Saint Teresa Of Calcutta: Memories Of Mother House
Spartan nature of Mother Teresa's bedroom at Mother House in Kolkata, India.
The spartan nature of the bedroom of Saint Teresa of Calcutta at Mother House in Kolkata, India illustrates the simplicity of her life, despite the fame she received during her lifetime.
Visitors to Mother House are permitted to look through the doorway and, as I did, photograph the bedroom.
I found doing so to be quite a humbling and cathartic experience, and a reminder of the authenticity underpinning the austere and selfless life of the former Mother Teresa.
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, the capital of what is now Macedonia, the then sister Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1931. After years as a member of the Sisters Of Loreto, founded the Missionaries Of Charity religious order in 1950.
Awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003.
After a second miracle had been attributed to her intercession, Mother Teresa was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta on September 4, 2016 by Pope Francis.
Why Did I Journey To Kolkata?
My mother ran a charitable retail shop in my hometown, Hamilton, in rural Australia for 18 years from the early 1970’s until the late 1980’s.
It’s a long time ago, but that shop was somewhat revolutionary for its time and it took up most of her time right up until her retirement.
Namaste or The Indian Shop, as it was called by locals, sourced clothing, handicrafts and jewellery from developing countries, particularly India.
Profits from sales were re-directed back to a series of projects (e.g., housing, hospitals, education and employment) my mother supported and, in some cases, completely funded in a variety of countries.
My parents had visited Kolkata in the 60’s and 70’s where they’d had the privilege to spend some time with Mother Teresa, as she was known back then. Their first visit was as members of a Community Aid Abroad study tour.
I’d travelled to India, on numerous occasions, since my first visit in 1988.
However, as my mum had well and truly entered the golden years of her life, it seemed like a good idea for me to return to India to visit and photograph some of the projects she’d supported there over the years.
Most of these projects were in the south of India. Nonetheless, I felt I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to visit some of the sites in Kolkata from where Mother Teresa had worked, so tirelessly, to help the poor.
I thought it important to do so and to photograph this good work and to share those images, primarily, with my mum's eleven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
The idea being that, by sharing those images with her, they’d have some understanding of the commitment my dear old mum had made to the less fortunate in our world.
A life such as this should not be easily forgotten, and I wanted to take some responsibility to ensure that all members of our family were aware of the selfless work my mother undertook on behalf of the disadvantaged and dispossessed.
After all, my mum had worked, wage free, for the entire 18 years that she’d operated that business. And, in addition to a Monday to Friday commitment, dear old Mares also worked Friday evenings and Saturday mornings throughout those years.
Tomb of Mother Teresa at Mother House in Kolkata, India.
My Visit to Mother House in Kolkata
Being able to visit this site was a profound and humbling experience. I travelled to Kolkata specifically to visit Mother House, where Mother Teresa rests in the beautifully crafted tomb shown above.
At that time it wasn’t permitted to photography the tomb. To my great relief, I was given permission to do so, as long as I was quick.
I remember waiting patiently for most visitors to move away from the tomb. It was then just a matter of waiting, a few seconds longer, until a moment of interest unfolded in the background.
Notice the two visitors, paying their respects on the left hand side of the frame; the floral display on the front, right corner of the tomb; and the door at the back right corner of the scene.
Can you see how these three visual elements work together to form a triangular shape, functioning as a frame within a frame, that helps to concentrate viewer attention on the primary focal points on the top of the tomb.
The same is true across the top of the image with the nun; the statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus; and the scene of the two nuns and a man, themselves positioned in a triangular shape within a window frame, serving to contain the viewer’s attention by directing it back towards the tomb of Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
These elements add to the documentary nature of the photo by helping to tell the story of the kind of activity that happens around the tomb.
However, the main reason I included all these elements within my photo was the fact that, working together, they help draw the eye into the primary floral display in the centre of the photo.
The Christian cross and the words Love Seeks To Serve are powerful visual elements within the photo. But the fact that they’re so delicately and painstakingly assembled from flowers speaks to the love and dedication the Missionaries Of Charity have for Saint Teresa Of Calcutta, the founder of their order.
It’s worth noting that I also tried to visit the Home for the Dying, but was not successful in gaining permission to do so.
It probably didn’t help that I introduced myself, over the phone, as a photographer and travel blogger.
Needless to say, dropping my mother’s name carried no weight.
But why would it, it had been many years since she’d last corresponded with Mother Teresa.
The sister I spoke to explained that they get calls, each and everyday, from well-meaning people from all over the world.
The Missionaries of Charity no longer need publicity, and they now have plenty of money to fund their charitable activities.
And of course, I understand that it’s best to leave the dying alone during the final days and hours of their lives.
But motivation, when it’s pure, does count for something.
I was really disappointed to be rejected, and I know I could have constructed a beautiful photo essay that spoke to the amazing work undertaken at the House for the Dying.
In doing so, I would have created images that explored the human condition in the most intimate and authentic manner.
It was a long shot, and I made my approach with as much tact and diplomacy as I could muster. Having said that, I absolutely respect the rules set by those in charge at the House for the Dying.
However, my primary reason for travelling to India, to photograph some of the projects financially supported by my mother’s charity business, Namaste, was a success and a truly wonderful experience.
And that’s despite the fact that I got terribly ill in Kolkata and, after visiting Chennai and photographing extensively at St. Thomas Mount, I had to seek urgent medical attention in a private hospital in Bangkok, prior to recuperating in Bali.
Despite the kind of setbacks that are associated with serious illness, I’m really glad I made this trip to India. It really was a privilege to visit Mother House in Kolkata and I'm very happy to share my images from that visit with you here.
