Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
Passion, dedication, hard work, and commitment to an incredible cause — finding a cure for Alzheimer’s! That person is Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, who has raised over US $87 million during the past 40 years since her mother, Rita Hayworth, died from Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not just distant issues. They are prevalent in our own communities. In the USA, approximately 7 million people are affected; in Canada, the number is 750,000. These numbers highlight the urgent need for awareness and action. In 2022, Alzheimer’s disease alone was identified as the ninth leading cause of all deaths in Canada.
Just Imagine a world without Alzheimer’s! That is the vision behind naming the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual IMAGINE BENEFIT event in New York. The most recent gala, held on October 23, 2024, brought together over 300 guests and raised US $1.2 million.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un “Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.
A TRIBUTE TO SALIM JIWA & HIS DEVOTED WIFE MINA & FAMILY
The late Salim Jiwa (d. September 2024) with his wife Mina. Photograph: Jiwa Family Collection.
By FAROUK B.K.S. VERJEE
Salim Sadrudin Jiwa passed away in Vancouver in September 2024 at the age of 73. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Mina, and 3 children.
Salim, born on the shores of Lake Victoria in Bukoba, Tanzania, began his journalism career in Dar es Salaam, the Capital. This was a significant time for Tanganyika, which was newly independent and faced a scarcity of local journalists. In this urgent context, ambitious Salim quickly made his mark. President Nyerere wanted local journalists to write their aspirations for a multi-racial, African Socialist society. His vision was reflected in his diverse cabinet, which included Amir Jamal, an Ismaili, as his Minister of Finance and a European Bryson, as his Minister of Agriculture, showcasing the inclusivity of his leadership.
Nyerere’s policy of African Socialism followed the Arusha Declaration of February 5, 1967, which, over the years, resulted in nationalizing businesses and individual properties. These measures unsettled many in the Indian and expatriate business communities.
For young Salim, Canada was a welcoming choice. He could apply for his status from within Canada, and with freedom of speech, as a journalist, he could write as he pleased.
He never went back.
Starting with the Province Newspaper, the second largest daily in British Columbia (BC), as a minority immigrant, he faced the usual challenge of no “Canadian experience.” His relentless ambition, determination, and sharp humour made him a daring crime reporter. His drive is a testament to what can be achieved with sheer determination. Crime reporters get hardened over time.
He reported on a murder in the posh British Properties in West Vancouver.
A daughter-in-law was killed by her father-in-law, leaving behind a daughter of 4 months.
Salim and his wife Mina stepped forward and adopted her to give the young baby a loving home and an escape from the terrible family trauma.
At his well-attended funeral in September, I met some of Salim’s retired colleagues from the Province Newspaper. I thanked them for coming and told them I had met Salim in 1975 when he was a cub reporter. His colleagues remarked that Salim was no cub; he was a Lion!
In 1985, the bombing of Air India Flight 182 over the Atlantic took over 329 lives, 90 of whom were children. The flight had originated from Toronto and had suspected links to the Khalistan Movement. To this day, it remains the largest terrorist event in Canadian history.
After a $100 Million prosecution, this crime remains unresolved. A memorial marks this horrendous tragedy in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, bearing the names of all the victims. Salim wrote a bestseller, Death of Air India Flight 182.
In his book’s dedication, he writes: “This book is dedicated to the 329 victims of the sabotage of Air India Flight 182 and the two victims of the Narita bomb, as well as their families. Also to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their extraordinary work, members of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, who must remain in the shadows, and investigators in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, the USA and India. Finally, to my wife and children for all their help.”
Fabian Dawson the former Deputy Editor of the Province expressed the following sincere and heartfelt tribute to Salim:
“Salim was larger than life character in the newsroom. He was well respected, funny and always armed with a pun.”
Fabian worked alongside Salim for almost three decades. He continued:
“Throughout his career, Salim’s ability to build rapport with sources, from law enforcement to the families affected by tragedy, was legendary….his ability to connect with people on a human level made him not only a remarkable journalist but also a cherished friend to many. Salim’s presence in the newsroom was influential as it will be unforgettable.”
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Salim Jiwa at his desk at The Province, Vancouver’s daily newspaper, first published in 1898. Photograph: Via Jiwa Family Collection.
As the Honorary Secretary of the Aga Khan Council for Western Canada in 1975, we were wary and very shy of the media. Salim was very pushy about asserting our Ismaili identity, as most had arrived here stateless, impoverished, with a loss of identity, and in culture shock.
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“At his well-attended funeral in September, I met some of Salim’s retired colleagues from the Province Newspaper. I thanked them for coming and told them I had met Salim in 1975 when he was a cub reporter. His colleagues remarked that Salim was no cub; he was a Lion!” — Farouk Verjee
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Salim was a big man with a huge heart. He did not mind stepping on toes to get his job done. He was gentle with my toes and most cooperative, as was his other colleague, publisher Promod Puri, the founder of the weekly Link Newspaper, which covers the broadest spectrum of the South Asian Communities news and social and political activities in BC. The paper continues to thrive today.
