Founders day Report

HFSI celebrates Founders’ Day

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” - These are people who have left their footprints in the sands of time…and to this end, the management, staff and students of Hiranandani Foundation School International came together in solidarity on Friday, 17 September, 2021 to observe the 14th Founder’s Day celebration- an odyssey that began 14 years ago, here in Mumbai.

The virtual ceremony commenced with the head girl’s address that paid a memorable tribute to the founding father Dr L.H. Hiranandani, reminiscing his vision to create an institution that would contribute with its globally sensitive and innovative minds, the foundation of which was laid almost thirty years ago and has been fostered ever since by Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani and Mr. Surendra Hiranandani.

The blessings of the Almighty were sought through a mellifluous invocation that culminated in the announcement of the theme for the Founder’s Day celebration this year, viz. language immersion.

Renowned educationist and principal Mrs Kalyani Patnaik recalled in her address, the values of compassion, empowerment, parity sans echelon and solemnity that late Dr. L.H. Hiranandani embodied. She expressed her gratitude to a man of many parts- trustee, entrepreneur, visionary and mentor Mr. Surendra Hiranandani in pioneering the international wing in 2008 that was and remains indubitably, the need of the hour. She elucidated how the language immersion programme is inextricably blended with the curriculum and has been augmented every year since its inception. Seven languages, namely, English, Hindi, French, Spanish, German, Marathi and Vietnamese were celebrated to commemorate the occasion. Her insightful address echoed the words of Aristotle in that success is hardly ever about destiny but about a meditated volley of determination and grit.

Co-founder and Managing Director of the Hiranandani Group, Mr. Surendra Hiranandani graced the occasion with his presence and traversed the memory lane as he urged the attendees to imbibe a ‘sense of humanity’ while ruminating over the many philanthropic pursuits of his father Dr. L.H.Hiranandani. He cogitated on the importance of being openminded vis a vis multi-lingual learning engagements and expressed how one should not become a ‘prisoner of one’s own ideas’. This was followed by a virtual cake -cutting ceremony to mark the occasion of Dr.L.H. Hiranandani’s 104th birth anniversary.

The language immersion programme -an initiative of the HFSI Reading Club, offered a glimpse into seven national and international languages as an embodiment of human evolution and global cultures. The presentation enunciated and celebrated various languages actively learnt by students at school, across a gamut of dimensions vis a vis history, culture, scope, significance and even gastronomy.

The ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks, proposed by the head boy as he expressed how the past has been nothing short of illustrious and how partnerships have deepened and mellowed over the decade through fourteen years of growth, grit and aspirations.

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