IGNOU-CBCI Chair Holds Second Mother Teresa Memorial Lecture

(December 24, 2009) The Second annual Mother Teresa Memorial Lecture organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) was held at IGNOU Convention Centre, New Delhi, on December 21. The keynote address was delivered by Election Commissioner of India and biographer of Mother Teresa, Shri Navin Chawla, on the theme Electoral Democracy in India. Shri Chawla besides highlighting the improvements in the electoral process in the largest democracy in the world spoke of the difficulties and challenges of the processes, the dedication and commitment of the election officers and the maturity of the electorate. He emphasised that the spirit and values of Mother Teresa has influenced him in addressing the many problems that he encounters in the process of carrying out his work. Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil sdb, Chairman, CBCI Commission for Education and Culture, spoke of concern for others as the heart of religious faith. “We need Mother Teresas of action. We need Mother Teresas of spiritual depth”, he said. Fr. Thomas d’Aquino Sequeira, Deputy Secretary General CBCI, spoke of the two important values stressed much by Mother Teresa, namely the primacy of the family and dignity of human person. Prior to the Memorial Lecture, the dignitaries offered floral tribute at the portrait of Mother Teresa.