There are dozens of biographies of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, however this one is special because of the sources used by the author, an Indian civil servant who managed to be a close friend and collaborator of hers for 25 years regardless of the fact that he did not share her faith. Chawla had access to documents and first hand testimonies and most important was the full collaboration, information and encouragement of Mother Teresa herself who always had time for him, even if in some points of view they did not agree. It took him 5 years to write it because he was looking for opportunities to have personal conversations with her, for example, the trips he made for his mission.
It is a book full of tenderness and strength. It consists of 11 chapters focusing mainly on the work of the Missionaries of Charity: schools, clinics, homes for abandoned children, for those affected by leprosy, the destitute and the dying. The author is Hindu and penetrates into the heart of Mother Teresa and discovers her secret: a deep faith in Christ whom she sees in all the people she cares for and the Eucharist that was always her support.
The last chapter is very nice because he calls her the most powerful woman in the world because, besides entering at any time the office of the Prime Minister of Bengal - a Marxist and atheist with whom she has in common the love for the poor -, she has influence on many presidents, princes and great personalities, although she avoids politics completely. In less than 40 years the mission took root in all the cities and towns of India as well as in more than 100 other countries. Its founder was convinced that her life was unimportant and that she lived completely in communion with God.