Sunday, September 4, sees the canonisation of Mother Teresa, who died in 1997, as Saint Teresa of Kolkata. An Indian delegation will attend the event in Italy. But beyond the noise the politicians will make, it's the sound of music that will lend an Indian touch to the ceremonies.
Popular singer Usha Uthup, who has had a long association with Mother Teresa will perform two of her songs, which are a tribute to the Catholic social worker often referred to as the "apostle of peace".
The first, Poorest of the Poor (video above) was composed by Uthup when the globally revered nun died. She will also be performing Lakh lakh, hajar hajar, a tribute to Mother Teresa in Bengali, specially composed for the canonisation. Listen to it once and the chorus will not stop reverberating in your head.
Popular music composer Bappi Lahiri is known for many things. But what is not known about the gold wearing Indian disco icon is that he, too, was an admirer of the Mother. In 1998, Lahiri, who also composed a viral tribute to pop icon Michael Jackson, wrote a song called Mother of the Nation.
In the four-minute pop ballad backed by guitar, piano and violins, Lahiri earnestly sings,"Koi na tha, koi na hain. Koi na hoga, tere jaisa. (There has never been, there isn't and there will never be anyone like you.) Mother of the nation, oh Mother Teresa."
Though controversial, the Albania-born Teresa was, and remains, one of the most universally admired figures across the world. Here are a few tributes to her from around the country. There are tributes by local choir groups, songs in Malayalam and in Hindi, and also in the East Indian language from the Caribbean.
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