Introduced, prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT
We are delighted to welcome new readers to our website as we publish this post on the auspicious occasion of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s 53rd birthday, which falls on October 12, 2024.
Happy Birthday Prince Rahim
On behalf of my family members and myself, I wish the Prince good health and success in all his endeavours, both in his personal life and in his work for Mawlana Hazar Imam. We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt congratulations to Mawlana Hazar Imam and all the members of his family on this joyous and auspicious occasion. May this celebration bring us all immense happiness and prosperity.
Prince Rahim’s birthday falls at the height of the autumn season, a time when leaves in trees in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere turn red or yellow before falling. As the editor marvelled at the stunning autumn foliage at Calgary’s Bowness Park, Prince Rahim’s presence was felt. We share an image of a heart-shaped leaf from the Park, a symbol of the Ismaili community’s deep affection for Prince Rahim.
_____________________
Prince Rahim Aga Khan: 1971 – 2021, the First 50 Years
Many fond memories come to mind as we think of Prince Rahim, eldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah, brother of Princess Zahra (b. September 18, 1970, see 54 years in pictures), Prince Hussain (b. April 10, 1974, see devotion to sea exploration) and Prince Aly Muhammad (b. March 7, 2000, see 23 years in pictures). The first memory is of his birth on October 12, 1971, joyously celebrated by the Ismaili community worldwide. He was named Rahim.
Rahim is part of the Islamic phrase Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim (in the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), one of Islam’s most important and significant phrases. It contains three definite nouns — Allah, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim — corresponding to the first three of the traditional 99 names of God in Islam. The phrase is recited before each of the 114 chapters of the Qur’an except for the 9th. Both ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim are from the same triliteral root, R-Ḥ-M, which signifies sympathy, pity, mercy and caring, providing a deeper understanding of the phrase.
Rahim has been a profoundly significant and enduring name throughout history. Parents proudly name their children Rahim as a testament to the values of compassion and kindness they wish to instill in their offspring, virtues that should be cherished and celebrated.
Article continues below
Many of us have recollected Prince Rahim’s presence at the mulaqat (meeting) in Kenya in 1981 and have seen photos of him and his family departing for a safari trip. Two years later, in July 1983, many of us in London saw Prince Rahim at the Olympia Hall during the Silver Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam. Then, of course, we all remember his engagement and marriage to Princess Salwa. The birth of their children, Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan, who were born on April 11, 2015, and January 2, 2017, respectively, was a moment of great anticipation and joy for our community, marking a significant milestone in Prince Rahim’s life.
Article continues below
We vividly remember the family’s gracious presence in Lisbon during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in July 2018. We also have a loving memory of Prince Rahim at the 80th birthday celebration of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Prince Rahim, currently based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Asia (UCA), and also sits on France’s Board of the Fondation de Chantilly. His academic journey began at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he received his secondary education. He later pursued his higher education at Brown University (Rhode Island, USA), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature. His graduate studies were followed by experience in the construction sector.
Article continues below
In 2006, Prince Rahim completed an executive development program in management and administration at the University of Navarra IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, before joining the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Prince Rahim travels regularly to Asia and Africa to oversee the AKDN’s economic development program and other projects. The Jamat in these countries recall Prince Rahim’s visits with great happiness.
On a personal note, I was present at Brown University’s “Green” when Mawlana Hazar Imam delivered the Baccalaureate Address to the University’s class of 1996 on Sunday, May 26, in the Meeting House of the First Baptist Church. Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra attended the event, and I saw them at the Green the following day when Mawlana Hazar Imam was honoured with an Honorary degree by the University. In introducing Mawlana Hazar Imam in the Meeting House, Brown’s president, Vartan Gregorian (d. April 26, 2021), thanked Mawlana Hazar Imam for “entrusting the education of Prince Rahim to Brown University.” He added, “We are grateful for your trust; we salute Prince Rahim, your beloved daughter Princess Zahra and your son Prince Hussain.”
