Category Archives: World Events

The Aga Khan in Pakistan: (1) A thorough and comprehensive coverage of his Diamond Jubilee visit to Northern Pakistan, Dec. 7- 14, 2017

9 December 2017

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Latest updates were applied at 00:47 AM on Thursday, December 14, 2017.

The purpose of this post is to provide external links to media coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Pakistan. This post will specifically cover his visit to Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan in the northern areas of Pakistan. We we will make every effort to ensure that we skip on links that contain repetitive information – often the same news agency report is shared  by different media.

NOTE TO OUR READERS: All material related to his Karachi visit will now be covered in a new post dedicated to Karachi. The link will be available shortly.

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Darbar attendances

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A bird’s-eye view of the Darbar at Aliabad, Hunza. Photo: The Ismaili

Newspaper reports suggest the following darbar attendances in Gilgit-Baltistan: 150,000 in Yasin (Ghizr District) and 100,000 in Aliabad (Hunza District). Also, original estimates for Chitral, 2 locations — Booni and Garam Chashma – were 140,000.

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Thursday, December 14, 2017

(a) Media Coverage

NOTE: All material related to his Karachi visit will be covered in a new post dedicated to Karachi!

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Tuesday/Wednesday, December 12/13, 2017

(a) Media Coverage

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Mawlana Hazar Imam walks through the Jamat during the Darbar at Garamchashma, Lower Chitral Photo: The Ismaili/Amirali Rimjee

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Monday, December 11, 2017

Entrance of a Darbar gate in Hunza decorated with traditional hats and flowers.

(a) Media Coverage

(b) Daily Motion Video: Welcome message to the Aga Khan from Shia Community

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Sunday, December 10, 2017

(a) AKDN Initiative

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(b) First page coverage (Urdu newspaper)

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Front page of Gilgit’s Urdu newspaper, dailybaadeshimal.com, that extensively covers Hazar Imam’s visit to Yasin and Hunza. First column, second photo down, shows Hazar Imam greeting Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, with his wife in centre. Mir Ghazanfar belongs to the ruling family of Hunza. He is the son of Last Mir of Hunza, Muhammad Jamal Khan. See more photos of Hazar Imam with the Mir and his wife, below.

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(c) Photos with Governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan

Aga Khan and Mir Photos

Mawlana Hazar Imam with Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan and his wife. The Mir currently holds the office of Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. He was appointed to the position of governor on November 24, 2015 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif.

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(d) Gilgit arrival, a Gbee News Twitter video (must watch, photos with children)

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(e) Media Coverage

Aga Khan Photo Face Book Page of Hunza News

Hunza News Facebook Page. See more photos at link above.

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Booni, Chitral, Darbar, December 9, 2017. See more photos at Chitral Times Urdu link, above.

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(f) Hunza preparations ahead of visit

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Saturday, December 9, 2017

(a) Booni Darbar video

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(b) Helicopter departure video (from town of Chitral to Booni)

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(c). Booni pre-darbar photos

booni didargah before Darbar on December 9

Tens of thousands of people pack the Didargah in Booni, Chitral, on December 9, before the arrival of Mawlana Hazar Imam for the Darbar. Photo: Pamir Times/Shuja Raza.

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(d) Flight Delay in Islamabad: “The C130 aircraft in which he was supposed to fly could not takeoff from Islamabad in time. The AKF Helicopter Wing however took over and proved its worth by promptly dashing over to Islamabad in marginal weather and ferried the Imam and his entourage to grace Chitral and allay the anxiety of tens of thousands of the waiting faithful at Garam Chashma and Booni. Due to the four hour delay in scheduled departure from Islamabad and extended ceremonies at both the Deedar Gahs, the Imam decided to stay overnight in Chitral” — Excerpt from ChitralNews.com

(e) Media Coverage

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Friday, December 8, 2017

(a) Chitral preparations ahead of Darbar

booni didargah

(b) Comment on the volunteers

“Volunteers from the community have been working day and night for weeks on, to clean the area and upgrade roads and prepare two grand ‘deedar gahs’ (congregation areas) at Booni and Garam chashma, which will hold thousands of disciples of the Imam of the Ismailia community. Ismailis from all over Chitral with their women folk and children have converged on Booni and Garam Chashma the two venues where the Ag Khan would address his followers. The scathing cold has not deterred the faithful to brave the weather and catch a glimpse of their Imam.” — Excerpt from Chitralnews.com

 (c) Media Coverage

Tribune ecopy page Aga Khan visit

December 9th issue of Pakistan Tribune, Twin Cities Section. See story below.

