The Indian Montessori Centre - A Brief History
Dr. Maria Montessori came to India in 1939 and stayed on for a considerable period of time. It was during her stay here that she founded a series of Montessori Training Courses which was christened as the Indian Montessori Training Course. She was assisted in this effort by her son Mario Montessori and Albert Max Joosten. She appointed Joosten as her personal representative to continue the conduct of the Indian Montessori Training Course. S. R. Swamy a direct student of Dr. Maria also joined Joosten and together they conducted the Indian Montessori Training Course in the different cities of the country.
The society for Further Propagation of the Montessori Movement (FPMM) in India was started in Kolkatta to commemorate the sixtieth birthday of Joosten. After successfully conducting two Indian Montessori Training Courses in Bangalore in 1980 Joosten and Swamy set up the Bangalore chapter of the FPMM. Swamy was appointed the Chairman of FPMM, Bangalore. Later when the Indian Montessori Centre was formed the FPMM was merged with it and Swamy was appointed the first Chairman of the Indian Montessori Centre