A note to our readers: Publication of new pieces on Simerg and Simergphotos will resume after February 2, 2016.
Lady Volunteers of Hunza outside the bangalow of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Readers of http://www.simergphotos.com, the sister publication of this literary website, will later this week have a chance to view a collection of photos of His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, that were captured in Hunza and East Africa some 55 years ago by the late Abdul Mohamed Ismaily, lovingly known as “Papa Jan.” Never seen previously, this exclusive collection of historical photos is being published with the permission of the late photographer’s family in a multi-part series which will commence in February with photos taken in Hunza, Pakistan. Two photos from “Papa Jan’s” vast collection are shown here in this introductory post. Please watch out for this new special series. In the meantime, we warmly invite you to visit http://www.simergphotos.com to view a few of the 101 photo essays that have appeared on the photo blog since the autumn of 2012. For example:
- Photos and Videos: Simerg Captures the Spirit of the Jamat on the Opening Day of the Ismaili Centre in Toronto, Canada
- Historical Images: The 48th Ismaili Imam’s “Never-to-be-Forgotten” Message to Ismaili Youth
- Photo Essay: Chitral Through the Lens of an Eye Surgeon
- 5 Colossal Faces in the Black Hills of South Dakota
- Irresistible) Street Foods of South East Asia Through My Lens by Muslim Harji
Please click on photo for enlargement
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, signing an autograph for Roshan Dhanani, Kampala.
Date posted: January 11, 2015.
Last updated: January 31, 2015 (revised publication date, re: Hunza photos)
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Editor’s note: Shariffa Keshavjee of Kenya, a regular contributor to Simerg, recently heard a tape of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee Farman that was made in Kenya in which he asked “Are your hearts jumping with joy?” Tears flowed and the intezaar of the coming Diamond Jubilee came to her mind, inspiring Shariffa to pen the two poems. The Diamond Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan, inshallah, will be celebrated on July 11, 2017, when he will complete 60 years as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, in direct lineal descent of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and Mawlana Ali (a.s.), the first Imam. Co-incidentally, on July 1, 2017, Canadians will begin celebrating the 150th anniversary of their country with major events, festivities and programs around the country.
The term Salgirah is of Persian origin. Sal means anniversary and girah means knot and hence Salgirah literally means ‘an anniversary knot added on to a string kept for the purpose’. This article approaches the subject of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s birthday in terms of the Imam’s love for his murids and the love and devotion of the murids for their Imam.
The new Ismaili Constitution was ordained, signed and sealed by His Highness the Aga Khan on December 13th, 1986, his 50th birthday. His Highness did this with the belief that the Constitution would provide a strong institutional and organizational framework for his Ismaili community to contribute meaningfully to the societies among whom they live.
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