to the poor and needy in the northern parts of India through the ministries of education , health care , care of youth and orphans. In the year 1866 ,Bishop Anastasius Hartmann intended to open a new Convent of the IBMV (Sisters of Loreto) in Allahabad and appealed to Mother General for more sisters. By the time the 8th Party of sisters arrived in India , the Convent and Boarding school at Phaphamau was almost ready. The sisters moved into the convent of January 1ih, 1866. On January 15, 1866 , the boarding school was opened with two pupils , Mary Elise and Nina Frizzone. Though the number of students increased gradually , since the sisters had to face endless problems in Phaphamau , they first shifted to Elgin Road in Allahabad , then temporarily to Lowther Castle and finally in February 1888 (or 1886), to 32 Thornhill Road (Maharishi Dayanand Road), where the school is situated today. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad had offered a piece of leased land, within the campus of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Allahabad to the sisters to build their school, where a spacious red - brick building had been erected. The original building exists to this day, and is considered one of the heritage buildings of the city on account of its unique architectural style. Around it many other structures have been constructed in the course of years to accommodate the ever increasing number of students. DELVING INTO THE PAST St. Mary's Convent is a name synonymous with education, values, culture and sense of responsibility. Notable alumni Throughout its history a sizable number of alumni have become notable in various fields. Indira Gandhi, a key 20th-century stateswoman, a central figure of the Indian National Congress party, and to date the only female Prime Minister of India intermittently attended this premier institution until her matriculation in 1934. Shubha Mudgal, a well-known Indian singer of Hindustani classical music. Dr.Deepali Pant Joshi, executive director of Reserve Bank of India. Neelum Saran Gour, an author, translator, academic and chronicler of various facets of Allahabad city. Shahnaz Husain an Indian entrepreneur. Leema Dhar, a novelist and poet. Dr. Shuchi Grover, a learning scientist and computer science education researcher shreeradhe khanduja, splitvilla contestant and model. Nidhi Singh, an Indian Television and Film actor. Rita Bahuguna Joshi an Indian politician and ex-cabinet minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Aradhana Mishra