Nirmala Joshi
| Sister Maria Nirmala Joshi MC | |
|---|---|
| Title | Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 23 July 1934 Ranchi, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India |
| Died | 23 June 2015 (aged 80) Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Education | University of Calcutta (Doctor Juris) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Christianity (Catholicism) |
| Institute | Missionaries of Charity |
| Senior posting | |
| Predecessor | Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu |
| Successor | Mary Prema Pierick MC |
Maria Nirmala Joshi (23 July 1934 – 23 June 2015) was an Indian religious sister who succeeded Mother Teresa as the head of the Missionaries of Charity and expanded the movement overseas.[1][2] After taking over the charity following Mother Teresa's death in 1997, Nirmala expanded the organisation's reach to 134 countries by opening centres in nations such as Afghanistan and Thailand.
Early life and education
Joshi, née Kusum, was born on 23 July 1934[3] in a Brahmin family as the eldest of the ten children at in Ranchi, Bihar and Orissa Province in the British Indian Empire (now the capital of the Indian State of Jharkhand).[4] Her parents were from Nepal and her father was an officer of the British Indian Army until the nation's independence in 1947.[5] Although the family was Hindu, she was educated by Christian missionaries in Mount Carmel, Hazaribagh, India. At that time, she learned of Mother Teresa's work and wanted to share in that service. She soon converted to Catholicism and joined the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa.[6] Joshi completed a master's degree in political science and then went on to secure a doctorate degree in law from the University of Calcutta.[7][8] She was one of the first Sisters of the institute to head a foreign mission when she went to Panama.
Charity work
In 1976, Joshi started the contemplative branch of the Missionaries of Charity and remained at its head until 1997, when she was elected to succeed Mother Teresa as Superior General of the institute.[8] Her term as Superior General ended on 25 March 2009, and she was succeeded by German born Sister Mary Prema Pierick.[5]
Awards
The government of India bestowed the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Sister Joshi on Republic Day (26 January) 2009 for her services to the nation.[9][10]
Death
Joshi died on 25 June 2015 in Kolkata from a heart ailment.[11] Many leaders of India expressed their condolences in media, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.[12]
References
- Back to citation AsiaNews.it. "Sr Nirmala Joshi: Let us put down the weapons of violence; religion is a work of peace". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- Back to citation "Sr. Nirmala Letter to The Co-workers_2008". www.motherteresa.org. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- Back to citation "Inside the Vatican". 2001.
- Back to citation "We are 'little pencils' in God's hand". Eternal World Television Network. 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015; "Sister Nirmala is no more". Indian Express. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015; "Sister Nirmala Bio". Celebs Bio. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 "Sister Nirmala Bio". Celebs Bio. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- Back to citation "How India remembers Mother Teresa". Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- Back to citation "We are 'little pencils' in God's hand". Eternal World Television Network. 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 "Indian-born nun to succeed Mother Teresa". CNN. 13 March 1997. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- Back to citation "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015.
- Back to citation "Padma Vibhushan". Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- Back to citation "Sister Nirmala passes away – The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
- Back to citation "Mother Teresa's Successor, Sister Nirmala Joshi, Dies at 81". Retrieved 25 October 2015.
External links
- Time: Mother Teresa: Filling the Big Sandals at the Wayback Machine (archived 22 May 2011) Archived from the original source.
- CWS interview with Mother Teresa's successor
- Indian-born nun to succeed Mother Teresa
- Sr. Nirmala: The Guiding Light