The importance of preserving our photographic heritage 

by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos

Editor’s note (November 6, 2019): We have learnt with deep sadness that Mr. Jan Karmali passed away on Thursday, October 31, 2019 in Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 86. We were privileged and honoured to publish his valuable and unique collection of photos that are shown in this post, and will always remember him for the effort and time that he took to make the photos and captions available to us. They were seen by thousands of readers around the world. We pray for the eternal peace of his soul, and convey our condolences to his entire family.

It is our great honour and privilege to present to our readers four rare photos of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and Prince Aly Khan that have been in the collection of Mr. Jan Karmali (1932 – 2019, see note above) of Edmonton, Canada, for many decades.

The (5th) photo at the top of this page featuring Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini Hazar Imam and his younger brother, Prince Amyn Muhammed, with their mother Princess Joan (Tajuddawlah) Aly Khan, is also from Mr. Karmali’s collection. Readers may have come across this photo in numerous publications; however the photo shown here is of a better quality than other reproductions we have seen over the years, because it is from the original print. The 6th and final photo with Mawlana Hazar Imam looking through a microscope is a much recent one taken in 1971. It is only 48 years old, compared to the other 5 photos that are from the 1930’s/1940’s and 80 years old.

These precious photos were brought to our attention through the enthusiasm of Amin Jaffer of Edmonton. Being in the same city as Jan Karmali enabled Amin to make scans of the original photos as well as coordinate with Jan Karmali to prepare annotated versions which include names of several individuals in the group photos. We commend Jan Karmali and Amin Jaffer for their magnificent work.

We sincerely hope that our readers around the world, who will be seeing some of these photos for the first time ever, will be inspired by Jan Karmali’s contribution and take the time to  search through their archives and old photo albums, and submit digitized photos from their collections for publication on Barakah (email: simerg@aol.com). 

If this not done, historical photos like the ones we are seeing on this page – and many we have published previously from other private collections – will be lost forever either because they have been largely forgotten or damaged due to environmental reasons. Digitization is one part of a larger process of preservation that’s at the core of promoting cultural heritage [1]. Locating old photographs, may also unfold remarkable and unique historical memories. 

We also urge readers never to recycle our community magazines, but to preserve them for posterity. Future generations will be curious about the decades gone by, and one of the best gifts we can leave behind are preserving original prints and magazines that will revive memories of our history. 

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A brief note on the Jan Karmali photo collection

by AMIN JAFFER
(story collaborated with JAN KARMALI)

In the late 1930s when the pictures were taken, there weren’t many Ismailis residing in Nairobi. Jan’s father, Karmali Mohamed, and his brother, Ahmed Mohamed, ran a business under the name of Ahmed Brothers on Bazaar Street. They had a monopoly on supplying the British Army with uniforms, tents and tent supplies etc. They had very good relations with the officers of the army. Karmali Mohamed had served as an officer with the British Army during the 1st World War.

Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, was very fond of going to the National Parks to watch the wild life as well as hunting. Karmali Mohamed who had rifles went as a guide to the parks. Sir Eboo Pirbhai who had a taxi business drove their car.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s father, Prince Aly Khan, as is well known was very much into driving fast cars. He would ask leaders to arrange racing safaris in which he would participate. In one of these races Prince Aly Khan drove a Chevy car supplied by Motor Mart, with Karmali Mohamed as a passenger. The car overturned and suffered extensive damage; both of them were luckily not hurt.

Jan had four brothers and five sisters. The eldest brother John (Shamshudin) and Haji ran a business under the name J. S. Karmali Ltd. They dealt in photographic and medical equipment. As a matter of fact, Haji was the only optical engineer in East Africa to be trained by Ernst Leitz Wetzlar of Germany, the manufacturers of Leica Microscope and other photographic instruments. His brother Najmi had a construction company and Jan himself had a photo and framing shop in Arusha, Tanzania.

Jan Karmali is now 86 years old and lives with his wife Fatma in Edmonton. They have three sons – Mohamed Ali, Salaudin and Hafiz.

Today, as Jan Karmaili shares this collection with Barakah’s readers, he takes the opportunity to pay a tribute to his late father, Karmali Mohamed, through the following image of medals which were presented to him by the British Army whom he served during World War I when he was around 18.

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Group photos of Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah and Prince Aly Khan

In 1937, at the time of Golden Jubilee of Imam Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, he would go to the houses of jamati members and meet the families. In many cases he would sit with families and have pictures taken.

This picture (annotated version, below) was taken at the Pangani House of Jan’s father, Karmali Mohamed.

When every one was taking up their positions for the photographer, Jan could not find a place and started sobbing and going towards his mother (sitting on right hand side of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, see person numbered 16 in annotated photo). The Imam called Jan and asked him to sit on his lap (18 in annotated photo).

The exact words Imam used in Urdu were “idar asaani se betho” (sit here in comfort). Jan Karmali was then five years old.

Please click on annotated photo, below, for enlargement

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Please click on annotated image, below, for enlargement

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Please click on annotated image, below, for enlargement

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Please click on annotated image, below, for enlargement

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Princess Tajudawllah, Joan Aly Khan, with her children, Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini Hazar Imam and Prince Amyn Muhammad

Please click on photo for enlarged version

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Mawlana Hazar Imam looking through a microscope

Please click on photo for enlarged version

Date posted: April 4, 2019.
Last updated: November 6, 2019 (Note at top of post announcing death of Mr. Jan Karmali on October 31, 2019).

Before leaving this website, we ask that you spend a few moments viewing Barakah’s Table of Contents where we have links to more than 170 marvellous pieces on Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family.

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REFERENCES

[1] For article on importance of preserving historical photos, please click:

• http://www.entradainstitute.org/2017/12/historical-photos-cultural-heritage-and-preserving-the-past/

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