Article continues below
_______________________
1971 – 1981: Prince Rahim Aga Khan as a Child and a Young Boy
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
_______________________
1995: Prince Rahim Aga Khan, CLASS OF 1995, in Brown UNIVERSITY’S LEADERSHIP Positions and Volunteer Leaders List
One more private, personal thank you — for entrusting the education of Prince Rahim to Brown University. We are grateful for your trust, we salute Prince Rahim, your beloved daughter Princess Zahra and your son Prince Hussain — Excerpt from (Late) Vartan Gregorian’s introduction of Mawlana Hazar Imam, Brown University, May 26, 1996
_______________________
1999: Prince Rahim Aga Khan at inauguration of thermal power plant in IVORY COAST
~~~
_______________________
2002 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Kenya for ips projects
~~~
~~~
_______________________
2002 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan accompanies mawlana hazar imam at State Dinner in Texas
“Nine eleven has scarred America, but not just America. It has scarred the Islamic world, and hundreds of millions of devout and practicing Muslims for whom the Qur’an is the world of God. We have clarity and direction enough when the Qur’an affirms that to save a life is, as if, to save humankind altogether. The Center will be a place of peace, humility, reflection and prayer. It will be a place of search and enlightenment, not of anger and obscurantism. — His Highness the Aga Khan, inauguration of the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center, Houston, June 23, 2002
For more than a millennium the Ismaili tradition has been rooted in understanding, enlightenment and tolerance. You have welcomed peace while shunning discord. You have practiced love while speaking out against hatred. Your faith has been a reservoir of hope for those seeking light. — Governor Rick Perry, inauguration of the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center, Houston, June 23, 2002
_______________________
2007: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Speaks to Graduating students of the Institute of Ismaili Studies
EXCERPTS FROM PRINCE RAHIM’S SPEECH MADE ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
(1)
“Education, international studies and diplomacy, non-profit leadership, media, development, law, and regional studies will all be among the most relevant fields of expertise in the decades ahead. This will be particularly true in the developing world. In deciding to attend the IIS, you therefore also chose to analyse and understand the problems of the developing world, and to address some of the most intractable issues of our time.”
(2)
“Absolutist, exclusivist, and rejectionist claims to the truth, especially to religious truth, are increasingly heard from all quarters. Rather than seeing religion as a humble process of growth in faith, some people presume to claim that they have arrived at the end of that journey and can therefore speak with near-divine authority.”
Article continues below
(3)
“Our Ismaili tradition, however, has always accepted the spirit of pluralism among schools of interpretation of the faith, and seen this not as a negative value, but as a true reflection of divine plenitude. Indeed, pluralism is seen as essential to the very survival of humanity. Through your studies you have known the many Qur’anic verses and hadiths of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that acknowledge and extol the value of diversity within human societies. You all know, I am sure, the hadith to the effect that differences of interpretation between Muslim traditions should be seen as a sign of the mercy of Allah.”
(4)
“The untrue and unfair, but increasingly widespread equating of the words “Islam” and “Muslim” with “intolerance”, sometimes even with the word “terrorism”, could lead some Muslims to feel despair, indignation, or even shame. To me, however, the current global focus on the Muslim world, and on Islam itself, presents a golden opportunity for us to educate and enlighten, while actively exemplifying the counterpoint I mentioned before. To my eyes, it creates an opportunity, and an even-greater obligation for us to make a positive and visible impact on the world — on culture and art, science and philosophy, politics and ecology, among others.”
_______________________
2008: Prince Rahim Aga Khan — Golden JUBILEE MOMENTS WITH MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM in UGANDA, the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, WEST AFRICA, portugal, Canada and france
(1) AUGUST 2007: UGANDA
The Bujagali project was not merely a desirable option as we began to examine it a few years ago. It was a fundamental necessity. I believe that the Bujagali project will propel a great chain of positive developments…. step by step each of AKFED’s projects will make a special contribution, we trust, to an upward spiral of progress — His Highness the Aga Khan, Foundation Laying Ceremony, Bujagali Hydropower Project, Kampala, August 21, 2007.
~~~
_______________________
(2) MARCH 2008: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
~~~
~~~
This new Centre is itself a profoundly spiritual place. Its defining symbolism is inspired by the Fatimid tradition — stretching back over 1000 years and widely shared with sister traditions throughout the Islamic world — from Baghdad to Bokhara. As its architects have so effectively realized, this building exists fundamentally as a place for peaceful contemplation, but one that is set in a social context. It is not a place to hide from the world, but rather a place which inspires us to engage our worldly work as a direct extension of our faith. — His Highness the Aga Khan, Inauguration of Ismaili Centre, Dubai, March 26, 2008
_______________________
(3) APRIL-MAY 2008 — WEST AFRICA
The formal ties between the Imamat and West Africa date back to the 1960’s, when, as a young Imam, I had the opportunity to visit several countries in the region. But our informal ties go back much further than that. Historians speak of exchanges between scholars in Sankoré University and scholars from al-Azhar, the university in Cairo founded at the start of the 10th century by my ancestor, the Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz — State Banquet, Bamako, Mali, April 23, 2008
In Islam it is said that Allah makes us responsible during our lifetime for His creation and the good management of His creation. We are effectively the ‘trustee’ and not the owners of His creation. It is for this reason that I have chosen the word ‘Trust’ because that is a word that seems to correspond best to the ethics of Islam and the individual in the face of Allah’s creation. That is why the Trust [the Aga Khan Trust for Culture] while being a foundation, is called ‘Trust’ — His Highness the Aga Khan, Ceremony to announce the creation of Bamako Park, Bamako, April 25, 2008.