Salim’s contribution to our Just Society has been enormous but rarely acknowledged in the larger community.
His peers awarded him the prestigious Jack Webster Award for excellence in legal journalism. He also received the MacMillan Bloedel’s Annual Journalism Award for outstanding writing, journalistic initiative, public service, and contribution to the understanding of important issues.
Salim in in his last days left the following message to his family:
“I have had a full and beautiful life, and I have done everything one could wish for far and beyond any anticipation in my life. I have no regrets about the way I have lived my life. I have supreme affection for Mina, Farouk, Hafeez, Alyia, and my children’s wives.
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Salim Jiwa with his children Farouk, Hafeez, and Alyia. Photograph: Jiwa Family Collection.
“My grandchildren have been a source of love and joy. My sisters, my mother, and my father have loved me. No regrets people. Enjoy your lives, as I have mine. Do good to all. Be generous, be fair, help the less fortunate and act with justice towards all.”
Salim, you are greatly missed by your family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Peace. Brother, Ameen.
Indeed, I may conclude that by their inspiring examples, Salim and Mina are the unsung heroes and heroines of the Ismaili Jamat. They have also served the larger community as outstanding, exemplary citizens.
Date posted: October 24, 2024. Last update: October 31, 2024 (added text of Salim Jiwa’s dedication in his book and an image of the cover page).
Correction: In an earlier version of this post, we misstated Fabian Dawson as the former publisher of The Province. He was the deputy editor.
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Condolence messages: We invite readers to submit their condolences, memories and tributes to Salim Jiwa by clicking LEAVE A COMMENT.
Farouk Verjee, left, with Baroness Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) at the opening of the Ismaili Centre London, April 24, 1985.
About the writer: Farouk B.K.S. Verjee served as the Honorary Secretary of His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada for 5 years from 1979-1984. He then became the Council’s President until 1987. His terms of office saw the foundation laying ceremony of the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre (a Silver Jubilee Project) by the Honourable Henry Bell-Irving, Lieutenant-Governor General of British Columbia, as well as its opening in 1985 by Canada’s Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney (d. February 2024). Both the ceremonies took place in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and his family members.
I am a self-taught artist from Tanzania based in Vancouver/Burnaby, Canada. I am retired and work from home in my studio. My art is inspired by vibrant landscapes and diverse wildlife. I try and capture them in my paintings. I also enjoy exploring abstraction and the human figure in my work. I like using vibrant colours in my art because I want to engage the viewer in a brighter way of seeing and experiencing life. I view these images through the artistic lens, looking at every angle, shape, and ray of light as a direct receptacle for creation.
Canadian Ismaili artist Mehboob Rajwani
I have exhibited works at the Roundhouse Community Centre organized by the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada and various local exhibitions, including the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival and Ismaili Center Vancouver. Recently, my artwork was accepted for display in Dubai for the Global Encounters 2025. My art piece, “Baobab Buffaloes,” was published in a book by Taslim Samji, “Kampala to Canada.” My work has also been published in the Artany Magazine, U.K.
I am enrolled at Emily Carr University of Arts and Design to demonstrate my commitment to art. I am glad to share a few of my art pieces through this forum in Simerg, which highlights the work of Ismaili Muslim artists worldwide.
Dadimaa
Dadimaa, Acrylic on Canvas,30″ x 30″, July 2017, painting by Mehboob Rajwani
This portrays the ever-knowing grandmother. Though she may be shrouded in elegant brocade, her face shows what lies beneath. Her eyes carry the weight from years of life. Guile imbues her profile as wisdom unravels itself from a loom of knowledge. The intricacies of her wins and losses, light and darkness, defeats and accomplishments, are captured in this still singular moment. She has been left and loved, witnessed wars, and seen the world shift like a handful of sand slipping between her fingers. Where there is pain, one finds Allah giving her strength and His compassion to forge ahead into the present, no longer lost but found. This painting was inspired by a photograph of Sultan Bhaloo’s grandmother.
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Vanishing Paradise
Vanishing Paradise, Oil, 48″ x 60″, January 2024, painting by Mehboob Rajwani.
All of us have an opportunity to save the natural world in one way or another. They say we fall in love with nature in different ways. For some, it is beholding orcas leaping out of the ocean, a heron silently stalking fish in a lagoon at dawn, the tragic joy of a salmon run. Thus, representing all of nature in its fragility. As such, I have created an underwater ocean floor to bring awareness for the beauty and splendour of the diverse species and coral that are unfortunately facing extinction.