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(d) Social Media Tweet by Marvi Mennon

Marvi Memon, aged 45,  is a Pakistani politician who serves as the Minister of State/Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme. She has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since 2013 as a member of Pakistan Muslim League.

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(e) Video (Urdu news on Aga Khan arrival in Pakistan + meeting government leaders)

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(e) Expressions (Song honouring Mawlana Hazar Imam)

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Thursday, December 7, 2017

(a) Conventional or Social Media Coverage

(b) Video

Date posted: December 9, 2017.
Last updated: December 13, 2017, 11:42 PM EST.

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A Chitral boy’s special moment with his beloved 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, @Barakah

9 December 2017

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A young boy from Chitral presented a bouquet of flowers to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan on December 7, 2017. What then followed is a brief conversation the boy will remember all his life.

PLEASE CLICK: His Highness the Aga Khan in Pakistan: A Chitral boy’s story of a beautiful moment with his beloved 49th Imam

Please click on photo for story and video.

Date posted: December 9, 2017.

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Aga Khan’s forthcoming visit to remote Chitral: Photos with video @Barakah

2 December 2017

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PLEASE CLICK: Ismailis, as spiritual children of Mawlana Hazar Imam, always take to rejoicing when they hear about their Imam’s confirmed visits to other jurisdictions. Each visit by the Imam is filled with blessing for that particular jamat, as well as for other jamats around the world. I became truly conscious of this fact during an extraordinary moment in Montreal, just over a week ago, on the morning of November 21 — Read more at Barakah, a special project by Simerg dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan

Site of the Diamond Jubilee mulaqat of His Highness the Aga Khan with his jamat in Chitral. Please click for report, video and more photos.

His Highness the Aga Khan: Exclusive photo essay by renowned photographer Jean-Marc Carisse

19 November 2017

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Global Pluralism Award Ceremony at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat

Having photographed His Highness the Aga Khan several times over the past decades, the Ismaili spiritual leader always struck me as an affable gentleman with his charismatically warm demeanour. This year alone, I attended two of his events. The award ceremony this past week, on November 15, at the beautiful Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Sussex Drive in Ottawa was distinctively different…CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS BY JEAN-MARC CARISSE

Please click on image to read Jean-Marc Carisses’s exclusive piece for Barakah.

Date posted: November 19, 2017.

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Aga Khan at Uganda’s 55th Uhuru Celebrations

9 October 2017

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AUDIO OF REMARKS BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN UPON RECEIVING UGANDA’S HIGHEST HONOUR


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COVERAGE

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PHOTOS OF MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM’S ARRIVAL AND FLASHBACK: THE AGA KHAN AND UGANDA

PLEASE CLICK: His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Uganda for 55th Uhuru Day celebrations and to grace Ismailis with Darbar

Please click on image for photos and story as well as special feature The Aga Khan and Uganda

A Beautiful Moment in Winnipeg for 150th Canada Day as Thousands Star to Create Largest Living Maple Leaf

1 July 2017

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BY MALIK MERCHANT
(reporting from Winnipeg)

Canada Day Celebration in Winnipeg

Ismaila Alfa of Radio 1 CBC Winnipeg asks thousands of people who have formed a “Living Maple Leaf” at Winnipeg’s iconic street intersection at Portage and Main to look up and smile for a cameraman stationed at the top of a high rise office building. Photo: Simerg/Malik Merchant. Copyright.

2,500 red T-shirts were handed out at 8:30 a.m. on July 1 in downtown Winnipeg’s iconic intersection at Portage Avenue and Main Street to help create Canada’s Largest Living Maple Leaf for the celebration of the country’s 150th birthday. The event first began in Winnipeg in 2011, and thousands have annually participated since to form a living Canadian flag at different locations in Winnipeg including the Manitoba Legislature, the historic Forks and Shaw Park.

