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
Sunday, November 2, 2025, marks the 148th anniversary of the birth of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III, the 48th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. Born on November 2, 1877, he assumed the role of Imam at the remarkably young age of seven on August 17, 1885, a fact that never fails to inspire awe.
48th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Late Highness Aga Khan III.
His 72-year reign was the longest in Ismaili history. He passed away on July 11, 1957, and appointed his grandson, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, as the 49th Imam.
49th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Shah, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.
Born on December 13, 1936, Mawlana Shah Karim reigned for a total of 67 years, until his passing on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88, making him the oldest Imam in Ismaili history. Together, the 48th and 49th Imams served an astonishing total of 139 years.
50th and present Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan V.
Mawlana Shah Karim’s successor is his eldest son, Mawlana Shah Rahim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan V. Since becoming the 50th Imam earlier this year, he has visited his Ismaili communities in France, Kenya, and Uganda and is scheduled to visit them in the USA and Portugal from November 5-10 and December 1-4, 2025, respectively.
We present stories of the three Imams, which provide a comprehensive and enlightening picture of their lives and guidance to the Ismailis as well as their contributions to the world at large, in all aspects of human endeavour. The stories will ensure that you are well-informed about their legacy.
Over the years, Zarina Moosa, a teacher by profession, has read the late Aga Khan’s autobiography, The Memoirs of Aga Khan, several times. She was always highly moved when she came to the page where he spoke of his mother, Lady Ali Shah. Read Zarina’s introductory piece and the Aga Khan’s reflections on his mother on our sister website, Barakah, a platform dedicated to preserving and sharing the wisdom of His Highness the Aga Khan.
His Late Highness Aga Khan III (1877 — 1957), 48th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims; inset with his mother, Lady Ali Shah. Please click on the image for the article.
Opening my late parents’ literary archives is a challenging, ongoing exercise yet enriching journey. It’s been a few years — and please read the follow-up article — since I last referenced a special Ismaili Volunteer, Scouts and Guides Souvenir, a historical gem published in 1954 as a dedication to the Platinum Jubilee of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan and 35 years of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Bombay Volunteer Corps. This Souvenir was a gift from Noordin Babul, originally of Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique, to my parents during their visit to Toronto in 2011. Uncovering the souvenir recently, as I opened a few more of my parent’s boxes, I was struck by its historical significance and decided to examine it more closely.
The opening page of this extraordinary Souvenir includes the following message by the publisher, Lt. Col. Pirmohamed V. Madhani:
“In Commemoration of the Platinum Jubilee of His Royal Highness Prince Aga Khan and the completion of 35 years’ all-embracing humble services to Our Hazar Imam, Our country and the Ismailis by H.H. The Aga Khan’s Bombay Volunteer Corps, this Souvenir is dedicated to …..text not readable….and fervent supplication in the Holy Huzur-pur-nur of His Royal Highness….text not readable….Mohammad Shah Prince Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam Our Spiritual Father, May His Exalted Highness’ Blessings and Order Prevail, With dutiful homage, Pirmahomed V. Madhani, Lt.–Col.”
The page facing the dedication contains a special message from Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah in English, and on the following page, there is a text of the message in Gujarati. The message reads:
“Lt. Col. Pirmohamed has served brilliantly for a life time for the Volunteer Corps, and I do hope that all will have their names inscribed as volunteers and will take him as an example and give the same devoted services as he did” — Signed Aga Khan, 4th. June 1954.
Facing the Gujarati translation is a portrait of Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah, which appears under the Qur’anic verse, “And every thing have We counted in the Manifest Imam” — 36:12.
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Portrait of Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, 48th Ismaili Imam, in a special 1954 Souvenir commemorating his Platinum Jubilee.
As I prepare to share intriguing material from the souvenir in the coming weeks, I was surprised to learn that our present Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam, visited India in 1954 during his grandfather’s Platinum Jubilee year, a visit that holds significant historical importance. His advice to the Jamat, given three years before he succeeded to the Imamat on July 11, 1957, is a timeless guidepost, a beacon of wisdom that he has consistently mentioned in his Farmans (guidance, edict) during his 67-year reign as the 49th Hereditary Ismaili Imam. This enduring relevance of his advice when he was not an Imam is a powerful thread connecting us to our past and guiding us into the future. The following piece from the Souvenir’s article has been adapted and edited for clarity.
June 1954: Ismaili Volunteers, Scouts and Guides Souvenir on Prince Karim Aga Khan
A portrait of Prince Karim Aga Khan before he became the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismailis in a unique Souvenir commemorating his grandfather’s Platinum Jubilee.