I used oil paints to create an imaginative multi-coloured reef in an aquamarine background with a swimming turtle, exotic fish, and other colourful species. This work also depicts the gradual extinction of coral as it becomes dead and bleached, thus reducing the number of inhabitants.
My goal is to show the ocean’s importance as our home and the need to care for it as such. “In the existential quest to save the future, we need loving, persuasive leaders to save Earth,” says environmentalist Calvin Sandborn.
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Let Me Protect You
Let Me Protect You, Acrylic on Canvas, 26″ x 26″, 2023, painting by Mehboob Rajwani.
This piece depicts a loyal grandmother and child embracing in a moment of shared love.
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Elephants in Mud
Elephants in Mud, Oil, 30″ x 60″, 1977, by Mehboob Rajwani
This piece is sentimental to me as it is the first one of my works done in Canada. It reminds me of the wildlife memories I left behind in Africa. It took me some time as I painted it slowly, creating each elephant at a time. It displays the mother and calves enjoying playing in the mud, washing each other’s backs with their long trunks and being protective and caring. Their proximity to the water hole offers sustenance and a desirable cooling effect. Their unique ability to remember is poignant and touching, as they remain with their herd for years. Elephant mothers are fiercely nurturing and protective. As a result, nature has so much to teach us about family, love and caring for one another. At a time when poachers are prevalent, it is important to celebrate and protect these beautiful creatures. This piece has been selected by Global Encounters 2025 for exhibition in Dubai.
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Dreamscape
Dreamscape, Oil, series of two paintings, 33” X 47″ and 33” x 70”, paintings by Mehboob Rajwani,
This painting represents The Okanagan Desert and is the common name for a semi-arid shrubland located in the southern region of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It is centered around the city of Osoyoos and is the only semi-arid shrubland in Canada. Part of this ecosystem is called the Nk’mip Desert by the Osoyoos Indian Band. It is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.
The artistic vision of this work is to show the dry arid hills’ breadth and the land’s scope, which still maintain their beauty despite their fragility. The hills are dream-like to me, representing waves that could go on for miles and miles, yet looking stark and even lost because of their lack of vegetation. I have added robust colours to this imaginary scape to bring out the vividness of the land as it may have been at one time in the past. I have used six-panel canvases to bring the segments in unison. When placed together as one painting, they symbolically mark the fragmented nature of this piece and the possibility of wholeness in nature.
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Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ x 66″, painting by Mehboob Rajwani.
Mardi Gras is celebrated with faces depicting masks of love, hate, despair, and hope. The intricacies of bright colours and festivities demonstrate my representation of humanity. By bringing all cultures together and blending them into one another, Mardi Gras creates a peaceful symbol of unification and celebration. Here, difference is encouraged and complementary to the final vision.
Date posted: October 22, 2024. Last updated: October 23, 2024.
Corrections: (1) Taslim Samji was misspelled as Talim, and (2) it was incorrectly mentioned that Sultan Bhaloo took photographs of the paintings displayed here. A portrait of Bhaloo’s grandmother inspired Mehboob Rajwani’s painting Dadimaa. The corrections are reflected in our latest update.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please click Leave a comment. Your feedback may be edited for length and brevity and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
The editor invites Ismaili artists to submit a selection of their paintings and other works of art for publication in Simerg. Please submit images of no more than 8 objects in Jpeg (1200 x 900) and your profile to the editor, Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
In his Talika (written message) to his Ismaili Muslim followers, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family), mentioned that his family members at his request had assumed additional responsibilities to assist him in important areas of his work. The Aga Khan’s younger brother, Prince Amyn, his eldest child, Princess Zahra, and his three sons, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad, have responded magnificently to the Imam’s call, showing a united front in their efforts.
Pope Francis warmly greeted Prince Rahim Aga Khan during their private audience in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 4, 2023. The Pope was visiting Lisbon for World Youth Day. Photograph: Vatican News. Please click on the image for Prince Rahim’s articles.
They have travelled worldwide to review the work of the Ismaili Imamat and attended significant events related to the expansion and development of ongoing and new projects. Prince Rahim, a graduate of Brown University, celebrated his 53rd birthday on October 12, 2024, and he is arguably perhaps the busiest among all family members. Our sister website highlights 53 years of his life through a two-part series. Please read Prince Rahim Aga Khan (1971-2021) and Prince Rahim Aga Khan (2022-2024).
Featured photo at the top of post: Prince Rahim, in the company of his father, His Highness the Aga Khan, visited an Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) project in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 2008.
Date posted: October 12, 2024. Last updated: October 22, 2024.
