaresan (Anna) while we served under a complex emergency in the immediate aftermath of the first Gulf War. The unit looked after close to a dozen infants, some with special needs, all victims of the conflict, with three nuns in attendance.
I reserve those stories for some other occasion!
Mother's personal note to me with her blessings
At the City Center, Skopje: A fitting tribute
Mother's Memorial and Museum, Skopje
At the entrance to the Memorial
The iconic City Gate newly built at a colossal cost juxtaposed against some humdrum structures of a socialist past, struggling to achieve a New Image, a new identity
The Art Bridge: bridging the gulf over the Vardar river between the Old City and the new
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| Newly created icons of the New City in its struggle for a new identity |
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| Birth place of Alexander the Great: a heroic past raised to a pedestal |
Reviving Old Icons for a New Identity with the new Archeology Museum in the background
An old boat anchored to revive an old glory
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| Another view of the Art Bridge: struggling to bridge the gap between the old and the new |
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| At the Old City: reviving memories of a bygone era |
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| A walk through the Old City |
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| No less iconic, if the city is struggling for a new identity |
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| Mother's Message to the World as conveyed in her note to me |
God bless you, Gautam
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thomas. A do also cherish many happy memories working with you and under your leadership in Baghdad. Hope to meet up with you in person again someday soon, maybe at our next Reunion in Manila!
ReplyDeleteDear Gautam, your lovely homage to Mother Teresa reminded me of my very touching experience of visiting her after she passed away to offer condolences on behalf of UN S-G Kofi Annan. I will share with you by email excerpts from my memoir in which I describe my unusual but most uplifting visit.
DeleteThank you Kul. I shall be delighted to read your excerpts and shall look forward to receiving it. I remember when Mother passed away. Dorothy Rozga was then heading the UNICEF office in Kolkata. I accompanied her to pay our respects. My memories of their work with orphaned and destitute children in Baghdad in the immediate aftermath of the first Gulf War still remain fresh and vivid. It’s the capacity to reach out beyond to embrace the unknown and the uncared for that gave us hope in an environment torn by conflict. Mother and her mission was exemplary and exceptional.
DeleteA beautiful tribute to Mother Teresa ..
ReplyDeleteThank you Prem. Hope to see you in Manila now. Malta was great no doubt!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gautam for telling us about your encounter with Mother Theresa and for sharing the beautiful photos of Skopje. It's a wonderful tribute to "Mother" as well as to the rebuilding of Skopje.
ReplyDeleteThank you Horst for your kind words . I feel inspired by your contribution both here on the Blog as well as in the social media where we remain connected.
DeleteWhat a blessed and exciting experience
DeleteIn the early '70s, Marilyn and I lived in Boston, Massachusetts, where I was the Acting Director of Oxfam/America. Our neighbor, in Boston, gave us $5000 to give to Mother Teresa when we arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh where I was to be the Country Director. Two weeks later, we gave Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity Home the donation. Sister Priscilla introduced us to a little two year old boy who she said the Italian family who had wanted to adopt him had decided not to. Right there and then, we decided to take him home.
DeleteA week later, Mother Teresa visited Dhaka and came to our house to meet our little son. Marilyn poured her a cup of tea and asked how she had accomplished so much in her life. Her reply was to say "What God has given you to do, do well"!
In 1975, we visited Darjeeling and on an afternoon walk, Marilyn noticed a Sister of Charity standing near a gate holding a baby girl ready for adoption. The next day, after obtaining legalities, we took Jhorna along with our other two adopted children to Calcutta. I then went directly to Mother Teresa who graciously met with me but said there was no way to get a passport for our little daughter for another three months. She then opened a large book and registered Jhorna's name as one of their own. Marilyn flew to South India and left Jhorna with her brother and wife who were working at Highclerc School in Kodaikanal. Three months later, we brought Jhorna back to Mother Teresa who phoned the Governor of Calcutta who sent his old American Sedan in which Cole and Mother Teresa obtained Jhorna a birth certificate and passport in one day!
Years later when Jhorns was 13 years of age, Marilyn took her to a large Catholic function in Khartoum, Sudan where I was Unicef's Director. Mother Teresa "recognized" the two of them and blessed our daughter, Jhorna.
We moved to Nairobi in 1992 where I became the Regional Director for Unicef. Having worked for Oxfam for ten years, Oxfam International gave us tickets to Calcutta where I represented the organization to meet with Mother Teresa who had received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Marilyn and I met and talked with Mother Teresa for at least two hours and addressed the topic for her to nominate Oxfam International for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thank you Cole. What amazing memories to share! I do remember you well although we never met. It’s a privilege to have belonged to an organisation that remains no less a mission for caring and sharing. You inspire no less!
DeleteOxfam, a left-wing organization, founded by Quakers asked a Catholic nun to lobby for them to get a Nobel Peace Prize, instituted by a capitalist in the explosions industry.
ReplyDeleteMother Teresa notwithstanding, the city of Skopje itself is of particular interest. If you go back and read my article on Piercing the Iron Curtain, during our 3-man trip to the ex-Yugoslavia in 1964 we were prevented by the authorities from driving to Skopje because the whole town was off-limits having been almost completely destroyed by an earthquake on 26 July 1963. Wikipedia states that 3000-4000 were injured, 200,000 homeless and 75-80 % of the city destroyed. It is great that it has seen a re-birth and is now a big tourist draw for Macedonia .
ReplyDeleteHi Gautam,
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your story. Thanks. Mother Teresa and her work intrigued me . . . what dedication to the cause of humanity!!
Thank you Nuzhat. I am encouraged to write another story of my experience with Mother’s charity in the immediate aftermath of the first Gulf War when I was there.
DeleteDear Gautam,
ReplyDeleteI loved your touching homage to Mother Teresa.
It rekindled my own memory of paying a special tribute to her soon after she passed away in 1997 on behalf of UN S-G Kofi Annan.
As you will note from the excerpts of my memoir, I felt deeply blessed to have had that exceptional opportunity. Sadly, given the circumstances, there were no photographs.
https://xunicefnewsandviews.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-homage-to-mother-teresa-my-visit-to.html?sc=1728192182363#c9038024033125592593
Thank you again, Kul, for sharing the link. Such memories are prized and need no photo illustrations!
Delete