Patna's St. Michaels school turns 150 years old

Patna, Dec 14 (IANS) It was about 150 years ago that the Capuchin fathers founded a school for boys near a village along the banks of river Ganges, now in the heart of the Bihar capital. St. Michaels school, one of the most reputed schools in eastern India, celebrated its 150th anniversary Sunday.

Father B. Arockisamy, principal of the school said that the alumni meet of the school was held Saturday and was attended by hundreds of old boys from across India.

The sprawling premises of the school were decorated with flowers to make it a memorable event.

A mass prayer was held followed by various activities including debate, elocution and painting competitions, school sources said.

Bishop Anastasius Hartmann, who along with other fathers arrived in Patna from Mumbai by a bullock cart in 1846 to spread education, established St. Michael's High School in 1858.

According to school sources, in 1857 Hartman approached the superior general of the Irish Christian Brothers in Dublin to secure a community of Brothers for his education schemes in India.

'It was in the year 1858 that St. Michaels was established - the oldest of the 12 Irish Christian Brother Schools in India,' school sources said.

Hartmann, a Swiss by birth, arrived in Agra as a Franciscan Capuchin priest in 1844, and was also the first Bishop of Patna.