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
_______________________
(4) JULY 2008: PORTUGAL
~~~
_______________________
(5) DECEMBER 2008: CANADA
To be able to site this building [the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat] on Confederation Boulevard, in close proximity to your major national institutions as well as representations from abroad, is itself a symbol of the outgoing interactive spirit which must guide our response to global challenges… The challenge of pluralism is particularly important for those who are called upon to lead diversified communities and to act in diversified environments. It is a challenge to which Canadians have responded nobly through the years — His Highness the Aga Khan, inauguration of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa, December 6, 2008.
~~~
_______________________
(6) DECEMBER 2008: FRANCE
_______________________
2011 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends inauguration of new head office of the Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank
Today is truly a special day…. it comes at a special time of the year. The festival of Navroz is a time when we think about renewal and rejuvenation — when we welcome a new spring season in a spirit of hope and optimism. And that spirit is very prevalent as we gather here today to mark the opening of a new head office for KICB — and as we celebrate the spirit of forward-looking progress in the Kyrgyz Republic — Prince Rahim Aga Khan, March 23, 2011
Article continues below
Her Excellency President Otunbaeva, on March 23, 2011, officially inaugurated the new Head Office of the Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in the presence of Prince Rahim Aga Khan. KICB was set up in 2001 to issue short, medium and long-term loans to stimulate the development of small and medium-sized businesses throughout the Kyrgyz Republic and serves tens of thousands of clients through several branches in five oblasts in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) was one of the organisations that helped establish the bank.
Article continues below
EXCERPT FROM PRINCE RAHIM’S SPEECH MADE ON MARCH 23, 2011
“Today, in both its internal operations and its external actions, KICB represents the spirit of pluralism, and the conviction that diversity is a source of strength and vitality. We salute today KICB’s resolve to serve the entire spectrum of the country’s population by offering a variety of financial products and solutions. The aim is to ensure economic empowerment ranging from the small and medium enterprises to large scale corporate organizations. The Bank’s policies recognize that the strength of any society — as a whole — will ultimately depend on the progress of each of that society’s parts. The Bank’s approach also reflects another principle of our Network, the need for multiple development inputs. What this means is that forward steps in one area — such as education or health — will work best when they are combined — and coordinated — with other initiatives — for example in transportation, or energy supply, or agricultural production. Business investments must go hand in hand with social investments. The Aga Khan Development Network is deeply committed to these principles.”
_______________________
2011 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Opening of the Dushanbe Serena Hotel
His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Mawlana Hazar Imam inaugurated the Dushanbe Serena Hotel on November 1, 2011. The ceremony, which was held in the hotel’s Millat banquet room, was attended by Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Executive Director of AKFED, Prince Rahim Aga Khan,and dignitaries from the government, development and tourism sectors.
_______________________
2012: Prince Rahim AGA KHAN AND PRINCESS ZAHRA join Mawlana Hazar Imam at the 25th anniversary celebration of Synergos
As part of the Synergos Institute’s University for a Night series, Mawlana Hazar Imam was awarded the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award on October 22, 2012, in London, England. He was joined by Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra at the event, and Robert Dunn, President of the Synergos Institute, conducted an interview with Mawlana Hazar Imam. Synergos works to establish a world that is just, fair, and free of poverty. It collaborates with philanthropists and foundations, community leaders and corporations, governments and global entities, and jointly tackles issues such as education, food security, health, nutrition, chronic isolation, social entrepreneurship and community economic development. David Rockefeller, in a letter addressed to Mawlana Hazar Imam, which was read to the audience, described the reasons for awarding this honour: “Through the Aga Khan Development Network, you have leveraged the social conscience of Islam in ways that benefit people of all faiths, promoting tolerance, pluralism and broad-based development.”
_______________________
2013: Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s Engagement and marriage
Mawlana Hazar Imam announced the engagement of his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, to Ms Kendra Spears of Seattle, Washington, the United States, on April 26, 2013. Ms Spears holds a BA in sociology from the University of Washington in her native Seattle. She has a strong interest in the arts and architecture. Ms Spears has had a highly successful career as a model, working with many of the most prestigious fashion houses.
