Sister Nirmala was an Indian social activist. She was one of the closest associate of Mother Teresa. She was known as Nirmala Joshi, M.C.

Early Life of Sister Nirmala
Nirmala Joshi, M.C was born on July 23 in the year 1934. She was well known for her work on Indian society. Her work is considered to be great along with the work of Sister Teresa. She worked throughout her life for the slum dwellers of Kolkata. Sister Nirmala or Nirmala Joshi was born and brought up in western Bengal area during British era. She was bought up in Ranchi, Bihar and Odisha Province in the British Indian Empire (now the capital of the Indian State of Jharkhand). Her parents were from Nepal and her father was an officer of the British Army until the Independence of India in the year 1947. Although the family was Hindu, she was educated by Christian missionaries in Patna (capital of Bihar state). At that time, Sister Nirmala or Nirmala Joshi learned of Mother Teresa`s work and wanted to share in that service. She soon converted to Roman Catholicism and joined the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa.

Early Career of Sister Nirmala
Sister Nirmala or Nirmala Joshi was a Roman Catholic Religious Sister who succeeded the famed Mother Teresa of Calcutta as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity in March 1997. Sister Nirmala or Nirmala Joshi earned a Master`s degree in Political Science from an Indian university and received additional training as a lawyer. She was one of the first Sisters of the institute to head a foreign mission when she went to Panama.

Later Career of Sister Nirmala
In the year 1976, Sister Nirmala started the contemplative branch of the Missionaries of Charity and remained at its head until 1997, when she was elected to succeed Mother Teresa as Superior General of the institute.

Awards Received by Sister Nirmala
The Government of India bestowed the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Sister Joshi on Republic Day (January 26) 2009 for her services to the nation. Her term as Superior General ended on 25th March 2009, and she was succeeded by German-born Sister Mary Prema Pierick, M.C.

Death of Sister Nirmala
Sister Nirmala died on June 23, in the year 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal.