Mother Teresa Gautam teengaer
Gautam Lewis

Editor’s Note: Gautam Lewis is a pilot, photographer and polio survivor from Kolkata. He spent his early years at Shishu Bhavan, under Mother Teresa’s care, before being adopted.

Story highlights

Gautam Lewis spent around six years in Mother Teresa's home for children in Kolkata

Lewis: I never saw her shout but she was someone you knew you didn't want to mess with

Lewis: Most likely I wouldn't be alive had my path not crossed hers.

CNN  — 

It’s impossible for me to forget Mother Teresa – soon to be Saint Teresa of Kolkata. She gave me a chance to escape poverty and live a different destiny in England.

I was born in Kolkata in 1977, although there is no official record of my birth. I’ve no memory of my birth parents and there are conflicting reports as to where and when I was born, and to whom.

Some paperwork traces my origins back to the 24 Parganas district, born to destitute parents in an impoverished part of Kolkata’s urban sprawl.

Gautam Lewis, right, doesn't know how old he was when he was taken to Shishu Bhavan, Mother Teresa's home for children.
Gautam Lewis, right, doesn't know how old he was when he was taken to Shishu Bhavan, Mother Teresa's home for children.
Gautam Lewis

Another letter details my beginnings in the wealthier city of Howrah, to a high caste doctor and nurse. My adopted mother, Patricia, is of the view that this may have been a story fed to her, in the misplaced assumption that she might look upon me more kindly if my origins were more privileged.

It’s hard to keep track of the conflicting claims and different paper trails.

Either way, maybe because I had polio and was paralyzed, my original family weren’t able to look after me properly.

For me, I have limited lower limb mobility. Polio can result in death or permanent disability; I survived the virus, which attacks the nervous system, at a time and place when one in five children were dying of it.

The throwaways of society

Although my start in life could be seen as unlucky, I consider myself lucky because Mother Teresa took me into her care.

Gautam Lewis is a pilot, photographer and polio survivor. He spent his early years under the care of Mother Teresa. He photographed these sisters praying on the tomb of Mother Teresa in May 2016. "It was very emotional being there," he says.
Gautam Lewis is a pilot, photographer and polio survivor. He spent his early years under the care of Mother Teresa. He photographed these sisters praying on the tomb of Mother Teresa in May 2016. "It was very emotional being there," he says.
Gautam Lewis
This woman is a beggar from 24 Parganas, possibly the same district Gautam is originally from. She told Gautam she was also a victim of domestic violence.
This woman is a beggar from 24 Parganas, possibly the same district Gautam is originally from. She told Gautam she was also a victim of domestic violence.
Gautam Lewis
Mother Teresa opened Shishu Bhavan, a home for abandoned street babies and children, in Kolkata in 1955.
Mother Teresa opened Shishu Bhavan, a home for abandoned street babies and children, in Kolkata in 1955.
Gautam Lewis
Today, Shishu Bhavan still provides a home for abandoned and destitute children, including those with special needs.
Today, Shishu Bhavan still provides a home for abandoned and destitute children, including those with special needs.
Gautam Lewis
These orphans, photographed by Gautam in 2009, were rescued by the Missionaries of Charity and taken to Shishu Bhavan. Gautam says the time he spent at the home was tough. "My memories from that period are dark, sad, and lonely," he says.
These orphans, photographed by Gautam in 2009, were rescued by the Missionaries of Charity and taken to Shishu Bhavan. Gautam says the time he spent at the home was tough. "My memories from that period are dark, sad, and lonely," he says.
Gautam Lewis
Gautam photographed this girl begging outside the children's home. "She reminded me of my little sister, Lindi, and my mother, Patricia," he says.
Gautam photographed this girl begging outside the children's home. "She reminded me of my little sister, Lindi, and my mother, Patricia," he says.
Gautam Lewis
Gautam photographed these sisters, who have stayed together as orphans at the children's home in the care of the Missionaries of Charity. "I probably have brothers and sisters but I don't know who they are," says Gautam.
Gautam photographed these sisters, who have stayed together as orphans at the children's home in the care of the Missionaries of Charity. "I probably have brothers and sisters but I don't know who they are," says Gautam.
Gautam Lewis
Gautam says it took him years to be able to return to Shishu Bhavan. "But now I feel as though I'm going back to my fellow siblings, to the brothers and sisters I left behind."
Gautam says it took him years to be able to return to Shishu Bhavan. "But now I feel as though I'm going back to my fellow siblings, to the brothers and sisters I left behind."
Gautam Lewis
Novice nuns stand and pray before they start their work at the Home for the Dying and Destitute.
Novice nuns stand and pray before they start their work at the Home for the Dying and Destitute.
Gautam Lewis
The Home for the Dying and Destitute was the first home Mother Teresa set up when she came to Kolkata. "I've never taken a photograph of a dying person before," says Gautam. "It's something I'll never forget."
The Home for the Dying and Destitute was the first home Mother Teresa set up when she came to Kolkata. "I've never taken a photograph of a dying person before," says Gautam. "It's something I'll never forget."
Gautam Lewis
A tabla player is pictured at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute. "Even though he was in a place where he was being provided end of life care, he was still happy and musical," says Gautam.?"Where there is joy, there is life -- one of the reasons Kolkata is also called the 'City of Joy.'"
A tabla player is pictured at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute. "Even though he was in a place where he was being provided end of life care, he was still happy and musical," says Gautam.?"Where there is joy, there is life -- one of the reasons Kolkata is also called the 'City of Joy.'"
Gautam Lewis
Women at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute.?"I found seeing simple, everyday acts done with such care and support from the sisters really overwhelming," Gautam says.
Women at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute.?"I found seeing simple, everyday acts done with such care and support from the sisters really overwhelming," Gautam says.
Gautam Lewis
Mother Teresa and me: 'The saint who was my mother'