Simerg’s introduction of “Books by Ismaili Authors” continues with a story by 16-year-old Maya Shariff. We follow the same Q/A format as our earlier presentations of books, which are listed chronologically below. We encourage Ismaili authors worldwide to participate in this series, regardless of when their books were published. See details of the series HERE and submit your responses to Simerg’s editor, Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
Simerg’s Message to Young Ismaili Muslim Writers: If a story you have presented in your school — whether in the classroom, a special event, or a newsletter — has received high marks from your teacher, please consider the opportunity to share it with a broader audience by submitting it for publication on this website, with the consent of your parents and school teacher. Maya Shariff’s submission and story below are good examples for your consideration. Note that Maya has published her book as a paperback and has a YouTube read-along presentation. Please submit your responses to the standard questions — see below — with the story to Simerg’s editor, Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
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I want to bring awareness to peer pressure and the importance of being able to express yourself from a very young age. My goal is to try to bring awareness to kids about what peer pressure is in hopes that when they are being pressured to do anything they are uncomfortable doing, that they able to voice their feelings and are not afraid to do so — Maya Shariff, Dallas, Texas.
Simerg: What is behind the name and title of the book?
Maya Shariff: The title of my book is “Swim or Climb? Max’s Swimming Dilemma.” The Character in the book has a choice of either doing what he loves to do, which is climbing, or choosing what his friends want him to do so he can fit in like the rest of the kids.
Simerg: Why would you want me or my family to read the book, and what will we learn from it?
Maya: From my research before I started this project I found by talking with many parents, children, and teachers, that peer pressure begins at a very young age. There is a stigma that peer pressure only happens in middle and high school. However, it happens at a very young age when kids are not aware that they are pressuring someone to do something of their liking and the other person may not know how to properly respond and stand up for themselves. Reading this book will give an example of peer pressure at a young age and show children how to stand up to it and be confident in themselves.
Simerg: What inspired you to write the book?
Maya: I want to bring awareness to this topic of peer pressure and the importance of being able to express yourself from a very young age. From my experience as someone who was peer pressured and from conversing with younger kids under the age of 10, peer pressure starts at an age as young as kindergarten. My goal is to try to bring awareness to kids about what peer pressure is in hopes that when they are being pressured to do anything they are uncomfortable doing, that they are able to voice their feelings and are not afraid to do so.
Interview continues below
Paperback Edition of Maya’s Book
“Swim or Climb? Max’s Swimming Dilemma” by Maya Shariff, with notes Mrugakshi Kulkarni; self-published through Lulu, July 12, 2024; paperback, 20pp. See below for a read-along version on YouTube.
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YouTube Read-Along Presentation By Maya Shariff
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Simerg: How can I purchase the book, and what are its available formats?
Maya: You can purchase the book’s paperback edition through the Lulu website; all proceeds from the sale go to the Girl Scouts Organization. I also have a read-along audiobook version on YouTube for kids that you can watch above.
Simerg: Did you hire an editor or an illustrator, or did you do all the work by yourself?
Maya: This is a self-published book through Lulu. My IB English teacher approved all the content, and I wrote and hand-drew my illustrations.
Simerg:Which was your first book, and how many have you written?
Maya: This is my first self-published book.
Simerg: How long did it take you to write the book — from start to finish?
Maya: Writing the book and content approval took about a month. Illustrations took 6 months. This book is not to be marketed as it’s a Gold Award Project. Having the book on this website will create a greater awareness of this issue to young children, and the activities at the end of the book will assist the kids in comprehension and understanding of the topic “peer pressure.”
Simerg: Tell us something more about your book (and its primary character).
Maya: Max and Jack come across an ad in the local newspaper for a swimming competition. They meet a girl named Crystal who loves to swim. Max feels pressured to learn how to swim to fit in. Will Max be influenced by Crystal’s behavior? Or will he resist being peer pressured? I, therefore, invite you to join in the reading of “Swim or Climb? Max’s Swimming Dilemma,” as we discover an example of peer pressure.
Date posted: October 4, 2024.
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About the Author
Maya Sharif, a sixteen-year-old high school student at Plano East Senior High School in Plano, near Dallas, Texas, is a Girl Scout Cadette with Troop #167. Her passion project, Peer Pressure, reflects her commitment to making a difference. Her book, “Swim or Climb? Max’s Swimming Dilemma”, is a powerful tool in raising awareness about peer pressure at young ages, helping children understand its implications and learn to resist it. Maya’s future is bright, with aspirations to pursue a career in the healthcare sector. In her free time, she enjoys running track, binge-watching Netflix, and spending time with her family. She lives in Dallas.
Calling all Ismaili Authors
We encourage Ismaili writers to introduce their books in a similar format as has been done in the post above. Please also see the series launch article and submit your responses to Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com. All submissions will be acknowledged. If a writer has published multiple books, each book will be highlighted in a separate article, and not combined with other books into one post. All writers should include a brief profile with a portrait photo.
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Links to the Ismaili Authors’ Series (in chronological sequence, oldest article first)
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos. Simerg’s editor may be reached via email at mmerchant@simerg.com.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 