Prince Karim Aga Khan is the grandson of His Royal Highness Prince Aga Khan and the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan. He has a brilliant personality and a most promising career for the Ismaili community. Every heart is thrilled and feels excited and joyful when one recalls the most cherished memories of Prince Karim’s glorious period of childhood and youth.
The brilliant achievements of the Fatimid Imams and direct descendants of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) have a significant bearing on Prince Karim Aga Khan, and Prince Karim’s atmosphere of bliss and divine enlightenment is clearly perceptible.
Prince Karim’s outstanding leadership and high talent qualities were evident during his visit to Bharat [India]. The golden advice that Prince Karim tendered to the Jamats is proof of his clear thought and tremendous love and affection for the Ismailis.
Prince Karim Aga Khan said:
“Strive to impart such an education to children so that they may earn their rightful place in the world because on it depends on the success of their lives. It is an important requirement of life which will stand them in good stead in the battle of life. So, every effort must be made to impart to the Ismaili children the right type of education.”
The souvenir article notes that this advice is one example of Prince Karim Aga Khan’s great concern for the education of our children. The article then continues:
On another occasion during the visit, Prince Karim impressed Jamat with the need for hard work and great perseverance. He called upon everyone to do good deeds; endless service to humanity is eternal and immortal. Prince Karim requested the Jamat to help one another and thus show their true love and devotion to the community. He said:
“Your patriotism and loyalty must be sincere, active and productive. Please follow this advice, and be industrious and hardworking. The work done for the community is always noble and verily we are taught that all good deeds shall be compensated fourfold.”
Prince Karim called upon everyone to always remember the Farmans so lovingly bestowed by Imam-e-Zaman [the Imam-of-the-Time, then his grandfather, the 48th Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah] and to translate the Farmans fully into action.
The Souvenir states that the Ismailis of Bharat were fortunate to have His Serene Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan in their midst in 1954. His words of wisdom, which he uttered on various occasions, were so full of meaning that everyone was highly impressed with his intellectual superiority and qualities of mind and heart.
The Souvenir concludes: “We are all so happy that Prince Karim is taking such a keen interest in our welfare and happiness.”
May I note that the Souvenir is rich with information about Ismaili volunteers of the time and narratives of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah’s visits to the Jamat in India. We look forward to sharing some of the Souvenir’s content in future pieces in Simerg and its sister website, Barakah.
Date posted: January 6, 2025. Last updated: January 7, 2025 (typo).
Major Lakhpati, a volunteer, poet, and writer, had been in poor health for many years. However, he clung to one cherished wish: to live to see the Diamond Jubilee of his beloved Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III. This Jubilee held a profound significance in the Major’s life, and he was determined to be a part of it. His recovery was a testament to his unwavering spirit, allowing him to celebrate the Jubilee and travel to Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), for the grand celebration in March 1946.
A Diamond Jubilee artwork of His Highness the Aga Khan III by Major Lakhpati
As an artist, Lakhpati’s talent and dedication to the Imam were evident in his incredible paintings for the Imam’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees. I acquired a fine copy of Lakhpati’s Diamond Jubilee print from Ottawa’s Abdulmalek Thawer and posted it on this website after professionally scanning it (please click HERE for the story).
The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, has just published a short but inspiring YouTube video highlighting the life of Major Lakhpati, a figure of immense significance who served the Imam and the Jamat for decades. His literary, poetic and artistic contributions are genuinely inspiring, as showcased in the video. I urge a passionate research student or scholar in Ismaili history to undertake to study the Major’s life and works and publish a comprehensive biography of one of the most extraordinary Ismaili volunteers of the 20th century. Watch the following video to learn more about this remarkable individual and feel the responsibility and urgency to contribute to his legacy.
“My interest in horses, their breeding, training, and racing, has been with me all my life and is of course also part of the tradition that I have inherited, the environment in which I was bred.” – Aga Khan III in Memoirs of Aga Khan, page 192
The first-ever book on the history of His Highness the Aga Khan III’s horse breeding, training and racing activities was published in April 1938. Titled The Aga Khan’s Horses, this book was authored by the horse racing writer, R. C. Lyle.
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Signature page of Limited Numbered Edition 128 of 140 of The Aga Khan’s Horses, with signatures of the author, illustrator and Aga Khan III. Photo: Simerg.
Besides a trade edition, a limited edition of 140 specially bound numbered copies of The Aga Khan’s Horses were also produced. A special and unique feature of these numbered copies is that they are signed by the author (R. C. Lyle), the artist (Lionel Edwards) and His Highness the Aga Khan III (see photo of signature page, above). Of the 140 signed and numbered limited edition copies, only 125 were made available for sale.
