A brief glimpse into the Ismaili Imamat’s deep rooted relationship with the British Monarchy – specifically Queens Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. The post draws material from numerous sources including the 48th Ismaili Imam’s The Memoirs of Aga Khan published in 1954.
Two amazing pieces on Prince Sadruddin providing glimpses of his muli-faceted life and his concern and love for the Ismaili community
Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos
Ismaili leaders and Late Alwaez Jehangir Merchant (right) look on as Prince Aly Khan signs the Visitor’s Book in the Ismaili Council Chambers during his visit to Lourenço Marques in 1957. Photo: Jehangir Merchant Family Collection.
I was a young boy of seven years old when one very early morning, as I was preparing for school, there was a gentle knock on our 2nd floor apartment door in Lourenço Marques (LM), now Maputo, Mozambique. My father opened the door to Mukhisaheb’s son, a boy of my age. He had walked about a mile to deliver a message for my parents – we didn’t have a phone – that Prince Aly Khan (June 13, 1911 – May 12, 1960) had passed away in a motor car accident and that Mukhisaheb and the leadership had convened a meeting in Jamatkhana later that morning. He asked that we should turn on the radio. Yes, indeed the news was on it. There was deep sadness in our faces and hearts. My parents, as teachers, had had the great privilege of meeting Prince Aly Khan during his visit to LM in 1957, a few months before Mawlana Shah Karim became the 49th Imam on July 11, 1957. Continue Reading
Compiled and prepared by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) announced before a special joint session of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade. He said, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.” Continue Reading
by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos
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 of Edmonton, Canada, for many decades. Continue Reading