Tinelke de Jong, the director of marketing and advertising for downtown Winnipeg biz, said that for Canada’s 150th anniversary the organizers decided to opt for an all-red maple leaf at the famous intersection which is rarely turned into a pedestrians only site. The show was MC’d by Nigerian born Ismaila Alfa, who hosts  Up To Speed on CBC Radio One in Winnipeg. The organizers began positioning the crowd for the Maple Leaf at 8:30 a.m. and after a few practice sessions, Ismaila Alfa asked the crowd to look up at the camera for two photos — the first with a smile and the second one with the cheerful singing of “Canada”  (see video below). This was a truly memorable moment for me as I have never witnessed anything like this before, and have only attended Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa!

 

Please click to watch video

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Canada’s Largest Living Maple Leaf formed with the participation of thousands of individuals in Winnipeg on July 1, 2017, to celebrate the country’s 150th birthday. Photo: Downtown Winnipeg Biz.

Ismaila Alfa of CBC Radio 1, Winnipeg

Ismaila Alfa of CBC gives a thumbs-up to Canada Day after hosting a remarkable celebration in downtown Winnipeg, where thousands of people formed Canada’s Largest Living Maple Leaf. Photo: Simerg/MaliK Merchant.

Canada Day Celebrations at Portage and Main in Winnipeg

The spirit of happiness as a Canadian in Winnipeg celebrates the country’s 150th birthday. Photo: Simerg/Malik Merchant.

…..WHILE IN CANADA’S CAPITAL

Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa

More than 2000 kms east of Winnipeg, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined for Canada Day celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa by Prince Charles and Canada’s Governor General David Johnston. Photo: Simerg.

Date posted: July 1, 2017.

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Moscow, April 20, 2017 – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at talks with the Aga Khan

20 April 2017

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The following is an announcement posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Simerg will update this post as and when other details, photos and videos become available. The link to the Ministry’s website is provided below. With regard to the Minister’s mention of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s forthcoming Diamond Jubilee, we invite all our readers to visit Simerg’s new initiative, www.barakah.com – His Highness the Aga Khan A Visual and Textual Celebration 1957-2017.

Aga Khan in Moscow April 20 2017April 20, 2017: His Highness the Aga Khan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

20 April 2017 11:12

Your Highness,

Friends,

Welcome to Moscow. I would like to begin by saying that on July 11 we will mark 60 years of your mission as the Spiritual Leader and Imam of the Nizari Ismailis.

You are a good friend who often visits us. We highly appreciate your views on Afghanistan and also on many other modern issues. We treasure your sagacious and wise views as you are a man with great experience. We see that your actions are guided not only by a desire to protect the interests of Ismailis around the world, but also to help settle the acute international issues that have been accumulating for the past decade. We hope to have a useful meeting.

I am happy to see you.

VIDEO – REMARKS BY SERGEI LAVROV AND THE AGA KHAN 

Date posted: April 20, 2017.

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Please visit Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at talks with Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, Spiritual Leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim Community, Moscow, April 20, 2017

Please also visit  www.barakah.com – His Highness the Aga Khan A Visual and Textual Celebration 1957-2017.

A Delightful Pictorial Summary of Our 2016 Posts: From Historical Photos of His Highness the Aga Khan to Inspiring Travelogues and Photo Essays

28 December 2016

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Please click: 33 Awesome Photos!

With 2017 getting very close, a year in which Canada will be celebrating its 150th birthday on July 1 and His Highness the Aga Khan will be completing his Diamond Jubilee or 60 years as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims on July 11, we felt we should leave 2016 with a Pictorial Summary for the articles that appeared at Simergphotos during the year. We hope the 33 Photos we have chosen will inspire our readers to delve a little bit more deeply into the detailed pieces.

PLEASE CLICK: 33 Awesome Photos that Summarize Our 2016 Posts: From Historical Visits and Landmark Ceremonies of His Highness the Aga Khan to Fantastic Travelogues and Photo Essays

His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau picture on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at the Office of the Prime Minister located at the Centre Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo: Jean-Marc Carisee. Copyright.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at the Office of the Prime Minister located at the Centre Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo: Jean-Marc Carisee. Copyright. Please click photo for a pictorial summary of our 2016 Posts on Simergphotos.

Date posted: December 28, 2016.

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Simerg in 2016: Photo Blog Published Rare Photos from Hazar Imam’s 59 Year Reign and Great Travelogues and Stories

26 December 2016

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Kindly share http://www.Simerg.com with your friends, family members, relatives and all your other contacts around the world via email, the social media and by word of mouth! Thank you – ed.

