Interviewed for MAGNET by Sr Celine Vas, our associate editor, eighty-seven-year old Sr Pauline Yadav, a Medical Mission Sister, tells us her story, adding perceptive insights into religious life, the differences she sees between older and younger religious, and what she learnt from inspiring leaders. How did Padmavathi Yadav, eldest daughter of civil surgeon Dr Parmanand Yadav and Shantha Devi, become Sr Pauline Yadav?
Sr Celine: Sr Pauline, you hail from Agra. That you are the only Catholic as well as a religious nun from your family fascinates me. What made it possible?
Sr Pauline: Yea, frankly speaking, those years we did not come across any Catholics in our area. The occasional Catholic we came across was someone from the tribal belt seeking employment in posh houses and farms. My dad, a civil surgeon, knew some priests and nuns. I did not know any of them, as I was too small. I lost my mother when I was just three years old. I was then shifted to Dehradun for my kindergarten. My dad married again. His second wife was a lady from Gwalior who had lost her husband and had a daughter and a son. They joined our family. I continued my study at St Thomas School at Dehradun. When I completed my schooling…
Sr. Celine
