Prince Karim (Hazar Imam) & Prince Amyn Draw over 2,000 Ismailis to a Community Student Debate on Societal Pressures in 1955

nofirstname ⋅ August 31, 2018

EDITOR'S NOTE: Prince Karim and Prince Amyn were the guests of honour at a 1955, Ismaili student debate, in Nairobi, titled "Should Ball Room dancing be encouraged in our community?" The event was attended by over two thousand Ismailis. Even though we may find the 1955 debate topic humorous today, how can we follow their lead and host similar, institutionally sponsored debates, by Ismailis and for Ismailis, to discuss important social issues relevant to our time?

Below is the text of the articles that appear in the scanned pages from the February 20th, 1955, issue of Zahur Magazine (Volume 4, Number 2) shown below.

Our Union

A debate on Ball Room dancing was held during the visit of our beloved Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prince Amyn Mohamed Aga Khan ... [hosted by] the Ismailia Students' Union [which] is under the patronage of H.H. The Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Provincial Education Board.

The Ismailia Students' Union is under the patronage of H.H. The Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Provincial Education Board of Nairobi. The present Management Committee of the Union was appointed from January, 1954. Actually it was given charge in the month of March and immediately started organising activities in which it received complete encouragement from youths as well as elders. It held various socials. A film show was shown by Sheikh Abdu Gafoor about his world tour. An Idd Dinner which was attended by many prominent members of the community and proved a great success. A Quiz Programme was arranged.

A debate on Ball Room dancing was held during the visit of our beloved Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prince Amyn Mohamed Aga Khan. An elocution contest for "Gulam Keshavjee" Cup was also held. Recently Dr. G. R. Gregory gave an interesting talk of "Humour". The last function of the Union was a film show.

The Union during the year also revived the magazine "Zahur". Our first issue was published in July as a "Welcome Number" on the visit of our beloved Princes and this second issue is taking shape as the "Platinum Number". The Editorial Committee thanks the writers and advertisers for their generous support. It also wishes to record its gratitude to Mr. Amirali K. Fazel for assistance in proof reading and to Messrs. Sultan K. Jaffer and Karmali Abdulla for photographs.

Debate

The debate on the subject, "Should Ball Room dancing be encouraged in our community?" was attended by over two thousand people attracted by the auspicious presence of our beloved Princes.

The debate on the subject, "Should Ball Room dancing be encouraged in our community?" was attended by over two thousand people attracted by the auspicious presence of our beloved Princes. The guests were welcomed by our President, Miss Mehrunissa Sadaruddin, and the debate presided over by Alderman Dr. H. E. Nathoo.

The purpose of the debate was to declare the wining party and select the best speaker from all participants. Eight speakers had taken part whose names appear elsewhere. The judges were Dr. Mrs. Hasham, Mrs. Shahsultan Hassah ali Kassam, Vazier Nimji Javer, Alihah Abdulla Valimohamed and Huzur Mukhi Khadimali Alibhai.

The debate was won by the opposing party. The judges unanimously selected Mr. Zaherali K. Ahamed as the best speaker of the day, but he requested the Prince Karim Ag Khan that as he was an experienced speaker he preferred that the Cup be awarded to the best amongst the remaining speakers. The Cup was then presented to Miss Zubeda Sadaruddin by the Prince after the judges had announce her the best amongst the rest.

In his speech, Prince Karim Aga Khan remarked how he has appreciated the good work of the Union and promised that he would report that to Mowlana Hazar Imam [at that time, Sultan Muhammad Shah]. He said all the speakers had made good effort and it was due to the constant care of his grandfather, Mowlana Hazar Imam that work done by the Aga Khan schools had achieved such standard and he hoped that our community would produce some wonderful speakers in the future.

In his speech, Prince Karim Aga Khan remarked how he has appreciated the good work of the Union ... he hoped that our community would produce some wonderful speakers in the future.

Referring to Mr. Zaherali, the Prince said that it was a wonderful action to give up a certain thing for which on had worked so hard and give it up with good heart. He added that it was an example which other should follow.

At this debate the Prince also presented Essay Competition Cup to Mr. Anil Ishani. The Essay had been previously organised on the subject "Struggle is the meaning of Life". Miss Khatun G. Nanji and Mr. Tajdeen H. Moton had won the second and third prizes respectively. The function terminated with a vote of thanks by Mr. Sultanali G. Mohamedani, the Hon. Secretary of the Union.

Oratorical Contest

The Oratorical contest was held in last October. The subject was "An Ideal Leader" and ten speakers participated whose name appear elsewhere. The Cup was won by Miss Gulbanu Magan Mawjee and presented to her by Sir Eboo Pirbhai. About five hundred people were present at the function. It was presided over by our president, Miss Mehrunissa Sadaruddin, and Dr. Abdul Samji, Vazier Ibrahim Kassam Damji and Alijah Habib V. Keshavji acted as judges. The second and third prizes were awarded to Mr. Tajdeen Habib Moton and Mr. Pyarali Popat Rajwani respectively. The contest proved a very great success.

H.H. The Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismailia Students' Union, Nairobi. (1954)

Officers

President: Miss Mehrunissa Sadaruddin
Hon. Secretary: Sultanali G. Mohamedani
Hon. Treasurer: AhamedHali Nimji Javer
Hon. Auditor: Rahematali Abdulla, A.Comm.A.
Committee Members: Miss Gulbanu Magan Mawjee, Badrudin N. Pisani, Miss Shirin Habib, Karim H. V. Hassan, Miss Khatun, Noordin R. Pirani, Miss Gulbanu Rahim, Saddruddin Ebrahim Premjee

Aims and Objects

To foster a spirit of goodwill amongst the youth of the community and to promote and encourage such activities as shall bring about a closer understanding amongst them.
In initiate, hold and support literary activities such as Debates, Lectures, Discussions and Oratorical Contests.
To arrange social functions on festival occasions.
To bring about friendly relations between Ismailis and Non-Ismailis.
To publish and circulate ZAHUR.