Mohandas Gandhi Mother Teresa Norman Borlaug Bettering the World

Mohandas Gandhi

GANDHI Gandhi was born in India under British rule. Under British control, Indian citizens enjoyed few privileges and often remained in abject poverty. Educated in England, Gandhi earned a law degree. In 1907, he went to work in South Africa as a lawyer.

South Africa During this time, he joined in passive protests against the harsh treatment of the minority Indian settlers who worked the sugar fields of South Africa. The settlers enjoyed few rights or privileges and endured dangerous working conditions.

Gandhi in South Africa

In 1914, the South African government agreed to some of Gandhi’s important demands such as: Recognition of Indian marriages and Abolition of the poll tax for Indians only. After these concessions, Gandhi returned to India.

Gandhi in South Africa

Gandhi at National Indian Congress – 1938

Gandhi with Nehru at National Indian Congress

He encouraged passive resistance believing that violence would only make British control in India stronger and that civil disobedience would hurt Britain’s economy by refusing to pay taxes or purchase British goods. He was right.

Prison and Hunger Strikes These practices often angered the British government and violence against the peaceful Indian protesters often occurred. In addition, Gandhi was often imprisoned for his passive resistant practices.

Civil Disobedience While imprisoned, Gandhi often went on hunger strikes refusing to eat until his demands were met. Great Britain, warring with and outspoken against the cruelty of fascism, feared international embarrassment if Gandhi died under their care.

Independence for India In 1947, the British granted India independence. The victory, although great, was hampered by extensive violence between the Hindus and the Muslims. In response to the violence, Gandhi fasted to near death. The riots finally stopped as a result.

In January 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by a man who opposed Gandhi’s belief that Muslims had equal value to Hindus and that all men should be treated with dignity and integrity.

Gandhi Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948; however, he never receive the award.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born August 27, 1910 in the Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. By the age of 12, she knew that she wanted to be a nun. At 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India.

Mother Teresa

While teaching at St. Mary’s High School in Calcutta, she noticed the extreme poverty and suffering of those that society had abandoned to the streets of India – She gains permission from the Catholic Church to devote herself to working with the indigent in the slums of Calcutta.

Mother Teresa

The School With no funds, she managed to start an open-air school for the slum children– The Untouchables. The school was staffed by volunteers and funds were gathered through charitable outpour. Through this funding, she was able to extend the scope of her work.

Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying in Kolkata

The Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa believed that all people should be afforded both love and dignity. This belief fueled the desire to care and love those that had been cast aside. As a result, Mother Teresa founded “The Missionaries of Charity” order whose primary task was to love and care for those nobody else was prepared to help.

Mother Teresa and Pope Paul VI By 1965, the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979

Mother Teresa " It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving."

In her own words… “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. »Mother Teresa

Norman Borlaug and Dwarf Wheat March 25, 1914-Sept. 12, 2009

Norman Borlaug Father of the Green Revolution Born in 1914, Norman Borlaug was raised in an Iowa rural farming community. He attended a small one-teacher, one- room schoolhouse for eight grades. Later he earned numerous degrees and became one of the world’s greatest humanitarians.

The Work Begins In Earnest 1944 – The Rockerfeller Foundation invited Borlaug to work on a project to boost wheat production in Mexico. Borlaug and his staff in Mexico spent nearly 20 years breeding the high-yield dwarf wheat that started the Green Revolution.

Borlaug in Mexico working on draught resistant crops

The Population Bomb 1968 – The popular book, The Population Bomb, was written by biologist Paul Ehrlich. Many experts followed Ehrlich’s theory that world population was growing at a rate that would cause global famines by the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The Population Bomb “In the 1970’s and the 1980’s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now… India couldn’t possible feed two hundred million more people by 1980.” Paul Ehrlich

The Green Revolution and Dwarf Wheat Borlaug’s dwarf wheat resisted many plant pests and diseases while producing 2-3 times more grain than regular wheat – Borlaug and his colleges in Mexico begin a major push to ship dwarf wheat to Pakistan and India and to teach local farmers how to grow the wheat properly.

Borlaug in India

India Rebounds India fed far more that 200 million more people, and it was close enough to self- sufficiency in food production by 1971 that Ehrlich discreetly admitted his prediction was wrong. Borlaug is credited with having saved lives throughout Asia, Africa, Mexico and South America.

Borlaug in Africa

Dr. Borlaug in Mexico

The Nobel Peace Prize 1970 Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “’Green Revolution’ which helped Pakistan, India and a number of other countries improve their food production.” At the age of 92, Borlaug was still a professor at Texas A&M and actively teaching.

Borlaug 2004 – Still in research fields 30 years after having received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Receiving Congressional Gold Medal – July 17, 2007

Awards Borlaug become one of only five people in history to have been awarded the Noble Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

An Accomplished Life Borlaug is credited with having saved over one billion lives with his work. His efforts saved more lives than were lost in all the wars during the 20 th century. He believed in the possibility of peace through service to all mankind.

Favorite Quote 'Reach for the stars. Although you will never touch them, if you reach hard enough, you will find that you get a little 'star dust' on you in the process.'“ »Norman Borlaug

Norman Borlaug March 25, 1914 – Sept. 12, 2009