Get complete, textbook-grounded solutions for DAV Class 5 Moral Science Chapter 12: Selfless Service (Child & Society – Service). Discover the noble biography of Mother Teresa, explore her work with the Missionaries of Charity and Nirmal Hriday, and master all textbook questions according to the DAV CMC curriculum.
Mother Teresa: Apostle of the Destitute
God has blessed humanity with nature, loving parents, and good health. While praying and visiting holy places are expressions of reverence, the supreme way to express our love for God is through selfless service to suffering fellow human beings.
Life & Mission of Mother Teresa:
- Early Calling: Born in Yugoslavia (modern Skopje), she became a Catholic nun at age 16 and came to Kolkata (India) at age 18.
- Moti Jheel Slum: Deeply moved by the plight of sick, uneducated, and starving slum children in Moti Jheel, she stepped outside convent walls to bathe, feed, and teach them.
- Missionaries of Charity: Founded in 1950, her congregation grew from 4 sisters to thousands of sisters worldwide serving lepers, orphans, and AIDS patients.
- Nirmal Hriday Home: Established near Kalighat and Dumdum for the dying destitute, offering dignity and warmth in their final hours.
- Honours: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980.
Thought of the Day: “You give but little when you give away your possessions. It is when you give of yourself in the service of others, that you truly give.” — Kahlil Gibran
Textbook Exercises & Solved Questions
A. Answer These Questions
Q1. How do you show that you love God?
Answer: The finest and most authentic way to show our love for God is by loving, respecting, and selflessly serving our fellow human beings, especially the impoverished, elderly, sick, and helpless.
Q2. Where was Mother Teresa born?
Answer: Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslavia (now Skopje, North Macedonia).
Q3. What was the name of the slum colony from where Mother Teresa started her work of dedication?
Answer: She started her selfless work from the Moti Jheel slum colony in Kolkata.
Q4. What was the name of the institution that she started for the needy and the sick?
Answer: She founded the Missionaries of Charity and opened the Nirmal Hriday Home for the dying and destitute.
Q5. What is the lesson you learn from the life of Mother Teresa?
Answer: We learn that every human life is sacred and worthy of love. True joy and greatness are attained not through wealth, but by dedicating one’s time and energy to uplift the suffering.
B. Welfare Organisations in India
| Organisation | Focus Area | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| CRY (Child Rights and You) | Underprivileged Children | Works for child education, eradication of child labour, proper nutrition, and healthcare across India. |
| HelpAge India | Elderly Citizens | Provides geriatric healthcare, mobile medical units, elderly care homes, and advocacy against elder neglect. |