Comments for SIMERG - Insights from Around the World

Comment on An Ismaili Youth’s Rare Moment With Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah by ahamed

ahamed — Mon, 28 May 2012 02:21:35 +0000

Zainab, this Fidai boarding you mention, is it the same as Jeraj Pirbhoy Boarding? Sorry for my ignorance. You have a lucky uncle. Get him to tell you his experiences.

Comment on Vali Jamal’s Thank You Letter to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: The 1972 Expulsion of Asians from Uganda by Vali Jamal, PhD, Kampala, Uganda

Vali Jamal, PhD, Kampala, Uganda — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:12:42 +0000

Good to see many people who benefited from the UNHCR’s rescue operartion on our behalf have expressed their thank you to the chief of the UNHHCR then. I hope he gets a posthumous award from the Government of Uganda during the celebrations for our Golden Jubilee.

Zarina Bhatia was of course a neighbour in that Namiremebe Road-Rubaga Road-Hoima (Bakuli) Road tringle. “Of course” meaning that 66.66% of Ismailis lived there prior to the mid-1950s, then Kololo, etc. I have the story of Zarina’s father, her brother Dr Mahomed Bhatia, her brother Mansur, her brother Nizar (tributes by fellow scouts), and her nephew Shamir M Bhatia in my book. Phew! The book’s going to have some readers in that family! I have the story of Zinat Virani from his family and of Pyaralli Virani, African Ismaili. That story appeared in IsmailiMail. Janak and Vinod ended up in UNHCR camps during the expulsion. I have their stories and of 12 others in the same situation in my book.

Comment on Part II – Worldwide Honours For Prince Karim Aga Khan Underline Impact of Ismaili Imamat’s Contribution to Humanity by Shaukat Ali

Shaukat Ali — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:15:15 +0000

Yes, it is the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (s.a s.) and Al-e-Muhammad to contribute for humanity and knowledge.

Comment on Vali Jamal’s Thank You Letter to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: The 1972 Expulsion of Asians from Uganda by Zarina Bhatia

Zarina Bhatia — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:42:33 +0000

I just noted what Vali wrote, ‘The-then quasi-president of the council Zinat Virani has passed away without anyone recording his story’. Dear me, Zinat Virani an Ismaili Lawyer was my late brother Dr Mohamed Bhatia’s friend and fellow resident in Mbale in Uganda where he practised and settled. They both were together again in Calgary, Canada as Ismaili pioneers, so to say. Shamir, my nephew only a few years old joined a school. Later with the arrival of my other late brothers Mansur and Madat with their families, my eldest sister late Roshankhanu Kurji and her family from Nairobi all settled in Calgary Canada. Vali is right in saying that no historical records are kept by our new generation really.

Comment on Vali Jamal’s Thank You Letter to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: The 1972 Expulsion of Asians from Uganda by Zarina Bhatia

Zarina Bhatia — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:18:12 +0000

Dear Vali, what can I say about your wonderful research on the plight of Ugandan Asians? Late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s vital role in his capacity as UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees enabled also my relatives to quit. My eldest brother Shamsudeen (Bha) and his family of 3 children with my late father Huzurmukhi Gulamhusein Jiwa Bhatia became refugees like many, having to arrive in London as ‘Bha’ held UK passport. In spite of several efforts of standing in queue for days during the 3 months Idi Amin had given as ultimatum, the family got nowhere with getting Ugandan passports! Bha was recently in Birmingham with me for his 90th birthday. We celebrated it again at Ismaili Darkhana Senior Club in London with Dr Aziz Kurwa, Al-Waiz Ghulam Abbas Hunzai and others. Bha and I talked about those difficult days during 1972. I had returned home then for summer vacation after 5 years of being away to UK when the news of Asian expulsion came as a bolt from the blues from President Idi Amin of Uganda. Every day his decision changed as to who should leave and he appeared on Ugandan television. My nephew Shamir Bhatia in Vancouver informs me that you have included our family in your book. I am waiting to hear of its publication.

Finally, I am so touched by seeing Pyarali African Ismaili’s photo; just on Friday night in London Darkhana before returning to Birmingham I met Fatmabai, late Gulam Habib Ratansi Virani’s wife, they had helped in converting Pyarali, their employee to our faith. I remember this clearly as a child; we were living a few houses away from them in William Street in Kampala!

My gratitude goes, of course also to, Abdulmalik Merchant the Editor of http://www.Simerg.com for initiating this “Thank You” series.

Comment on Ameer Janmohamed’s Thank You Letter to Pir Sabzali and the Ismaili Pirs of the Ginanic Tradition by Azim Jessani

Azim Jessani — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:32:39 +0000

I am also alumnus of the Aga Khan High School, Mombasa (1959-1962). Amir Janmohamed’s letter is of great interest and it helps me better understand role of Pirs so far as Ginans and impact of “Ginanic Practice” is concerned. A few weeks back, here in Luanda, Angola, I heard my first Waez in Portuguese. I had raised a question with Missionary Re: Pirs and their linage,e tc. Hence this letter for me personally is very informative. Being in a mulit-lingual Jamat (Portuguese, Indians, East Africans and members from other parts of the world), I can say that the common link in our practice here, is “The Wonderful Tradition of Ginans”. Even in the Waez relayed in Portuguese, Ginan helped everybody relate to the Waez even if they did not understand Portuguese. No matter how young or old or what language the Jamati Member speaks: Ginans binds us all and it is relayed the same way no matter who and from where. We owe this to our Pirs.

Comment on Historical Photos from the Archives of Master Khimani of South Africa – Part III by Aftab Cumber

Aftab Cumber — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:19:53 +0000

Great collection.

Comment on Literary Reading: Karim Master’s Legacy Lives on Through Students He Taught…and a Beautifully Illustrated Journal, "Rahe Rast" by Ahamed Ismail

Ahamed Ismail — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:05:23 +0000

I just came across this piece on Karim Master today, May 26,2012. Wonderful to celebrate the life and work of a great human being who inculcated religious thoughts to his students, perhaps thousands. To me personally he was a mentor who taught me Ginans with great love and in 1957 gave me the opportunity to recite Suras from the Qur’an in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam at the opening of Aga Khan Primary School.

Comment on Literary Reading: Shi'a Ismaili Tradition in Central Asia – Evolution, Continuities and Changes by Sulaiman Shah

Sulaiman Shah — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:40:52 +0000

It really helped me to know more about our Badakhshani Ismaili brothers and sisters. Truly speaking, I was searching for such articles on the internet and it was one of them which really enhanced my knowledge and gave more information about the Central Asian Ismailis.
Sulaiman Shah, Gilgit-Baltistan, Yasin

Comment on The Love for Ali by Shamim Dhanani

Shamim Dhanani — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:12:09 +0000

We are extremely fortunate to have the guidance of the Imam of the Time, Mawlana Shah Karim, who is the direct descendant of Hazrat Ali (a.s.). Our beloved 48th Imam noted that we have nothing to fear in this world if we have love for Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s), Hazrat Ali and his descendants.

The line of Imamat will be ever present with us until the day of judgement, and no one can extinguish the line and the light of Imamat. Shukar.