Nirmala Joshi of the first Sisters of the institute to head a foreign mission when she went to Panama. In 1976, Joshi 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. The government of India bestowed the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Sister Joshi on Republic Day (26 January) 2009 for her services to the nation. Her term as Superior General ended on 25 March 2009, and she was succeeded by German born Sister Mary Prema Pierick. Joshi
Nirmala Wadhwani Nirmala Wadhwani Nirmala Wadhwani is a Gujarati politician and was minister for Women and Child Development in Vijay Rupani's cabinet. She represents Naroda in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Wadhwani was previously a physician with specialization in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She had done a diploma in sonography from Croatia and has been the President of Ahmedabad Medical Association's Ladies Wing. She is affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a member of its executive committee in Gujarat. As a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, she has served on the committees on ICDS, PC-PNDT, Shala Arogya and MLA Quarters..