India, Oct. 20 -- As dawn broke over the busy streets of Muirabad, a little boy named Bikash tugged insistently at his father's shirt, reluctant to climb into the rickshaw. "I want to go to Sister," he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with yearning. His father, worn from the relentless grind of navigating the city's rough roads, hesitated. For the first time, his son felt valued.

That pivotal moment-23 years ago-signaled the start of a quiet transformation spearheaded by Sr. Amala, a gentle nun from Kerala who chose to leave behind formal teaching for the dusty alleys of a slum.

Now 86, Sr. Amala continues to tread the brick pathways of Muirabad in Prayagraj with the same determination that brought her here over two decades ago-not to rece...