History Daily – Episode 1287: Mother Teresa Arrives in India

Host: Lindsay Graham
Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of History Daily revisits January 6, 1929, the day a young woman destined to become known as Mother Teresa arrived in India, setting in motion a lifetime of humanitarian work. Host Lindsay Graham narrates the story of how Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu—born in what is now North Macedonia—became Mother Teresa, her transformative spiritual journey, the birth of the Missionaries of Charity, her global influence, and her eventual sainthood.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Skopje to Calcutta: The Journey Begins

[06:33] – [09:30]

• Agnes Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) was born in Skopje, then part of Ottoman Macedonia.
• Her childhood was marked by war and loss: her father died (allegedly poisoned), and her family fell into poverty during WWI.
• Religion became Agnes’s solace; by age 12, she resolved to become a nun.
• After praying at the shrine of the Black Madonna in Kosovo, Agnes joined the Sisters of Loreto, spent time in Ireland learning English, but "didn't feel called to the isolated life of an enclosed rural convent."
• At 18, she requested to be sent to the developing world, and was dispatched to India, arriving in bustling Calcutta at 19.

“Agnes' heart races with equal parts excitement and fear. This bustling country will be her new home.” – Lindsay Graham [06:47]

2. Early Years in India & Taking Religious Vows

[07:40] – [10:20]

• Agnes lived in Darjeeling, learning Bengali and teaching at a convent school.
• Two years later, she took religious vows and the name Teresa (after Thérèse of Lisieux).
• After completing her training, she became Mother Teresa.
• India in the 1930s was politically volatile, with tension between Hindu and Muslim communities.
• The 1946 Calcutta riots exposed Mother Teresa to intense violence; the Sisters of Loreto offered sanctuary to anyone in need, regardless of their faith.

“Mother Teresa and the other nuns refuse to just watch as the city falls into violence around them. They offer sanctuary to anyone who requests it, whatever their religion.” – Lindsay Graham [10:22]

3. The “Call Within a Call”: Founding a New Mission

[14:19] – [17:15]

• After experiencing the chaos of the Calcutta riots and feeling haunted by the suffering, in 1946, Mother Teresa experienced what she called a “call within a call” while on a train to Darjeeling.
• She felt a divine command to leave the convent and serve the poorest in Calcutta's slums.

“She snaps awake, feeling an overwhelming clarity. She knows what she is to do with the rest of her life. She must leave the safety of her convent, move into Calcutta's slums, and dedicate herself to serving the poor and the sick. This is God's will.” – Lindsay Graham [14:36]

• With permission from church authorities, in 1948 she traded her black habit for a simple white sari with a blue border, learned basic medicine, and began working among Calcutta’s poorest citizens.
• Starting alone, she taught local children with donated supplies, soon joined by another sister, and gradually gained followers.

4. The Growth of the Missionaries of Charity

[15:52] – [18:20]

• In 1950, the Vatican granted the formation of the Missionaries of Charity. The order rapidly expanded, opening hospices and homes in Calcutta and eventually worldwide.
• Highlights of her work included:
  • Expanding globally to Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.
  • Humanitarian responses to global crises (Chernobyl, Ethiopian famine, Lebanese civil war).
• Her 1971 attempt to bring peace to Northern Ireland met local skepticism and resistance, resulting in her retreat, but globally, the order continued to grow.

5. Recognition and Legacy

[18:20] – [21:44]

• In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, solidifying her global reputation.
• Through ongoing work, she became an “icon of service and sacrifice,” but faced criticism for some beliefs and organizational actions.
• Mother Teresa continued her mission until her passing in 1997.

6. Sainthood & Ongoing Debate

[21:44] – End

• On September 4, 2016, Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint in St. Peter’s Basilica.
• The ceremony was attended by thousands and included papal charity for the homeless, aligning with her legacy.
• Her legacy provokes debate; some praise her work and dedication, others critique her stances on social issues or specific institutional actions.

“For most people, Mother Teresa is still remembered as a paragon of service and sacrifice. Her schools, homes and orphanages changed lives all around the world. But it was in India where she made the greatest impact.” – Lindsay Graham [21:28]

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On arriving in India:
  “Agnes' heart races with equal parts excitement and fear. This bustling country will be her new home.”
  – Lindsay Graham [06:47]

• On the 1946 Calcutta riots:
  “Mother Teresa and the other nuns refuse to just watch as the city falls into violence around them. They offer sanctuary to anyone who requests it, whatever their religion.”
  – Lindsay Graham [10:22]

• On her ‘call within a call’:
  “She snaps awake, feeling an overwhelming clarity. She knows what she is to do with the rest of her life... This is God's will.”
  – Lindsay Graham [14:36]

• On her enduring legacy:
  “To this day, her Missionaries of Charity continue her work there almost a century after Mother Teresa first arrived in India on January 6, 1929.”
  – Lindsay Graham [21:38]

Memorable Moments

• Evacuation of children during the Lebanese Civil War: Vividly described in the opening [01:09], it shows Mother Teresa’s direct involvement in humanitarian crises far beyond India.
• Sectarian violence in Calcutta: The sight of “countless bodies being pecked apart by vultures” is a haunting image that motivated Mother Teresa’s later actions. [10:51]
• St. Peter’s Square after her canonization: Pope Francis provides a pizza lunch to 1,500 homeless people, capturing the humility and practical charity that defined Mother Teresa’s work. [21:44]

Episode Structure & Tone

• Lindsay Graham narrates with empathy, focus, and measured reverence.
• The story is told chronologically, with occasional jumps forward (to illustrate influence) and backward (for needed background).
• The tone is admiring but measured, acknowledging both accolades and criticisms of Mother Teresa’s life and work.

In Summary

This episode presents a powerful, nuanced portrait of Mother Teresa’s life, beginning with her formative years, through her personal calling to service among Calcutta’s poor, to her global influence and posthumous recognition as a saint. Listeners gain insight into the historical context of Mother Teresa’s mission and the complex legacy she leaves for India and the world.