Sister Nirmala Joshi, the former superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, passes away at 81. Sister Nirmala had replaced Mother Teresa as the superior general in 1997.
Sr. Nirmala Joshi was born in 1934 in Ranchi, Bihar and Orissa Province in the British Indian Empire (now the capital of the Indian State of Jharkhand). Her parents were from Nepal and her father was an officer of the British Army until the nation's independence in 1947. Although the family was Hindu, she was educated by Christian missionaries in Patna (capital of Bihar state). At that time she learned of Mother Teresa's work and wanted to share in that service. She soon converted to Roman Catholicism and joined the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa.
Joshi has a Master's degree in Political Science from an Indian university and additional training as a lawyer. She was one of the first Sisters of the institute to head a foreign mission when she went to Panama.
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.
The government of India bestowed the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Sister Nirmala on Republic Day (January 26) 2009 for her services to the nation. Her term as Superior General ended on 25 March 2009, and she was succeeded by German-born Sister Mary Prema Pierick, M.C.
Sister Nirmala died on 22nd June 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences through tweet . His tweet read, "Sister Nirmala's life ws devoted to service, caring for poor, underprivileged. Saddened by her demise. May her soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the Missionaries of Charity family on the passing away of Sister Nirmala."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too on Tuesday took to Twitter to pay her tributes and added that the world would miss Sister Nirmala. Sister Nirmala was born in Ranchi on July 23, 1934 to a Brahmin soldier who came from Nepal. She had joined the Order at the age of 17.
She was later succeeded by German-born Sister Mary Prema.