Hyderabad, Telangana, 3rd of October, 2026 : The Hyderabad Public School (HPS) felicitated its distinguished alumnus Prem Watsa, Chairman of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and a member of the HPS Class of 1965, during his visit to the School. The occasion also marked the foundation stone ceremony for the School’s new Junior School Block, which will be named in honour of M. C. Watsa, Prem Watsa’s father and former Principal of The Hyderabad Public School from 1969 to 1972.
The felicitation recognised Prem Watsa’s longstanding association with his alma mater and his continued support for the School. His visit brought together the School’s rich legacy, the Watsa family’s association with HPS across generations and its continuing connection with the institution.
The foundation stone ceremony for the new Junior School Block marked a particularly significant moment, with the building being named after M. C. Watsa, who served as Principal of HPS from 1969 to 1972. The naming creates a meaningful intergenerational connection, honouring the contribution of a former Principal while commemorating the enduring association of his son, one of the School’s distinguished alumni.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gusti J Noria – President, The Hyderabad Public School Society, said, “It is a matter of immense pride for HPS to welcome back Prem Watsa, whose journey from these classrooms to global leadership reflects the enduring values, character and spirit of this institution. It is equally special to welcome Mrs. Nalini Watsa, whose association with HPS over the years has strengthened the warm bond between the Watsa family and the School. Today is significant not simply because we are honouring a distinguished alumnus, but because we are connecting generations of the Watsa family with generations of HPS students. By naming our new Junior School Block after M. C. Watsa, we honour a former Principal whose contribution remains part of the School’s story, while creating a space that will shape the stories of children yet to come.
As we honour our past, we are also shaping what lies ahead for the future generations of students who will walk these corridors. We are not building for education as it was. We are building for education as it must become. We want our youngest learners to explore before they are expected to explain, question before they are expected to answer and discover before they are expected to know. Because the greatest legacy of an HPS education should not be what we take with us when we leave. It should be what we choose to leave behind.”
Mr. Prem Watsa, Chairman, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and HPS alumnus, added, “Returning to The Hyderabad Public School is always special for me. My years at HPS played an important role in shaping who I am, and the School has remained an important part of my life. Having the new Junior School Block named after my father, who served as Principal of HPS, makes this occasion especially meaningful for our family. It is wonderful to see the School continue to evolve while preserving the values and traditions that have made it such an important institution.”
The occasion highlighted the School’s commitment to carrying its legacy forward while creating spaces and opportunities for future generations. The new Junior School Block represents another step in the School’s continuing journey, while its association with M. C. Watsa and Prem Watsa adds a significant chapter to the institution’s history.
The visit served as a celebration of the enduring bond between HPS and one of its distinguished alumni, while also recognising the contribution of a former Principal whose association with the School continues through the generations. The felicitation and foundation stone ceremony together marked an important occasion for the HPS community, bringing its past, present and future together.
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