Bishop Anastasius Hartmann was born in Altwis, in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland on 24 Feb. 1803 He came to India as a missionary and worked in places like Gwalior, Patna and Mumbai. He founded many schools and dispensaries and carried out many charitable works for the poor and the weaker sections of the society. He was a scholar and good writer.
Through a foreigner by birth, he knew as many as seven Indian languages very fluently. For his love for the poor and commitment to the educational apostolate he is fondly remembered and revered even today.Through a disciplined life he achieved success and reached the greater heights of learning.
Inspired by his life and to carry on his work of education apostolate the capuchin fathers founded the Hartmann College and have chosen him to be the patron of the college and adopted the motto “He who loves knowledge loves Discipline” which was the guiding principle of Bishop Hartmann, the servant of God.
