Where did Mother Teresa run a leprosy clinic from 1950 until her death in1997?

In 1950, after dedicating herself to serving the "poorest of the poor," Mother Teresa founded her order, the Missionaries of Charity, in the densely populated Indian city of Calcutta. This metropolis, now known as Kolkata, became the heart of her global mission. It was here, amidst the overwhelming poverty, that she began her lifelong work of caring for the sick, the orphaned, and the dying who had been abandoned on the city's streets.

One of the most profound social stigmas of the time was attached to leprosy, or Hansen's disease. Those afflicted were often feared and cast out from their communities and families. In response, Mother Teresa established Shanti Nagar, or "Town of Peace," a rehabilitation center and self-sufficient colony for leprosy patients. This was far more than a simple clinic; it was a sanctuary where people received medical care, learned new skills, and regained a sense of dignity and community.

For nearly half a century, Mother Teresa's name and image became inextricably linked with this city. While the Missionaries of Charity expanded to operate in over 100 countries, Calcutta remained her home and the base of her operations until her death. Her unwavering presence there transformed it into a global symbol of compassion and service to the most vulnerable.