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.