It’s unclear how old I was when I was taken to Shishu Bhavan, Mother Teresa’s home for children in Kolkata; anything between 18 months and 4-years-old.

It must have taken my family a lot of courage to do that for me.

It was a chaotic place, but Mother Teresa was not trying to be a social worker – that was not her job.

She was just following her deep love of her faith and her religion, and that’s what drove her humanity.

She wasn’t there to cure people and provide rehabilitation. She was there to pick the dying person, the throwaways of society, up off the street when no one else cared.

When Lewis stopped talking for six months, Mother Teresa brought in a psychologist to help him.
When Lewis stopped talking for six months, Mother Teresa brought in a psychologist to help him.
Gautam Lewis

She had never run an organization like Shishu Bhavan, and probably had no idea how big it was going to get. When I lived there it was just endless rooms of cots and children, and all the sisters just trying to do their best.

But as long as you have food, and water and love, it’s the foundation for everything else.

When a legendary photographer met an iconic missionary

‘My tall shadow’

I didn’t see Mother Teresa every day because she had a lot to do in her daily work schedule. But she always made sure to check in on her “children.”

Every Sunday, she would come and get us dressed up in our best clothes, take us to the chapel at the Mother House and give a mass for everyone.

I couldn’t walk at that time, and though the sisters would carry me to mass so I didn’t get my clothes dirty, at other times I had to crawl on the floor.

As a child, Lewis had to crawl because polio affected the use of his legs. He remembers Mother Teresa as a towering figure even though she was tiny.
As a child, Lewis had to crawl because polio affected the use of his legs. He remembers Mother Teresa as a towering figure even though she was tiny.
Gautam Lewis

Because I had to crawl everywhere, Mother Teresa seemed very tall to me as I looked up to her, even though she was actually very petite.

She was my tall shadow that kept a protective eye on me.

She spoke very softly, and with slightly accented English. I never saw her shout at anyone, but she was someone you knew you didn’t want to mess with.

My three mothers

Many of the memories I have of Kolkata and living as an orphan are a nightmare. It was a dark, sad, and lonely period.

I even stopped talking for six months when I learned no one was coming to get me, and I may not have spoken again had Mother Teresa not brought in a psychologist to help me.

Portrait from 1960 of Mother Teresa, the Albanian nun who dedicated her life to the poor, the destitute and the sick of Calcutta.
Portrait from 1960 of Mother Teresa, the Albanian nun who dedicated her life to the poor, the destitute and the sick of Calcutta.
Getty Images

Related article Mother Teresa: How hard is it to become a saint?

The few memories I have of her are happy ones, and I prefer not to embrace the demons from my nightmares, but instead focus on my fond memories of her – especially her smile.

In my life, I have had three mothers. My birth mother, the woman who adopted me, Patricia, and Mother Teresa.

Most likely I wouldn’t be alive had my path not crossed hers.

She gave me protection when I needed it the most.

She fended for me and fought in my corner so I could survive the “Black Hole of Kolkata.”I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this had it not been for Mother Teresa.

A different destiny

I was adopted by my mother Patricia in 1985 and taken to Auckland.

My adoption hearing was on the 12th February, so the judge assigned my birthday as the same day as the court hearing – February 12th. He then chose my birth year as 1977.

12th February 1986 was when the nightmare ended and the dream started. We moved to England 18 months later, where I was lucky to lead a privileged life. I had a great education, good friends and the best medical treatment.

Today, Lewis has a business degree and is a qualified pilot. He's also the founder of a UK-based flying school for disabled people.
Today, Lewis has a business degree and is a qualified pilot. He's also the founder of a UK-based flying school for disabled people.
Gautam Lewis

When I was 18, I returned to Kolkata for the first time since leaving. It was a difficult journey for me. I had no connection with the place, the culture, the environment.

Honestly, it forced me to confront some difficult issues relating to my sense of self and my identity. It wasn’t until much later that I better came to terms with my roots, and it was another decade until I returned to Kolkata.

I did go and see her on that first trip though, and it was the year that she died.

I don’t know if I said, “thank you for giving me life,” but I should have.

This is what she said to me: “Nothing is difficult, just different. If you can’t find anyone to help you achieve what you want to do, do it alone and don’t be afraid of the unknown.”