Article continues below
The couple then were married in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 31, 2013. The event was held on the shores of Lake Geneva, on the grounds of the Château de Bellerive — the residence of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s uncle, the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (d. May 12, 2003) and his wife, Princess Aliya. The proceedings commenced with reciting a traditional qasida in the Farsi language to praise Hazrat Ali. This was followed by the nikah recited by His Eminence Sayyed Muhammad Musawi, a prominent Shia faith leader.
~~~
_______________________
2014 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan opens new Diamond Trust Bank headquarters in kenya, visits AGA KHAN ACADEMY
Prince Rahim attended the opening of the new corporate head office of Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), one of the oldest financial entities of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. The premises were inaugurated by the governor of Kenya’s central bank, Professor Njuguna S. Ndung’u, on Thursday, January 16, 2014. The following day, Prince Rahim inaugurated the newly restored Jubilee Arcade in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa. The building, which first housed the Jubilee Insurance company over 60 years ago, now includes a vibrant, modern arcade shopping and office complex in the heart of the city’s busy Moi Avenue. While in Mombasa, Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa also visited the Aga Khan Academy — the first in a global network of 18 schools that will eventually span 14 countries on three continents.
~~~
~~~
_______________________
2014 (2): Prince Rahim aga khan At Brown University for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 88th Stephen A. Ogden Jr ’60 Memorial Lecture
_______________________
2015 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Salwa HAVE FIRST CHILD, A SON NAMED Prince Irfan
Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa announced the arrival of their first child, a son named Prince Irfan, who was born in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 11, 2015. Mawlana Hazar Imam’s special message to the global Jamat on this occasion expressed the great happiness of the Aga Khan and Spears families. Jamats worldwide received the news of Prince Irfan’s birth with immense joy and traditional celebrations.
_______________________
2015 (2): Prince Rahim AGA KHAN at inauguration OF Côte d’Ivoire’s first operational combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant
Azito Energie SA (“Azito”) on June 30, 2015, celebrated the commercial start-up of Phase 3 of its 430 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (“CCGT”) power plant in Abidjan with an onsite inauguration ceremony held in the presence of His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, and Globeleq executives led by Mikael Karlsson, CEO of Globeleq. The inauguration made Azito one of the most modern, efficient power plants in West Africa, providing 25 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity capacity.
______________
2016: Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends Opening of World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan and inauguration of naryn campus
(1) At Nomad Games
“I am delighted to be back in Kyrgyzstan to enjoy its stunning landscapes, traditions of hospitality and to meet old and new friends. It was a pleasure to witness the spectacular opening of the Second World Nomad Games and in particular to experience the enthusiasm of the Kyrgyz peoples for their nomadic traditions” — Prince Rahim Aga Khan, September 2016
Representing Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended the official opening of the Second World Nomad Games, held in September 2016, in Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of H.E. President Almazbek Atambayev. With more than 1,000 performers and an exhilarating sound and light show, the opening ceremony presented themes common to nomadic traditions in diverse geographical and cultural contexts while highlighting those specific to Kyrgyzstan. Some 2,000 athletes from 40 countries participated in over 20 sports competitions. These include wrestling, horse racing, archery, horseback wrestling, kok-boru, Central Asia’s most renowned horseback competition and toguz korgool (a nomadic intellectual game).
Article continues below
Welcoming Prince Rahim to the Naryn Oblast section of the ethno-village specially built for the second day of the ceremonies, the Naryn Governor, Amanbai Kayipov, remarked, “We are honoured by your presence and look forward to welcoming you to our oblast to see first-hand the positive contribution of AKDN programmes to the lives of the people.”
_______________________
(2) At Naryn Campus
On October 19, 2016, Mawlana Hazar Imam inaugurated the first of three residential campuses of the University of Central Asia in Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic.
This event today brings back some wonderful memories for me. It was just sixteen years ago that I joined the Presidents of the Founding States in signing an extraordinary International Treaty. It was an unprecedented event. The Treaty was then a unique example to the entire world of how these three countries could actually dream together about their common future. And it was also a wonderful example of how they could join hands together, across national boundaries, to make their dreams come true. — His Highness the Aga Khan, Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, October 19, 2016
~~~
Article continues below
“Students of world history remind us how Central Asia, a thousand years ago, “led the world” in trade and investment, in urban development, in cultural and intellectual achievement. This was the place that leading thinkers from around the known world would look to for leadership. What were the latest breakthroughs in astronomy or mathematics, in chemistry or medicine, in philosophy or music? This was the place to find out. This region is where algebra got its name, where the earth’s diameter was precisely calculated, where some of the world’s greatest poetry was penned.