Prince Amyn Muhammad and Princess Zahra applaud as the birthday cake is presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam. Photo: The Ismaili/Zahur Ramji.

A marvellous end to 2016! Mawlana Hazar Imam is applauded by members of his family as a cake is presented to him for his landmark 80th birthday, making him the oldest serving Imam in Ismaili history. The celebration was held at his home in Aiglemont, France, on Friday December 16, 2016. Photo: The Ismaili/Zahur Ramji.

By Abdulmalik Merchant
(editor/publisher Simerg, Simerphotos, and Barakah)

SIMERGPHOTOS commenced the year with the publication of rare photographs that had never been released or seen before! The late Papa Jaan’s treasure trove of photographs of  Mawlana Hazar Imam’s historic first visit to Hunza, was brought to our attention by  Montreal’s Muslim Harji, and with the  family’s support we published more photos that Papa Jaan (Abdul M. Ismaily, 1926-1981) took during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to Pakistan and Uganda as well as Prince Sadruddin’s Visit to East Africa. Sultan Jessa, who worked at the Daily Nation, then shared with us a set of his colleague Azhar Chaudry’s photos of the Aga Khan’s Visits to East Africa!

Muslim Harji’s name is on the lips of all our readers! He has never failed to take stunning photographs during his countless trips around the world, and his Central Asian photo essay series from 2015 overflowed into 2016 with Tajikistan’s Stunning Landscapes. Harji later would overwhelm our readers with  Photographs about Sacred  Spaces and, with the year about to end, he brilliantly captured Montreal’s Celebration of the 80th Birthday of Mawlana Hazar Imam. With regard to the birthday celebration we showed Mawlana Hazar Imam Being Gifted with a Unique Piece  of Art Created by Ismaili Artist Gulgee.

Even as he approached — and now has completed — his 80th birthday (December 13), a record for any Imam in Ismaili history, Mawlana Hazar Imam tirelessly visited many parts of the world. We have photos of his  Parliament Hill Visit in Ottawa by Jean-Marc Carisse , the visit to Portugal Where He Introduced Officials of the Imamat  and His visit to Egypt for a Business for Africa Forum. He also attended and awarded prizes in the UAE to The 2016 Winners of Aga Khan Award for Architecture. We decided to relive a Ten minute 2015 PBS episode about His Highness the Aga Khan  and we know that many readers visited PBS.

We received a few pleasant surprises along the way with Juby Sprake of Vancouver offering three very sweet photos of Hazar Imam’s 1966 visit to the Nairobi Aga Khan Primary School. Linda Baxter, a niece of the late Mr. Frank Pattrick, who worked for the Daily Nation, kindly sent Letters and Photographs of His Highness the Aga Khan from her family collection.

12 year old Renaye Tejani bakes cookies for charity and spreads joy in Mumbai, India.

12 year old Renaye Tejani bakes cookies for charity and spreads joy in Mumbai, India.

Nurin Merchant had visited Yellowstone, the world’s very first national park, some 5 years ago with her dad (author of this post) and decided to do a photo summary about Her One-of-a-Kind Experience in Yellowstone. Her grandparents came up with Photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Alykhan’s visit to Mozambique where they had both served during the 1950’s.

Family members sent us inspiring stories about their children. Readers were charmed with Renaye Tejani  of Mumbai Spreading Joy Through Baking. The Maherali family in Atlanta had taken their two sons to Dubai for the Ismaili Jubilee games where Riyaan Maherali met a basketball player who touched his heart. Not to be overlooked was the story about the Welcome Celebration of the Jubilee Games Lantern at the Children’s Soccer Camp in Burnaby.

Members of the  Ismaili community are active everywhere in supporting initiatives for a better world, and we were immensely proud to record the inspiring work of Ismaili Educators helping with Marginalized Children in Nairobi. We also showcased thousands of  Canadians participating in the Annual World Partnership Walk in Vancouver.

