It is said that around the age of 16, when Sister Nirmala was in a boarding school, she had a Christian roommate who used to pray to the Lord every day. Sister Nirmala was touched and inspired and decided to convert to Christianity. Her sister, too, embraced Christianity and became a Carmelite nun. She comes from a family of six sisters and two brothers, both of whom are teachers.

After joining the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala studied law at the insistence of Mother Teresa, who often took her along during her tours abroad. She became the first assistant to mother and head of the contemplative that was founded in 1979. Soon after, she became the first superior of any house to be opened outside India in Panama. The Mother’s confidence in her abilities was evident when she asked Sister Nirmala to open their homes in Panama, New York and Kathmandu.

“The relationship that I share with mother Teresa is really that of a mother and child,” she is believed to have once said.

“Sister Nirmala has said she is grateful for the Padma Bibhusan award. And all of us are very, very happy,” said Sister Christie. Among the many messages she received, one came from Sister Suma, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity in Orissa, scene of anti-Christian violence in the last few months.