“Why did this happen then? Why did it happen here? Above all, I would suggest, it was because of the quality of “openness.” By that I mean openness to new ideas, openness to change, and openness to people from many backgrounds and with a variety of gifts. The people of the cities here, even all those centuries ago, joined hands with the people of the steppes, and together they reached out to people who were far, far away.
“That kind of openness can again be the key that unlocks the doors to the future. This will be true not just for people who live down the road or others who may live over the immediate horizon but also for people who are even farther away. — His Highness the Aga Khan, Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, October 19, 2016
_______________________
2016 (1): PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN AND PRINCESS ZAHRA INAUGURATE HEALTH CENTRE IN GILGIT
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Rahim Aga Khan, on May 24, 2016, inaugurated the Aga Khan Medical Centre, Gilgit (AKMC, G). The Centre is now a 50-bed Comprehensive Health Care Center that acts as a “hub” and provides high-quality diagnostics, secondary health care, and some tertiary health care. “Spokes” that radiate out from the Centre will connect the Gilgit hub through a digital health network to clinics in Singal, Chatorkhand, Aliabad, Soust, Booni and Garamchasma. This hub and spoke model will provide quality, affordable health care. AKMC, G is also connected to state-of-the-art medical resources in other parts of Pakistan and other countries, including the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi.
Article continues below
Princess Zahra and Prince Rahim also visited the Rahimabad Model High School, one of 106 Aga Khan Schools in Gilgit-Baltistan that serve more than 23,000 children in the region. Princess Zahra and Prince Rahim also visited the Aga Khan University’s Professional Development Centre, North (PDCN). PDCN works with over 146 private and public schools serving over 76,000 students in the region to improve the quality of instruction, management and administration. Over 15,000 teachers, head teachers, education managers and district supervisory staff have benefitted, of which more than half are women.
As their working visit to Pakistan drew to a close, Princess Zahra and Prince Rahim expressed optimism and a sense of opportunity about the tasks ahead of AKDN in improving quality of life for the country’s people.
“For me and Princess Zahra, the main takeaway is that we’ve heard the word ‘optimism’ several times today, and I think that’s what I’m feeling now,” said Prince Rahim, speaking at a dinner hosted by the Ismaili Council for Pakistan on Wednesday evening. Noting that while there are challenges ahead, he said that these “are not insurmountable — we have to look at them as opportunities and a chance to help people who are in need.”
Article continues below
Prince Rahim concluded his dinner remarks by expressing appreciation for the work that went into organising their visit: “President, Vice-President, the volunteers, the entire Jamaat — it’s been a huge amount of work, I know that… so thank you. I feel optimistic; I know my sister feels optimistic, sad to leave and very, very grateful for the amount of work and effort that went into this trip.”
_______________________
2016 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Ismaili Games in Dubai
I would like to congratulate everyone who is participating in and helping out in these games, as well as those who participated in and helped to organise the events leading up to them for their collective effort to promote fitness and camaraderie through sports. In the current times, I can think of no better way than this and of no better place than Dubai to promote the notion of bringing young minds from diverse backgrounds and different environments together in the spirit of friendship and peace. I know the efforts that all you young and able athletes made to come here. I salute your resolve and I pray that you may carry that spirit of friendship and peace with you when you return to your homes. — Excerpt from speech made by Prince Rahim Aga Khan at the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Jubilee Games in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on July 23, 2016.
~~~
_______________________
2017 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Salwa Have Second Son, prince Sinan
Born in London, United Kingdom, on January 2, 2017, Prince Sinan is the second child of Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa and a little brother to Prince Irfan, who was born on April 11, 2015. “Prince Sinan’s birth has brought immense joy to our family,” wrote Mawlana Hazar Imam in a message to the global Jamat. “We are most touched by your kind thoughts and prayers over the period leading to Sinan’s birth.” Ismailis around the world gathered at Jamatkhanas to celebrate Prince Sinan’s birth.
_______________________
2017 (2): Inauguration of the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam
_______________________
2017 (3): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at the Inaugural Meeting of University of Central Asia Trustees Presided by His Highness the Aga Khan
_______________________
2017 (4): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at 40th anniversary of the Institute of Ismaili Studies
“We have seen in these last decades the globalisation of the Jamat and its patterns of migration, which have made it even more important to be able to provide the Jamat with authentic and well prepared materials which enable an understanding of its history and of its heritage and of matters of the faith and its practice” — Prince Rahim Aga Khan, November 24, 2017, IIS 40th anniversary, London
Article continues below
On November 25, 1977, Mawlana Hazar Imam officially inaugurated The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS). To mark the 40th anniversary, the Board of Governors hosted a celebration for staff, visiting faculty and students on Friday, November 24, 2017, with Prince Rahim Aga Khan in attendance. The event celebrated the role of the people who have contributed to developing an academic centre for Ismaili studies that has significantly impacted the field of Shi‘i and Ismaili studies in the last 40 years.
