Mamata flags off ‘Mother Express’ train from Kolkata

KOLKATA - Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off the ‘Mother Express’, a train named after Mother Teresa on the occasion of her birth centenary from Sealdah station in Kolkata.

The train exhibiting the life and the philanthropic deeds of the mother, will traverse the country for the next six months.

Banerjee said on Thursday that the government would also release a coin in the Mother’s name.

“I talked to the honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Soniaji and our honourable Speaker. Earlier also, I talked to Pranab Mukherjee. I requested them; ‘please do something, so that this country could remember her, Mother Teresa, through her achievements and all these things’. We cannot do everything in one day. Government of India will soon release a coin in Mother’s name,” said Banerjee.

The Missionaries of Charity assisted the railways by supplying photographs and other inputs.

The train has three air-conditioned coaches, which have photographs and write-ups on the life and message of Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa, died on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87. She was known for her extraordinary love and dedication to the poor, homeless and diseased people.

She came to India in 1929 at the age of 18 and took up teaching as her first vocation. She became an Indian citizen in 1948.

Mother Teresa received several national and international awards for social service during her lifetime. They included the Bharat Ratna, the Magsaysay Award in 1962, the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971, the John F. Kennedy International Award in 1971 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. By Sankha Ghosh (ANI)