A Life of Service: The Inspiring Journey of Sr. Martha Kangali Monda

Sr. Martha Kangali Mondal, the founder of Sneha Sagar Society, embodies a spirit of compassion and service. Inspired by her desire to uplift the marginalized, she established the society in 1999. Driven by the mission to "serve the last, the least, and the lost," Sr. Martha immersed herself in the lives of slum dwellers, recognizing their immense needs. In 2001, Sneha Sagar Society was legally registered as a trust, solidifying its commitment to social change. This article delves into Sr. Martha's remarkable journey, her significant achievements, and her unwavering vision for a better future, which she strives to realize through the transformative work of Sneha Sagar Society.

Introduction:

Sr. Martha Mondal, Foundress and President of Sneha Sagar Society. Initially, she wanted to become a Nun and had joined the convent. She could not continue there for some reason and wanted to do something for the Lord. She said “I saw Jesus in the helpless and the poor on the street. I always envisaged myself working for the betterment of the poor.” Firstly, she put her hand on the plough and started her activities by imparting education without charging money. Sr. Martha imparted free education to the slum children and coaching for women so that they could become economically independent.

While Sr. Martha was a teacher in the primary section, she used to see children playing on the street or picking up food from the dustbin. She felt that she must do something. She never anticipated poverty in Mumbai. She wanted to do something for the children who were living in poor conditions. She visited the slum area at Mahda and she visited 30 to 35 families. She told the people that she can coach the children so that the children can go to school. She wasn't well versed in Marathi but she took up the task of coaching the children. Soon the slum children came to her house. Day by day the number of children increased. Within a few months, there were nearly 150 to 160 children coming to be coached. Her neighbors had no issues with children coming here to learn. They suggested using the compound as well.

Volunteers began to join to help her with this task. They would bring biscuits and sweets for the children. Soon, the numbers increased to 200 to 300 children. She was just coaching the slum children. She had to even look after her job. In spite of all this, she readily agreed to take care of the child. It was on that day that the orphanage started. She then started looking for a larger area to reside. When she shifted, the locals became aware of her work.

Challenges and Achievements:

Sr. Martha faces challenges, she remembers when there was no food or food grains to cook for her and the children. She added “We prayed together and the Lord provided miraculously. There were many ups and downs in the functioning of this organization. The biggest challenge is to keep going in these difficult times.”

Sr. Martha was also in the Legion of Mary and was awarded as the best girl in the legion by the Parish Priest Fr. Strosio at the age of 10. At the age of 13, she was given another reward. One of the awards was a book on the life of a saint. She added, “People often used to say that this child (Martha) is going to be a saint.” When she was in the village she was twice elected as the president of a presidium in the Legion of Mary. Sr. Martha Mondal's dedication to social service has been recognized with several prestigious awards. In 2015, she was honoured with the Mother Teresa Puraskar at the Maharashtra Rajya Abhiman event, organized by the Crime Reporter Welfare Association. More recently, in 2023, she received the SRIJAN Award from Santhome Public School, where she was also a distinguished Chief Guest.

Recognizing her exceptional contributions to society, Sr. Martha Mondal was awarded the Global Women Inspiration Award on October 17, 2024, at the Radisson Blu in Dwarka, New Delhi. 

In general, her achievements are, that she opened two orphanages and 4 Homes for the Aged in Maharashtra and Delhi. They conducted many outreach programs in various parts of India like Kerala, Sangli, Gujarat, and Manipur during the time of crisis supplying cooked food, groceries, utensils, umbrellas, blankets, etc to the poor on the street. In a month they supply food to at least 500 people on the streets. In a year they feed around 60,000 to One lakh people.

Personal Insights: 

Sr. Martha has a set of goals that helps her to guide her. She believes in equality for all, Martha said “God made all people equal; our organization is committed to a development process that promotes equality.” She believes in rights and dignity for all, and her society Sneha Sagar Society also believes in and strives to uphold the rights and dignity of all people, especially in the rural communities. Sneha Sagar Society believes in God to protect the dignity of everybody to exploit Earthly goods in accordance with God’s Law and individual order.

In her personal life, she does give time for prayers, teaching and counseling her team of Sisters, and meeting people. Her life is totally dedicated to her mission.

Impact and Vision:

Sr. Martha's current projects include:

1. To build a Home for the Aged at Panvel.
2. Renovation of Trilokpuri Aged Home in Delhi.
3. Women Employment Project – to help poor women get employment by employing them to stitch clothes.
4. Ambulance Project – Free service to the extremely poor, to take them to hospital who are in critical condition and have no money for Ambulance. Also, to make the Ambulance available for those in need at minimal cost.

Martha's future goals are to build houses for the Women in Distress and to create jobs for the destitute women so that they have their own source of income.

Conclusion:

Sr. Martha advises young women to “Have a goal in life, ever ready to face difficulties and hardships, and follow your goal with perseverance and never turn back.”

Her life and work remind us of the transformative power of compassion, faith, and determination. As she continues to light the way for countless lives, Sr. Martha Kangali Mondal exemplifies the profound impact of serving others with love and humility.