Thursday, December 5, 2013

Blog Post #48- Who was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu? Why did she get a noble prize as an Indian Citizen?

Growing up in India we had a special text book (moral science) in my 6th or 7th Grade Tamil about the most amazing lady that I never realized will always be inspirational to entire world and myself.

The educational department in Tamil Nadu (the state I was born in India) decided to add her story in Tamil and her struggles.

The version found written on the wall in her charity home.

              People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

I recommend reading this book 


Anyway, The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World


which has the original version and comments by the author. 

Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu is the real name of Mother Terasa who liked the following paradoxical commandments and had the above modified version of the following passage as a poster in her wall.


The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.



As one of the greatest person who ever walked the earth and I always loved her philosophy which I Understand in the following way

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

There you go - Mother Teresa's Practical suggestion to change the world. Don't try to help 1 million people . Just help 1. 

I also love the following Philosophy- She would never attend a rally which is anti-war or anti-abortion. 

She advocated attending pro-peace or pro-life.

Look at the subtle difference. She would not support any concept that relates to Negativity. 

Always supporting positive spin.





As a citizen of Macedonia  (she was born in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia ) she decided to come to India and never saw her mom and sister again.(according to wikipedia - if it is there it must be true!)

She got the highest award from Indian government - Bharat Ratna. Respected by Vatican, revered by the world and won Nobel prize for Peace as an Indian citizen (she renounced her Macedonia citizenship).

I wonder if this is what we hindus (and buddhist) call Fate?

A person from Europe coming to India to help the needy while inspiring generations of people to come after her.

There has been some controversy over her sainthood and the letters she wrote to Vatican where she expressed doubts about Jesus and God.

I don't care much about those 2. Whether a Saint or not, Whether she doubted God or Jesus according to me she is the best example of how a person served people in need with little to no support.

The following is a story I have heard - she asked donation by extending her hand to a shop keeper in Calcutta and he spit on her hand.

She allegedly said - Thanks for giving me what you wanted to give me. Now , please give some money for the most needy people I want to help.


God Bless

Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

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