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Ever-smiling Nirmala laid to rest
Ever Smiling Nirmala Laid To Rest. Braving the rain, hundreds of people from India and abroad paid their last respects to Mother Teresa\'s successor Sister Nirmala on Wednesday.
Kolkata: Braving the rain, hundreds of people from India and abroad paid their last respects to Mother Teresa's successor Sister Nirmala on Wednesday.
Her body has been kept at the Missionaries of Charity's global headquarters Mother House here for the public to pay their respects.
Sister Nirmala, Mother Teresa's successor as superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, died here on Tuesday following renal failure and heart complications.
Cutting across class and religious barriers, a steady stream of visitors trickled in since 10 a.m. in south Kolkata's Mother House as rain pelted down on the narrow entrance to the building.
Placed in a glass casket with candles and wreaths near her feet, Sister Nirmala's body was kept beside Mother Teresa's marble tomb. Close to 250 citizens, including the nuns, gathered around in the airy room to "celebrate her legacy." Several clicked photos and joined in singing hymns, amid tight security.
Prominent among the visitors were the elderly who were helped by the nuns of the charitable organization to approach the glass casket and offer flowers.
Frail and wispy, but smiling, 83-year-old B. Collins walked in gingerly, aided by a nun.
"She was ever-smiling and always helpful. How can I weep? She lived a full life and did her part for humanity," Collins, who is cared for by the organisation, told IANS.
In the backdrop of hymns of 'Maria Tujhe Pranam' softly echoing across the room, Mohammed Parwez hobbled in clutching a garland.
The physically-challenged man kissed the glass casket and bowed before Mother's tomb.
"Sister Nirmala is gone but I hope the sisters will carry on the good work they have been doing for poor people like me," he told IANS.
Describing her as "holy" and "simple", an MoC nun from Argentina, who has been living in the city for nearly a decade, said Sister Nirmala was "active" in managing the work of organisation even in failing health.
"She was so inspired by Mother Teresa, that she considered her suffering due to poor health insignificant in comparison to the sufferings of the destitute and homeless," the nun said on condition of anonymity.
Archimede Ruggiero, a doctor from Italy, who practices Ayurveda and helps train nurses in Kerala, happened to be in the city to offer tribute to Mother Teresa, but stayed back to learn about Sister Nirmala's work.
"I met Mother Teresa and I have been inspired by her and I have been working with people in Kerala to do my part as a human being. But I am also praying for Sister Nirmala here today (Wednesday)," Ruggiero said in broken English.