Article continues below
_______________________
2018 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at dinner hosted by Her Majesty the Queen to mark His Highness the Aga Khan’s Diamond Jubilee
On March 8, 2018, Her Majesty the Queen hosted a dinner at Windsor Castle to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam at which The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of York, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were present. Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by members of his family, his brother Prince Amyn Aga Khan, his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan, his eldest son Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Prince Rahim’s wife Princess Salwa, and Mawlana Hazar Imam’s younger sons, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad. The event acknowledged historic linkages between the Ismaili Imamat and the British Monarchy and longstanding connections between the Ismaili Community, the Aga Khan Development Network institutions, and the United Kingdom. Mawlana Hazar Imam was bestowed the title “His Highness” by Her Majesty the Queen in 1957, the year of his accession as hereditary leader of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslims. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2004.
Article continues below
______________
2018 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at the lisbon Diamond Jubilee
~~~
~~~
_______________________
2018 (3): Prince Rahim AGA KHAN at Ceremony for award to Mawlana Hazar Imam of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
French President Emmanuel Macron in recognition of his contribution to humanity and achievements in improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations around the world. The country’s highest national medal of honour was bestowed upon Mawlana Hazar Imam at a ceremony at le Quai d’Orsay by France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in commemoration of the Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, commemorating his 60 years of Imamat.
Article continues below
_______________________
2018 (4): Prince Rahim Aga khan and Princess Salwa visit Pakistan
Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa Aga Khan travelled to Pakistan for a six-day working visit in late October 2018, which included stops in several districts of Gilgit-Baltistan as well as in the Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, along with the capital city of Islamabad and the southern city of Karachi. During their visit, Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa examined approaches to poverty alleviation and development and visited some AKDN institutions and projects to improve quality of life. Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa also surveyed disaster mitigation work in areas vulnerable to natural hazards.
~~~
_______________________
2019 (1): pRINCE rahim Aga Khan at signing agreement between two renowned institutions and Aga Khan University
On March 4, 2019, the University of Washington signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan University to codify existing partnership activities and leverage complementary strengths to expand research, service, and education further in low- and middle-income countries. The agreement was signed by UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Aga Khan University President Firoz Rasul. Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Salwa Aga Khan, nee Kendra Spears, UW Class of ‘12, and AKU Provost Carl Amrhein represented the Aga Khan Development Network. Princess Salwa played a crucial role in encouraging the nascent partnership.
Article continues below
The vision we share [with Aga Khan University] is to see how we can improve outcomes for cancer globally. We must work together to enable this vision, as the global impact of cancer continues to increase. That is the extraordinary value of our collaboration with Aga Khan University. Together we can make an enormous difference in the burgeoning global cancer problem — Dr. Gary Gilliland, president and director of Fred Hutch
On March 5, 2019, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center formally announced a goal to collaborate on global health programs with Aga Khan University. The signed Memorandum of Understanding outlined the two institutions’ intentions to develop a five-year relationship to advance cancer research and training and help build an improved medical infrastructure for the Aga Khan University, which operates medical schools and hospitals throughout the developing world.
Dr. Gary Gilliland, president and director of Fred Hutch, said in welcoming Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa, “The vision we share is to see how we can improve outcomes for cancer globally. We must work together to enable this vision as the global impact of cancer continues to increase. That is the extraordinary value of our collaboration with Aga Khan University. Together, we can make an enormous difference in the burgeoning global cancer problem.”
Article continues below
“Hope,” said Gilliland, “ is something that motivates us every day at the Hutch. We must assure that patients have hope and that they have access.” He praised Aga Khan University for its “deep, extensive experience” in ensuring access to care in the countries where it provides health services.
Before the signing ceremony, Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa took a tour of the Hutch laboratory of Dr. Stanley Riddell, scientific director of the Hutch’s Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center. No stranger to the Pacific Northwest, Princess Salwa is a Seattle native and a graduate of the University of Washington.
Article continues below
The couple also visited the lab of Dr. Hootie Warren, head of the Hutch’s Global Oncology Program. Dr. Manoj Menon described several research initiatives underway in Uganda, including a clinical study for breast cancer. “From our footprint in Kampala, and hopefully along with Aga Khan University, we will generate advances that can change lives and cure cancers for millions of people,” Warren said.
Dr. Warren’s research in Uganda also aims to develop new methods for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancers such as HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the childhood cancer Burkitt lymphoma.