Simerg is delighted to offer for sale a copy of this limited numbered and signed edition. The Limited Numbered Edition 128 is bound in beautiful olive green quarter parchment, with the boards covered in linen-texture brown cloth (emulating the racing colours of Aga Khan III). The olive green calf is accentuated with a single gold line and gold lettering on the spine. The upper edges of the handmade paper are gilded, with the other edges untrimmed.
The overall condition of #128 of The Aga Khan’s Horses is excellent. Besides the colour frontispiece, there are 7 other plates of colour photolithographs (each covered with guard sheet printed in red with title of illustration), 12 pencil sketches (photolithograph plates), all by the famous British painter Lionel Edwards, who specialized in painting horses, as well as a further 16 photographic illustrations.
Limited edition signed copies of The Aga Khan’s Horses are extremely rare and most are in private or institutional collections. This is a unique opportunity to acquire an original limited edition signed and numbered copy of The Aga Khan’s Horses.
Please send an email to Malik Merchant at simerg@aol.com for pricing details; include your name and contact details with a phone number where we can reach you.
Brief Highlights from The Aga Khan’s Horses Signed by Aga Khan III
An illustration of “Bahram” in The Aga Khan’s Horses, 1938, Signed by the Aga Khan.
R. C. Lyle in his dedication, states:
To H.H. Aga Khan
The only man living who has headed the Leading Owners’ List seven times
1924 1929 1930 1932 1934 1935 1937
And the only man living who has won the Derby three times
1930 1935 1936
In his introduction, R.C. Lyle writes:
“It is a special pleasure and honour to thank His Highness the Aga Khan himself, both for his permission to enquire into all that appertains to his Stable and for the very helpful interviews that he has given.”
An illustration of Mumtaz Mahal in The Aga Khan’s Horses, 1938, Signed by the Aga Khan.
Date posted: July 28, 2021.
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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.
It was here, well over a century ago, in 1899, that a young 22-year-old Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III, came by yacht from Zanzibar, the first Ismaili Imam ever to set foot on East African soil, in the then German East Africa….READ MORE
A few days ago we listed twelve pieces that have been very popular with the readers since this blog was launched three years ago. We now present twelve more popular readings. In addition, we are also providing links to three completed series consisting of over one hundred articles. Each of the series is also available as an excellent PDF publication.
Readers may be interested in the following facts about this blog:
In 2009, Simerg averaged 300 views per day (year total, 119,000); in 2010 the daily average was 775 (280,000); in 2011, daily average was 994 (362,000); and for 2012, the daily average for the 4 month period, January-April, is running at 1,120 (135,500). Cumulative views from March 2009 – April 2012, 895,200. The highest one day view was 4,290, on October 8, 2010, when we published John Macdonald’s exclusive photos of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s Residence, in Ottawa (Canada’s New Governor General, His Excellency David Johnston, Receives His Highness the Aga Khan). We need to substantially increase the readership numbers, and enhance Simerg’s presence and awareness on the world-wide web. We hope readers will help us in our goal by sharing the website with their family members, friends and other contacts in numerous ways including word of mouth, the social media and email forwards. Some of these features are now available at the bottom of each article.
SIMERG: POPULAR POSTS
Maria Cook Interview: The Delegation Building
Imam of the Socio-Economic Revolution
"Animal Voyage"
99 Names of Allah - Sculptural Representation
His Highness the Aga Khan - Awards and Honours
Miracles in ginan "Putla"
Ethics in Kalam-i Mawla
The Face of Imamat
75th Birthday Tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan
Journey to the Roof of the World
Story of the Imprisoned Parrot
Fatimid Tombs and the Aga Khan Mausoleum
SPECIAL SERIES: AVAILABLE AS INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES & PDF FILES
Aspects of Imamat and Didar
Series "I Wish I'd Been There"
His Highness the Aga Khan III
A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What’s New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.
“…Remember that it is by becoming a better individual, by trying to improve as a single human being, that you can do more for your community and your country in general.” – Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan
Please click on photo for Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Speech. UNHCR photo. Copyright.
“I would like to see every Ismaili and particularly every young Ismaili become an Ambassador, a real ambassador of the community. And I mean active ambassadors, Ambassadors who really work hard.” – Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan
A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What’s New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.
Left: The Lancaster Room, Savoy; Right: Verse of a qasida written on the program by His Highness the Aga Khan. The program was then sold to the highest bidder. Please click for article. Photos credits: The Savoy and Amir Alibhai Kassim-Lakha.
A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What’s New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.
A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What’s New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 