So, last February, the Municipality of Kolkata or the Councillors of our area (I never understood the difference), decided to turn a small dumping lot in front of our gate into a shrine dedicated to Mother Teresa. Municipality workers built a small wall, enclosed the area and put white and blue designed bathroom tiles on it. A metal railing and gate with a padlock were attached. The wall behind was smoothly plastered and images of Christ and Our Lady were painted on it. Next, they built a high pedestal and brought this tall ugly statue of Mother and placed it on top of it—the statue depicts a 6-foot (at the least) Mother Teresa holding a baby in her arms. Both Mother’s and the baby’s face and body are painted yellow! . . . and all this work done while Sanju and his mother sat on the footpath contemplating and admiring the whole enterprise.
Sanju and His Mother
You see, Sanju is maybe fifteen years old. I don’t know much about his life, but he walks on his knees while balancing himself with his hands. I have no idea whether he was born like that, or whether he was made like that or because of an accident. He lives and sleeps with his mother in a 1 metre by 1 metre elevated wooden box (which their neighbours generously built for them) on the opposite side of the street where Mother’s shrine was being erected.
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Brother Carmel Duca MC
