Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Agnes GonxhaBojaxhiu, more commonly known as Mother Teresa, was born 26th August 1910 and died 5th September 1997. Mother Teresa was an Albanian Catholic nun with Indian citizenship. She was a famous humanitarian, establishing the Missionaries of Charity in early 1950s Calcutta. Mother Theresa led the growth of the Missionaries of Charity throughout India and later in other countries around the world.
When Mother Teresa first arrived in India in the 1940s, she was appalled by the living conditions that people in Calcutta were suffering under. In response, she helped to improve their living conditions whilst living with them. The Missionaries of Charity organisation that Mother Teresa founded and worked with for over 40 years worked to improve the lives of the sick, poor, orphaned, blind, crippled and dying. She cared for the needy who had nowhere else to go.In 1955, she was the first woman to found a home for lepers and through showing no restraint in touching them, she drew awareness to the fact that leprosy did not spread by touching people who had the disease.
Mother Teresa was recognised for her humanitarian work when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. One year later, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. Mother Theresa received many awards for her humanitarian efforts throughout her life and her work was even recognised after her death when Pope John Paul II beatified her and the title ‘Blessed Theresa of Calcutta’ was also given to her.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 2nd October 1869 to 30th January 1948 is commonly referred to as Mahtma, or ‘Great Soul’, Gandhi. He is also known as Bapu which means ‘Father’ in India. He is regarded as one of India’s greatest leaders and is well-respected by Indian citizens. He achieved freedom from British rule through non-violent methods but was eventually assassinated by the Hindu Nationalist NathuramGodse.
After working as a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915. The Indian people were struggling for civil rights at this time and Gandhi organised protests involving farmers, peasants and labourers in order to campaign against discrimination and high levels of land tax. From 1921, Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress and used this position to campaign for issues such as womens’ rights, increased economic self-reliance and an end to untouchability.
Although Gandhi was wealthy, he would travel in third-class train compartments to see how the poor travelled and to experience the nation as they did. Gandhi’s peaceful methods would later be a major influence on other human rights campaigners such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.