_______________________
2019 (2): Prince Rahim at buckingham palace as Mawlana Hazar Imam is Honoured as Global Founding Patron of The Prince’s Trust
At a dinner at Buckingham Palace on March 12, 2019, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (now His Majesty King Charles III) honoured Mawlana Hazar Imam as the Global Founding Patron of The Prince’s Trust. This charity supports vulnerable young people in realising their ambitions. Hazar Imam was accompanied by Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, and Princess Salwa.
The Prince’s Trust has been helping vulnerable young people across the UK since 1976. It is now helping to tackle the global issue of youth unemployment and supporting young people and their communities to have more positive futures.
The announcement came when The Prince’s Trust was expanding its work and network of expertise globally. Dame Martina Milburn DCVO CBE, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust said, “We are immeasurably grateful to His Highness the Aga Khan for his contribution to our work and are delighted to welcome him as Global Founding Patron.
“It has been humbling and inspiring to take time tonight, with our dedicated supporters, to celebrate the success of our international work to date and look to a very exciting future.
“Through His Highness’s incredible generosity, and the continued support of our global network, we can expand our work to transform young lives and build stronger communities across the world.”
_______________
2019 (3): Prince Rahim aga khan inaugurates Dreams and Dystopias exhibition at the Ismaili Centre, London
On October 10, 2019, Prince Rahim visited the Ismaili Centre London to inaugurate the exhibition Dreams and Dystopias, East Africa at the Crossroads, featuring photographic work by Guillaume Bonn. The visual exhibit navigated the East African coastline through the lens of international artist Guillaume Bonn to reveal a region perennially poised at a crossroads between two worlds. The photographs captured old Africa in its unrelentingly vibrant native culture, juxtaposed against the backdrop of modern skyscrapers, new highways, and purported technical improvements, offering a reflective insight into its diverse geography and colonial legacy.
_______________________
2020 (1): Prince Rahim aga khan visits East Africa to evaluate AKDN’s response to environmental sustainability and climate change
In March 202, Prince Rahim, accompanied by his wife, Princess Salwa, visited Kenya and Tanzania to better understand the plans and responses of the various institutions and agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) towards environmental sustainability and climate action. Prince Rahim’s visit to Kenya took place as Chair of the AKDN Environment and Climate Committee, which was recently established to develop a policy framework on priorities related to the environment and climate change for implementation by AKDN globally.
Article continues below
During their six-day visit to Kenya, Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa visited several AKDN institutions and projects to learn more about how each is mitigating environmental degradation through specific interventions such as adopting renewable energy, harvesting rainwater, recycling waste, and planting trees.
~~~
_______________________
2020 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan on AKDN as a Founding Partner for The Earthshot Prize
“It is our collective responsibility to be good stewards of the planet. At this critical moment, we must all nurture and invest in solutions that can repair our planet before it is too late.” – Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The Aga Khan Development Network partnered with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to launch the Earthshot Prize, which aims to incentivize environmental change while helping repair the planet over the next 10 years. The five Earthshots unveiled on October 9, 2020, were to protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world, and fix our climate.
Prince Rahim, chair of AKDN’s Environment and Climate Committee, said: “The Aga Khan Development Network is proud to be a Founding Partner of the Earthshot Prize. It is our collective responsibility to be good stewards of the planet. At this critical moment, we must all nurture and invest in solutions that can repair our planet before it is too late.
“The AKDN has been working for over a century in Asia and Africa to improve quality of life — through education and healthcare, livelihoods and infrastructure, and long-term institutions of civil society. The decades of progress now hang in the balance: environmental degradation and climate change will wipe out these gains entirely unless we act now with urgency and conviction.
“To do its part, AKDN has a net-zero carbon target for its own operations and will mobilise its agencies to mitigate the effects of climate change and help vulnerable communities to adapt. We are excited to partner with the Earthshot Prize which, over the next decade, will identify fifty solutions with the potential to keep our planet habitable. Working together, we can and must help ensure a future for life on Earth.”
______________
Prince Rahim Aga Khan on Green House Emissions
After His Highness the Aga Khan and Prince Rahim Aga Khan provided guidance to all AKDN agencies to reduce their carbon footprint, we redoubled our efforts in trying to reduce it. It is surprising how much carbon is produced by the healthcare delivery systems and how much can be reduced. — Gijs Walraven, AKDN Director for Health, in interview with AKDN
Article continues below
In Gilgit, a mountain town situated in a valley of the Karakorum Range in Northern Pakistan, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) is working with the First Microfinance Bank Pakistan (FMFB-P) to build a green building to house the bank’s new Regional Headquarters. The building will benefit from a range of passive design measures, which take advantage of local climate conditions to reduce the energy required to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Reflecting on AKDN’s aspiration to become a leader in GHG management and reduction in the development sector, Prince Rahim Aga Khan stressed that “Environment and climate is a core strategic priority for AKDN. While each of the AKDN agencies and institutions have their own mandates, they all have a crucial role to play in helping to protect the environment and mitigate climate change. It is critical that every AKDN agency and institution measure and report its GHG emissions, as this is the necessary first step in lowering those emissions.”
