I would like to dedicate this letter to all the lovable mothers in the world on the occasion of Mother’s Day that fell on Sunday. I am feeling ecstatic to know that Mother Teresa, known for her selfless contributions to the poor, has been ceremoniously proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis at the Vatican. As a nun and missionary, she had spent long years serving the poor and the downtrodden. I remember seeing on TV a huge crowd gather for Teresa’s funeral. She passed away on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87 in Kolkata. Interestingly I got a great opportunity to work as an English trainer with a famous school in Tamil Nadu, where the headmistress was a Sister spreading the message of love. Till date, I have been maintaining good rapport with the Sister, who is now working in Kanyakumari.

Because of her effort, I have been awarded a beautiful memento that I always cherish for my teaching. And the fact of the matter is that there are many selfless nuns and missionaries serving in the educational institutes all over the world. Truly, my great experience is the result of the inspiration I had got from Mother Teresa apart from my real passion. For long years, Mother Teresa had been spreading the “message of love” in an acknowledged manner.

Mother Teresa being a saint, her kind face will traverse further to spread the “love-message” across the countries that have long been hit by hatred and terrorism.

P Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai

Violence

This is with reference to the news story “IEDs go off at different places across country” (THT, May 14, Page 3). Normal life was partially affected across the country due to the CPN-Maoist-called bandh on Sunday.

A bomb went off at Bhatbhateni Super Market and at Hotel Royal Century in Bharatpur, destroying window panes. A socket bomb was also placed at Gate-1 of Pokhara Airport. A pressure cooker bomb was planted on the Madi Bridge in Tanahun. The bomb disposal teams of the Nepali Army defused the improvised explosive devices.

Similarly, in Dhadhing an unidentified group set ablaze two container trucks bearing Indian number plates at Chalise of Dhunibesi Municiplaity-6. Police have suspected that all these acts might have been carried out by the Netra Bikra Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal to create terror during the bandh.

The organisers said they had called the bandh to disrupt Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal. However, PM Modi had already returned home after completing his two-day state visit on Saturday evening. If that is the reason why did the CPN call bandh on Sunday? What was the motive behind calling the bandh a day after Modi’s returning home? Such nonsense general strike will only hurt the Nepali people and their economy.

The law enforcing agencies also should take strict measures to control such violent acts. The Chand-led party must stop resorting to violence.

Laxman Bhetwal, Bharatpur