Ali Karim, like Muslim Harji, is an intrepid traveller and he undertook a momentous journey with his wife Dilshad to China and Northern Pakistan along the old Silk Road. His travelogue began in Shanghai, and he then proceeded to Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar before he finally reached his last stop in China in Tashkurgan where he met an Ismaili family. His remarkable account with stunning photographs of Ismailis in Northern Hunza is a must read for everyone who hasn’t yet read the post! We have one final Hunza episode from Karim coming up within the next fortnight.

Passu, Hunza. Ali Karim. Copyright.

Passu, Hunza. Ali Karim. Copyright.

Mawlana Hazar Imam mentioned in his remarks during the celebration of his 80th birthday, that he feels he is half his age! Therefore, we look forward to celebrating his Diamond Jubilee in 2017, with a prayer and a hope that he will remain in good health, and that all communities around the world will continue to benefit from his wisdom and his selfless work that has had such a major impact on marginalized communities around the world, especially in Asia and Africa. Mawlana Hazar Imam’s support of major development projects through his network, including Ismaili institutions and the Aga Khan Development Network, has always been  underpinned by the  Qur’anic ethic and principle that everyone is “born out of a single soul.”

We wish all our readers around the world a New Year filled with good health, peace, happiness and success in all their endeavours, and particularly pray for a peaceful world!

Individual Links to Our Treasure Trove of Photos

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Gift to Hazar Imam on His Birthday 
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Montreal’s Beautiful Salgirah Celebration
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Ismailis of Remote Northern Hunza
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PBS: His Highness the Aga Khan
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Scenes from Tashkurgan
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Sacred Spaces
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Kashgar
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All right reserved to Barzin Baharlouie
2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture
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 Turpan and Historic Kashgar
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Shanghai, Urumqi and Turpan
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Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
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Renaye Tejani Baking for Charity
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Feature Image - Brothers Qayl and Riyaan with Adnan Dahlvani in the middle
Riyaan Maherali’s Jubilee Games Hero
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His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam being greeeted by Mr Frank Pattrick
Aga Khan Photos: Frank Pattrick Family
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Lantern Fanous in Pakistan
Jubilee Games Lantern in Pakistan
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Ismaili Jubilee Games, Lantern, Ismaili Centre Burnaby
Jubilee Games Lantern in Burnaby
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Ismaili Educators Help With School
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Nurin Merchant Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
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World Partnership Walk
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Aga Khan at Parliament Hill
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Aga Khan in Portugal
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Hazar Imam’s Visit to Primary School
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Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Tanzania Visit by Papa Jaan
Prince Sadruddin in East Africa
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Aga Khan in Egypt
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Mawlana Hazar Imam in Pakistan
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Aga Khan in East Africa
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Mawlana Hazar Imam in Uganda
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Mawlana Hazar Imam in Hunza
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Portuguese crafts teacher shows Mawlana Hazar Imam a collection of needlework prepared by Ismaili students who regularly attended her sessions in a classroom located on the main floor of the Lourenço Marques jamatkhana. Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the Portuguese colonial city in 1959, following a visit made by his beloved father, Prince Aly Khan, in 1958. See photos below. Photo: Jehangir Merchant Collection.
Mawlana Hazar Imam in Mozambique
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Tajikistan Landscapes

Date posted: December 26, 2016.

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The video of the birthday celebration for Mawlana Hazar Imam held in Aiglemont, France, on Friday December 16, 2016 can be watched at http://www.theismaili.org.

Please share this post and website link with your friends and family members. We welcome your feedback.

Exclusive Coverage of the Aga Khan Award For Architecture, with Photos and Transcript of Extempore Remarks of Mawlana Hazar Imam in Dubai, UAE

7 November 2016

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I am also worried about the process of warming….We are seeing villages which are being wiped away by earthquakes, by landslides, by avalanches…I would like to see that as part of general education. I would like to see that as part of secondary education, so that all young people have a better understanding, particularly in our world, in the Islamic world, of the spaces in which they live, how they can ensure the security of their habitat, how they can practice good construction in these areas….PLEASE CLICK TO READ TRANSCRIPT OF THE AGA KHAN’S EXTEMPORE REMARKS

PLEASE CLICK: Special Coverage – Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Visit to the UAE

Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, Tehran, one of 6 projects to win the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Please click on photo for coverage of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, Tehran, one of 6 projects to win the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Photo: Aga Khan Trust for Culture/Barzin Baharlouie. Please click on photo for special report.

Date posted: Monday, November 7, 2016.

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