______________
2020 (3): PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN RESPONDS TO Award GIVEN TO Aga Khan Agency for Habitat’s work in Pakistan
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) won the World Habitat Awards 2020 Gold Award on December 3, 2020, for its “Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Technology for Safer Habitat” project.
In the winning project, AKAH pioneered the use of Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (HVRAs), which integrate science, technology, and local knowledge to manage disaster risks and plan and develop sustainable habitats.
Reflecting the importance of this work, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chair of AKDN’s Environment and Climate Committee, said: “For decades the AKDN has been working with vulnerable communities to improve quality of life and reduce disaster risk. Today in the face of the climate crisis, understanding and mitigating these risks is even more urgent. Only by helping these communities adapt and thrive in harmony with their often-precarious habitat can we hope to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
_______________________
2021 (1): Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Virtual Events
May 22, 2021: Global Convocation of Aga Khan University
~~~~~~~
June 19, 2021: First Convocation of the University of Central Asia
_______________________
July 2021 (2): Prince Rahim Aga Khan accompanies Mawlana Hazar Imam to Meet French Prime Minister Jean Castex
Translation (via Twitter): I am happy to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to Matignon for an exchange on major international issues, the situation of Islam in France, and to bring our common projects to fruition.
Note(s): Jean Castex has been the Prime Minister of France since July 2020. He welcomed Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim at his official residence, the Hôtel de Matignon, which is located in the 7th district of Paris.
****
~~~
~~~
_______________________
2021 (3): Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends Tajikistan Cultural Event at UNESCO in Paris
As part of his official three-day visit to France, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron attended the official opening ceremony of an exhibition called Tajikistan – the Land of Golden Rivers at the Guimet Museum in Paris on October 13, 2021. The museum, known for its extensive Asian art collections, is now home to a display of 300 objects that offer a fascinating journey through the history and cultural evolution of the Tajik people, from antiquity to the present day.
On Thursday October 14, the President attended an event dedicated to the Cultural Day of Tajikistan at the UNESCO Headquarters to mark Tajikistan’s 30th anniversary of independence. Prince Rahim Aga Khan was present at the cultural celebration along with UNESCO’s Director-General Ms Audrey Azoulay.
Article continues below
Prince Rahim conveyed Mawlana Hazar Imam’s warmest greetings and congratulations and affirmed the Aga Khan Development Network’s commitment to Tajikistan’s peace and prosperity. AKDN’s extensive investments in Tajikistan cover the economic, humanitarian, social, and cultural sectors, demonstrating a holistic approach to improving the quality of life of all Tajik people.
_______________________
2021 (4): Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets With President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal
Prince Rahim Aga Khan met with His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, at the Presidential Palace on December 25, 2021. At the meeting, Prince Rahim conveyed Season’s Greetings and best wishes to the President and the people of Portugal for the new year.
Article continues below
The President and Prince Rahim acknowledged the strong relationship between the Ismaili Imamat and Portugal and discussed the AKDN’s presence and activities in Portugal, Portuguese-speaking countries, and globally.
Article continues below
They also took the opportunity to discuss other matters of mutual interest, such as those related to international affairs and regions where the Ismaili Imamat and AKDN have a strong presence, including Central and South Asia, East Africa, and the Middle East.
After the meeting, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa thanked Prince Rahim for the courtesy visit and requested that he convey his warmest greetings and best wishes to Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Please Click to Continue to Part 2: Prince Rahim Aga Khan (2022-2024)
Date posted: October 11, 2024.
Last updated: February 11, 2025. (typo)
_______________________
FEEDBACK
Barakah welcomes your feedback. Please complete the LEAVE A REPLY form below. Your letter may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation.
REVIEW BARAKAH’S TABLE OF CONTENTS AND VISIT ITS SISTER WEBSITES
Before departing this website, please take a moment to visit Barakah’s Table of Contents for links to more than 325 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. Also, visit our two sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. Barakah’s editor may be reached at mmerchant@barakah.com.
Please follow Malik @Facebook and @X (formerly known as Twitter).
Barakah 