As a young woman from the Indian state of Sindh, Chandra Punjabi, decided that her mission in life would be a very special one. She would work only for peace. Leaving all her material bonds behind, she has done just that. For 27 years now, she has been spreading positive vibrations on our island.

As you walk in, you are enveloped in a cloud of well-being. It’s so real you could almost touch it. After a while, you understand. It’s the vibrations. When Chandra Punjabi walks into the room with her powerful aura, you almost lose balance. Serenity has become so alien to this mad world that it gives you a jolt when you come face to face with it.

Chandra Punjabi or Sister Chandra, as she is known, was sent to Mauritius 27 years ago by the administrative head of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Born in Karachi, Chandra decided to dedicate her life to the service of mankind. When she was asked by her headquarters to go to the little-known island of Mauritius, she readily accepted; the job was all the more challenging since spirituality was a foreign concept to the island.

Asking Sister Chandra to talk about herself is like, I don’t know, like… expecting an apple tree to give you oranges! Talking about herself is a concept alien to Sister Chandra - for the simple reason that she renounced her worldly existence so many years ago. As hard as that might be for the rest of us to understand, it is simply a way of life for this formidable woman. She can only talk of her mission, she has no worldly attachment, and she knows only what she has to do. “I meditate, I strengthen my mind, I teach, I give love and positive vibrations. I strive effortlessly for peace.” All this, said so simply and unassumingly.

What does she hope to achieve here? “What we hope to achieve everywhere else. The uplifting of the human spirit, the betterment of the world.” Surely, an ambitious project? Sister Chandra simply smiles. Simply. That word again. It is the only word that describes this “70+” lady, clad in her white sari. She is simplicity personified.

Twice a year, Chandra goes back to Mount Abu, in India where more than 200 heads of worldwide centres of the university go for a debriefing and a briefing. “A most important rendez-vous where we are given training courses to refresh our spirits.” says the serene sister.

When will she leave Mauritius? “When I have to, when it has been decided…” she replies peacefully. One leaves her and one wonders at such inner peace, such contentment and that rarest commodity of all. Purity.