Who We Are?
Our Founders
The beginning of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer MSA) Education System was laid first in 1913 in a school, in the city of Ajmer for the poor street children and orphans. It was known as St. Imelda’s school. In 1919 the Rt. Rev. Henry Fortunatus Caumont our Founder, established the first Sophia School in Ajmer for the education of disadvantaged girls. He was the first Bishop of the Ajmer Diocese which covered then, practically the whole of Rajputana (the present Rajasthan). Hailing from the beautiful land of France, Rev. Fr. Fortunatus Caumont O.F.M. Cap, came to India as a young missionary priest in 1897. Being a man of vision and foresight he realized that the extreme backwardness and illiteracy of the people especially in the rural areas could be eliminated only if the women were given basic education. This was particularly the case of Rajput women. While the men enjoyed the rights of a princely feudal system and the best of education in the ‘Princes’ College of Mayo at Ajmer, woman’s education was neglected.
Bishop Caumont saw the prime need of uplifting the women. So he took up this gigantic task in 1911, with the help of his sister Mother Mary Matilda, he founded an indigenous Congregation, the Mission Sisters of Ajmer (MSA) to serve the needs of the people of Rajputana. To them, his Mission Sisters, he entrusted the task of educating the girls and in 1919, he started the first school for them in Ajmer, Rajasthan (Rajputana). The name he gave the school and the motto he framed are both significant for the educational ideal he had in mind. ‘Sophia’ in Greek means WISDOM, and Wisdom is summed up in ‘VACHAN’ the Eternal Word, the source of true wisdom. We as educationalists, are to give true wisdom to the children in our schools and colleges. In 1930, Bishop Henry Fortunatus Caumont passed away. In him, Mother Mary Matilda lost a staunch supporter and adviser. Over the years, Mother Matilda saw the Sophia School in Ajmer take deep roots, turn into a High School. Through her dedicated workers of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer, she was able to establish such schools in other parts of the country, mainly in the major cities of Rajasthan.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF SOPHIA 1919-33 COMPILED
Way Back in 1919, the far-sightedness of Our Founders- Rt. Rev. Henri Caumont and his enthusiastic sister Rev. Mother Mary Matilda worked earnestly for Women’s Education. In the 19th century and early 20th century, Indian women, specially in Rajasthan, had a glorious past. In spite of it, they were kept behind the purdah. They were married off as children and relegated to the background. Society can never be normal unless men and women play a complimentary role. The labours of our two pioneers laid the foundation of ‘SOPHIA’. It was born on June 29, 1919 and cradled in the present St. Francis Hospital on Beawar road, Ajmer.
HOW DID SOPHIA START
A well-to-do lady living in the vicinity of the Sisters’ Convent, was fascinated by the Sisters’ devotion to work and requested Rev. Mother Mary Matilda to educate her daughter. Rev. Mother Mary Matilda together with her brother – The Rt. Rev. Henri Caumont planned the starting of a school for the elite, Indian girls of Ajmer of that time.
‘VACHAN’
Through the Word ‘VACHAN’ the goal was to impart wisdom to little ones – Hence the motto chosen was’ …………………’ ‘Giving wisdom to little ones’