The release of two commemorative coins, an exhibition and a quiz competition on Mother Teresa were among programs organized to mark the birth centenary celebrations.

Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, Macedonia, on Aug. 26. She came to Kolkata as an aspirant nun in 1929. The Missionaries of Charity (MC) congregation she founded in 1950 to serve “the poorest of the poor” is also based in Kolkata. She died in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Coin release

The Government of India released two commemorative coins and a souvenir on Mother Teresa at an Aug. 28 function.

Federal Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee released the coins of 100 and 5 rupees by giving them to Indian President Pratibha Patil. The five-rupee coin will be for circulation while the 100-rupee one is a collector’s item. Both coins have the nun’s face engraved on them.

Sister Maria Prema, who heads the MC congregation, thanked “the Government of India for paying this tribute to Mother Teresa.”

Exhibition

Some of India’s top artistes paid homage to Mother Teresa through their paintings in an exhibition opened by West Bengal governor Mayankote Kelath Narayanan on Aug. 27.

“The artistes who have painted the Mother had seen her with their hearts and that is why they were able to represent her love in these paintings,” said Sister Prema.

The three-day exhibition in Kolkata showcased over 80 paintings, artifacts and photographs.

Narayanan described Mother Teresa as “one of the most saintly persons who has walked on the earth.”

Quiz

Another highlight was a special quiz organized by Calcutta archdiocese, the Missionaries of Charity and the Catholic Association of Bengal.

The Aug. 29 quiz in Kolkata aimed “to create awareness among the young about Mother Teresa’s life, her mission and to help them spread her message of love, peace and service to all,” event Director Eugene Gonsalves told ucanews.com.

Forty teams of three students each from different parts of West Bengal state attended it.

"We knew little about Mother Teresa but now we have learnt a lot about her love for the poor and it inspires us to do a little bit,” said Abhilash Jash, a student who participated in the quiz.

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