World mourns another loss

By Alice Robinson
Daily Staff Reporter

On Friday morning - just one week after the world lost Princess Diana - a heart attack claimed the life of Mother Teresa, sending another wave of grief throughout the world.

The 87-year-old nun, who died in her mission in Calcutta, leaves behind a legacy of selflessness that touched the needy and destitute all over the world.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Teresa became a nun at age 19 and dedicated her life to alleviating human suffering. She once said that she would forsake the gates of heaven to work in hells on Earth.

"To me personally, she kind of did a lot (for) me because I met her twice," said LSA junior Amit Vaidya, president of the Michigan Indian Cultural Association. "I just told her that I was a great admirer of her and she said 'Thank you.' She said, 'Keep up the good work.'"

Vaidya met Mother Teresa while attending an international high school in New Delhi. Vaidya was volunteering at one of Mother Teresa's ashrams, or centers for the needy, during his senior year of high school.

"She often gave motivational-type speeches, talking about how we as individuals need to take on responsibility. She smiled a lot and she laughed a lot," Vaidya said. He noted that at the time of their meeting she was dressed humbly in her traditional inexpensive "khadi" sari.

Geoff Martineau, a staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ, expressed surprise when told of Mother Teresa's death on Friday. As he packed up after Festifall, Martineau said he admired Teresa's life and work.

"I think it's really sad. I think she was a great Christian and a great woman. She's done a lot for the people of India," Martineau said. "She had so much credibility with the non-Christian world."

Although her goal was not to receive public acclaim, Teresa was thrust into the world's spotlight in 1979 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless compassion for the poor.

Mother Teresa was known for combing the streets of Calcutta and giving food, shelter and medical care to those on the verge of death. She opened clinics for the needy all over the world, including facilities in Detroit.

School of Education senior Soha Shah, a member of the Indian American Student's Association, said she heard about Mother Teresa's death "late Friday night, early Saturday morning."

Shah said Mother Teresa set an example by helping everyone, regardless of their race, age or creed.

"It's important to me that she took the time to help everyone without making distinctions ... Everyone was on an even playing field. It didn't matter to her," she said.

In recent years, Mother Teresa's health became poor. Last year the world held its breath when her heart collapsed and she contracted malaria.

The Indian American Student's Association is planning a tribute to her in their monthly newsletter, "Young Indian America," said co-president and LSA junior Rahul Shah.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

AP PHOTO
A mourner waits to see the body of Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India yesterday. At left, thousands of people who lined up to see her body. Mother Teresa died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 87.

09-08-97