Barakah is dedicated to Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat – a Hereditary Divine Institution from the Time of the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali
Beautiful Moments from Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty at the University of Waterloo
By MALIK and DR. NURIN MERCHANT
Prince Hussain Aga Khan delivers his remarks at the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023 during the presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
It was a pleasure for me and my daughter Nurin, a graduate of veterinary medicine from the University of Guelph, to be among the youth of the Jamat and to see their expressions of happiness as they gathered in Hagey Hall the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023, for Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty. The Prince was accompanied by his wife Princess Fareen.
During his speech and his conversation with Dr. Vivek Goel, Prince Hussain Aga Khan expressed great concern about the condition of the ocean. He noted that sadly, he observes plastic in the ocean at every location he dives around the world — something he did not see when he was younger. He also noted that he was very worried about the deterioration and death of coral reefs around the world, and about several aquatic species (including a few species of whales and sharks, the latter being a group of animals he is very fond of) that are at the brink of extinction. Prince Hussain expressed disappointment regarding the failure of his own and of previous generations’ responsibility to assist in conserving ocean health, and expressed hope in today’s youth and in technology to save the oceans before it is too late.
Prince Hussain expressed his desire for all of us to do our utmost to help contribute towards the conservation of nature. He noted that it is our responsibility to ensure that we do not waste anything, to limit our use of plastics (which inevitably end up in the ocean – in fact, he mentioned that by 2050 it is estimated that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, which is a regretful but true reality), and finally, to educate others about the importance of the conservation of the ocean and of nature as a whole.
Zahira Dhalwani plays the sitar before and after Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty at the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah
Kitchener’s Grand Philharmonic Choir performs a spellbinding new choral and orchestral work about water at University of Waterloo’s Hagey Hall on May 23, 2023 during Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty. The exhibition opens to the public from May 25, 2023 at the Ismaili Centre Toronto located on 49 Wynford Drive. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
Dr. Vivek Goel, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Waterloo, engages in a conversation with Prince Hussain Aga Khan during the presentation of the Prince’s exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty at the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
Prince Hussain Aga Khan and Dr. Vivek Goel listen to a talk by Dr. Jean Becker on on the theme of water during the Prince’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Unity on May 23, 2023 at the University of Waterloo. Projected on the screen is the print of an image symbolizing the importance of water among indigenous women that was presented to the Prince by the University of Waterloo. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant.
Prince Hussain Aga Khan and Dr. Vivek Goel listen to a talk by Dr. Jean Becker on the theme of water during the Prince’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Unity on May 23, 2023 at the University of Waterloo. The print of an image symbolizing the importance of water among indigenous women that was presented by the University of Waterloo to the Prince and Princess Fareen is shown on the stage alongside a beautiful Iznik inspired vase that was presented to the University by the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada/ Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant.
Ismaili youth present a special song, the fifth in a series of six, in honour of Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty which is being held in Calgary, Toronto and the University of Waterloo. This picture was captured at the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
Princess Fareen Aga Khan initiated this standing ovation, alongside Prince Hussain Aga Khan, following the Ismaili youth’s presentation of a special song in honour of the exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty which is being held in Calgary, Toronto and the University of Waterloo. This picture was captured at the University of Waterloo on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
A photograph of the print entitled Offerings to Save the World that was presented to Prince Hussain Aga Khan and Princess Fareen by the University of Waterloo during the presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty. The caption plate at the bottom of the print reads: “In recognition of the visit of Prince Hussain Aga Khan and Princess Fareen to the University of Waterloo May 23, 2023.” Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
An Iznik inspired vase that was gifted to the University of Waterloo during Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty on May 23, 2023 at the University. Photograph: Nuein and Malkik Merchant/Barakah.
Students gather outside University of Waterloo’s Hagey Hall after Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
Students and youth in a celebratory mood pose for a group photograph outside University of Waterloo’s Hagey Hall following Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
More student students and youth join to pose for a group photograph outside University of Waterloo’s Hagey Hall following Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s presentation of his exhibition The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty on May 23, 2023. Photograph: Nurin and Malik Merchant/Barakah.
Date posted: May 24, 2023. Last updated: May 25, 2023.
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External links to reports of Prince Hussain’s visit to the University of Waterloo:
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Proud of Prince Hussain for bringing forth the higly important human issues for the thinkers to have debates upon.
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