Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

BBC’s Witness History episodes look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history and also take you back to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

Among the two famous figures of the 20th century were the 48th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (1877 – 1957), His Late Highness Aga Khan III, and Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910), the founder of modern nursing, who gained the nickname of ‘the Lady with the Lamp’ during her work at Scutari Hospital during the Crimean War (1853-1856). The London Times reported that at night she would walk among the beds, checking the wounded men holding a light in her hand.

In 1898, Ms. Nightingale had invited the Aga Khan to her London home for tea. The Aga Khan spoke to the BBC in 1950 about the meeting, which was wide-ranging, touching on faith, healthcare and even Queen Victoria. The BBC presented an 11-minute radio program on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Please click HERE to listen to the episode.

Florence Nightingale continues to be an inspiration to modern-day nurses. The Florence Nightingale Museum in London, England, celebrates the life and work of the best-known figure in nursing history.

The 49th Ismaili Imam, His Late Highness the Aga Khan, perhaps did more than anyone else in modern times to raise the awareness of the importance of nursing, particularly in the Islamic world.

When he received the recognition from Sigma Theta Tau for his dedication to the profession of nursing, he said: “I have long felt the enhancement of the nursing profession to be absolutely critical to the improvement of health care in the developing world, and the Islamic world. The way forward was to professionalise, to institutionalise, and to dignify this great profession… The School of Nursing was the first academic programme offered by the Aga Khan University for a combination of reasons, some universal in nature, and others particular to countries like Pakistan.”

Again, listen to the BBC Witness History episode, Aga Khan III and Florence Nightingale.

Date posted: February 23, 2026.
Last updated: February 24, 2026.

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