The recent conferral of the Mother Teresa International Award on Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Managing Director of Bashundhara Group, raises serious questions about the legitimacy and credibility of this recognition. While the award was presented with much fanfare at a high-profile event in Kolkata, it lacks the endorsement of the Missionaries of Charity, the organization founded by Mother Teresa herself. Sister Prema, the superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, has made it clear that the only legitimate recognition bearing Mother Teresa’s name is the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice, conferred by the Harmony Foundation.
This discrepancy highlights a troubling reality: the Mother Teresa International Award is not aligned with the values or mission of the organization that Mother Teresa dedicated her life to. The Harmony Foundation, which has been awarding the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards since 2005, focuses on fostering social cohesion and justice across various communities, without discrimination. This ethos starkly contrasts with the intentions of the MTIMAC, which seems more concerned with honoring individuals for their status rather than their commitment to social justice and humanitarian work.
Furthermore, the award has been granted to several high-profile figures, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and various politicians, which raises further skepticism about its purpose. Are these awards merely a way to consolidate power and influence within elite circles, or do they truly honor individuals for their contributions to society? The fact that Sayem Sobhan Anvir, a business mogul, received this award invites scrutiny about whether it genuinely reflects a commitment to social justice or serves as a mere accolade for those already in positions of power.
In a world increasingly saturated with awards that often lack substance, the public must question the motivations behind such recognitions. It is imperative that awards named after iconic figures like Mother Teresa uphold the principles she embodied: compassion, humility, and service to humanity. Without clear alignment to these values, the Mother Teresa International Award risks becoming just another hollow trophy—devoid of meaning and credibility.
As society navigates the complexities of recognizing genuine contributions to social justice, we must ensure that awards truly reflect the values and missions of those they are named after. It’s time to hold these institutions accountable and demand that any award claiming to honor Mother Teresa genuinely represents her legacy.
