She had intended to return to a musical profession but began to wonder if she could help groups of Indian students she noticed on the streets 'looking lost in the wintry rain'.
In 1936 and 1937 she travelled extensively to investigate the problems encountered by students from Far Eastern countries returning home from Europe and America.
The journey convinced her of the need for a similar organisation in London as the overseas student population continued to grow.
Mary went on to work with the YMCA in France and in 1945 she spent her time organising a reception centre for returning prisoners of war, outside Brussels.
She spent part of this time visiting and making surveys on priority needs in education after the war in Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, North Borneo and the Philippines.
Eventually she was able to gather together an effective group who shared her convictions and in 1962 formed a charitable trust and began building International Students House in Park Crescent.
It was incorporated as a non-profit-making limited liability company without share capital and was registered with the Charity Commissioners.