Happy Home School was founded by Mrs. Maryam Faruqi in a house on Jamshed Road in 1949. Her own life is very interesting. She was born Maryam Jaffer to a distinguished business family of Poona. Her father, the late Sir Ebrahim Haroon Jaffer, was member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, as well as a great philanthropist and social worker who did much for the well-being of the Muslim of India. Her brother, the late Ahmed E.H. Jaffer, was parliamentarian in India.

From the beginning Maryam Jaffer faced stiff resistance to her desire to get an education from a society that did not place any value on education for girls. Even so, she resolved to seek knowledge. Even as a young girl she knew wanted to be a teacher. Maryam Jaffer taught herself initially. She spent nights education herself while children of her age played with dolls. After much hesitation, she allowed to enroll in school. After graduation, she went to Nauroji Wadia College, Poona, where she distinguished herself by winning the Gold Medal of the Bombay University.

After graduation, her desire to be a teacher was fulfilled when Mrs. Shirazee, the then Inspectress of Schools, prevailed upon her brothers to allow her to join the Government Teachers Training College, Poona. After a year her devotion and dedication to teaching was much appreciated and she was deputed by the Government for further studies. She joined C.T. College, Belgaum and secured a high position in Bachelor of Teaching. In 1947 she married Mr. Nooruddin Hasan Faruqi, an advocate and income-tax officer from Lucknow. Her wedding was largely attended by personalities of the Pakistan Movement, such as the Quaid-e-Azam, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Mr. I.I. Chundrigar, Mr. Abdur Rab Nishtar, and Miss Fatima Jinnah. Soon after partition, Mr. And Mrs. Faruqi moved to Karachi, where they secured a bungalow on Jamshed Road.

For a while Mrs. Faruqi tried her hand at various things. She joined Mama Parsi School for cooking and needlework, but this did not satisfy her longing to become a teacher. She joined the National Guards and worked with Mrs. Qazi Essa. Later she assisted in getting Gul-e-Rana club allotted and was among the first few members of the All-Pakistan Women’s Association. She worked with women in social work in different capacities and served with Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan.

To fulfill her desire to teach, Maryam Faruqi enrolled in a Montessori course conducted by Madam Montessori herself. After this, she decided to open a Nursery school in her own house in Jamshed Road. She was fortunate to have the dedication of a few sincere friends in her endeavor including Miss Najma Khan, Mrs. Sahibzadi Hazari, and Miss Zuleikha Ismail Jaffer, now Mrs. Zuleikha Varis, the Head of Happy Home Cambridge Section.

Since Happy Home was one of the few schools in 1949, it soon began to grow and prosper. Mrs. Faruqi helped found New Town Girls School along with Miss Safia Khan, who became the principal. Now this school has been renamed the Safia Khan Memorial School.

In 1952 the school was shifted to its famous domed building, and its management was taken over by the duly registered Modern Education Society. The first President of the Society was Begum Berlas and Dr. Mehmood Rizvi was the treasurer. The school was also recognized by the Board of Secondary Education. Later, when the school needed expansion, the present building was erected in phases. Happy Home School reached class X in 1958. The first batch of Happy Home students brought laurels to the school in the early days. Ilyas Absar, who is now in the USA, secured positions as well. Since then the number of students grew, and pupils continued to secure top positions in the Board Exams.

In 1960 Mrs. Faruqi was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship for study in the USA. Her experience there greatly enhanced her knowledge in the field of education. She was president of Zonta International for four years, and is now serving as an executive member on the Educational Committee of the Pakistan Federation of Business and Professional Women. Recently she was awarded the President’s Award for Literacy. Many people have helped to make this school one of the best in the country. Mrs. R. Fernandes was with Happy Home for a long time, assisting in its development. Mrs. Noorbi Qadri was one of the pillars of the school. Late Mr. And Mrs. A.E Chinoy worked untiringly to serve the school and make it grow.

Late Mr. Masud-ul-Hasan worked as administrator and also founded Mohammed Ali Memorial School, late Mr. Hasanat Varsi, who dedicated himself to the school as Office Superintendent and Mr. Hussaini, PTI. Mrs. Zainab Mehmud Ataullah largely contributed to the school, as well as Ms. Badar Siddiqui, who has been associated with the school for many years and is now the Vice-Principal.

The school is indebted to late Abdul Karim, Rasul Khan and Abdul Hamid who worked as peons from the inception of the school. Late Munshi Ahmed, Noorali, and Iftikhar Husain worked as honest and dedicated cashiers. May Allah Bless their souls, (Ameen).

The school is now functioning under the able guidance of Mr. Maryam Faruqi, Founder and Senior Administrator, Mrs. Ghazala Nizami as Principal, Mrs. Zuleikha Varis as Principal of Cambridge Section and Miss Badar Siddiqui also Vice-Principal for the Secondary Section. The school now has two more branches, in Gulshan-e-Iqbal with Mrs. Mirza as Vice-Principal, and in Clifton where Mrs. Mehmood is the Vice-Principal.