Muddanahalli christened as Shanthipura is a village situated in a remote area 40 kilometers south-west of Mysore City. It was a very backward village deprived of every facility including the basic needs. People worked very hard and were not at all exposed to the outside world. Basic education, hygiene and primary sanitation were not in the vocabulary of the people. Bishop Mathias Fernandes being aware of the needs of the people wanted to begin the service to the people. Having witnessed the work of the Ursulines at the grass root levels in Hunsur and Naganahalli he approached the Superior General, Mother Genevieve Castelino. The Ursulines took up this difficult task with earnestness as they had a charism for this type of work with their motto, ‘For the love of God’.
At the request of Bishop Mathias Fernandes Sisters Ephiphania Fernandes, Clotilda JK and Magadalene D’Souza arrived at Shanthipura and lived in a rented house. Addressing the needs of the people was their concern and educating them was one of their goals. Therefore they started Class I in one of the houses of the villagers.Sisters Ephiphania, Clotilda, Magdaline, Christine and Wenscy who were the pioneers took unreserved interest to educate the children and guide the villagers. Sr Clotilda the first headmistress put in a lot of effort from the beginning to obtain permission for the school. Sr Wenscy D’Souza who received the mantle from her and all the headmistresses that followed Sr Wenscy (1969-72) namely Sr Hildegard Rasquinha (1972-78), Sr Placid Saldanha (1978-93), Sr Lumina D’Souza (1993-97), Sr Jeswita D’Souza (1997-2004), Sr Lilly D’Souza ( 2004-2005), Sr Philomena Noronha (2005-2009), Sr Arogya Mary (2009 -2019) and at present Sr Flavia Fernandes were passionate in their own way to bring fullness of life into the lives of these children as well as the people of Shanthipura.
In the year 2018 Shanthi Kannada Higher Primary School is celebrating Golden Jubilee of its establishment. At present students are studying in this school. The Sisters have put in every effort for the development of the simple people of this village. Today they have to continue the same mission with an innovative approach. To do so, they have to rethink and re-plan so that the people of Shanthipura obtain greater blessings.