INTRODUCED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT A very happy moment in my life when I travelled to Brown University from Philadelphia in 1996. I snapped this picture of my beloved 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and only realized that he was looking straight at my camera after I got the film processed in Philadelphia a couple of days later. Photo by ...
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 7 July 2015 - The University of Central Asia (UCA) signed a memorandum of understanding on 7 July 2015 with Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, located in Toronto, Canada to develop the English, mathematics and science curriculum for UCA's first year Preparatory Programme. The programme will begin when UCA admits its first cohort of undergraduate students ...
Classic sire registers eleventh Stakes performer LADY SYBIL became her sire SIYOUNI's eleventh individual Stakes performer and his fifth individual Stakes winner at the weekend, thanks to her smooth success in the Listed Prix Amandine at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday. Always in the leading pair in this seven-furlong contest, LADY SYBIL stayed on strongly to the line to win by a length. ...
LETTER FROM PUBLISHER By Abdulmalik Merchant Canada's Confederation Day, the American Independence Day, Tanzania's Saba Saba celebrations and the Imamat Day of His Highness the Aga Khan, all fall in the month of July. Canada is already preparing for its 150th birthday two years hence when Ismailis around the world will, inshallah, celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of their beloved 49th Imam, ...
After nearly three decades of armed conflict, Afghanistan had one of the lowest school attendance rates in the world, particularly for girls. In 2009 the Aga Khan Foundation started supporting 216 schools for boys and girls in the remote provinces of Baghlan, Bamyan and Badakhshan. The Foundation paid particular attention to six "reference" schools in districts where girls' enrolment was amongst the ...
"[Pir Sabzali and Meghji Missionary] drew all their courage and strength from their intense and ardent practice of Ibadat and went out to accomplish their missions with intelligence and knowledge, and with the firm belief that the help of Hazar Imam was always with them." A youthful portrait of the Ismaili missionary, Meghji Maherali (1881 - 1941), of Mombasa, Kenya. Photo ...
Canada -- The Aga Khan Park will come to life on 5 July when the Pan Am lantern makes an appearance at the park's inaugural event Reflections: Celebrating our Cultures and Communities. The Pan Am flame represents the spirit of the Games taking place in Toronto this summer.In anticipation of the arrival of the flame at dusk, visitors from across the ...
News story -- The Annual Meeting of the European Chapter Group (ECG) of the IIS Alumni Association took place in Athens, Greece, on 19 - 21 May 2015. The meeting commenced with a welcome address from the ECG President Dr Dagikhudo Dagiev (GPISH 2003), who introduced the theme of the meeting: The Translation Movement between Greek and Arabic Philosophy. Dr Syed Nomanul ...
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 30 June 2015 -- Azito Energie SA ("Azito") today 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, son of His Highness the ...
"....It [Ramadan] is a time of spiritual renewal and a reminder of one's duty to our fellow man -- to serve one another and lift up the less fortunate. The Qur'an teaches that God's children should tread gently upon the earth and, when confronted by ignorance, reply 'peace.' In honoring these familiar values together -- of peace and charity and forgiveness ...
TKN -- The ESL program was first developed in 2008 and implemented in Syria during two-six month terms with the excellent support of Yasmin Walji, a TKN volunteer from the United Kingdom. Yasmin subsequently delivered an ESL teaching program in Afghanistan. Volunteer Name: Yasmin K. Walji Location: Syria and Afghanistan Task: Establish an English as a Second Language (ESL) Enrichment Program ...
"I WISH I'D BEEN THERE" 1970: Mansoor Ladha, veteran award winning journalist, writer and author, interviewing His Highness the Aga Khan for Tanzania's daily, The Standard (now Daily News). Photo: Mansoor Ladha Collection. Copyright. BY MANSOOR LADHA As a journalist, a writer and an author, what better time to be than reporting milestones and significant events during the Fatimid Period or ...
Global -- Launch of the Big Iftar 2015 at Ismaili Centre, London. ...
Performance of Alim and Fargana Qasimov in Martigny 2015. ...
TKN -- Almina was selected as a TKN Volunteer for the Department of Radiation Oncology at AKUH. Almina coordinated a training program, conducted lectures and labs, planned and supervised clinical rotations, and evaluated competencies of the students. She ensured that the Radiation Therapy training program maintained its international standards and that it also developed additional standards to diversify and grow the ...
TKN -- The two year Masters in Nursing program at AKU-SONAM is the first of its kind in Pakistan. Thesis defense is one of the most important forms of training within the program. The process requires an External Examiner to review student theses and examine them on the day of their thesis defense. Dr. Salimah Meghani was selected as the External ...
TKN -- Shaheen Maredia successfully trained the AKU Design Team on Revit software, expanding their knowledge of an essential tool in building modelling, and provided long term support to ensure their skills continue to develop over time. Volunteer Name: Shaheen Maredia Location: Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan Task: Share knowledge of Revit software by training staff in AKU's Design Office ...
Editor’s note: Our remarkable series of portraits from Badakhshan through the lens of (Montreal’s) Muslim Harji continues with this Part II exclusively dedicated to an Ismaili wedding in a small village in the Pamirs that Muslim and his wife Nevin attended during their recent memorable visit to Badakhshan. Harji’s photos are stunning and enchantingly beautiful, and if you missed Part ...
"I WISH I'D BEEN THERE" "To witness that moment of unveiling when Imam al-Mahdi rode out to meet his followers stands for me above all the other moments of glory, intrigue and devastation throughout Ismaili history.... And those followers at Sijilmasa fell at his feet in the most sincere devotion to their spiritual guide." Sijilmasa was a mediaeval trade entrepôt at ...
Dalakhani's Arab Dawn completes Royal double. Already heroine of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp, ERVEDYA lifted the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday 19th June, to be crowned Champion European filly over the mile. The daughter of SIYOUNI earned this title by beating two highly-regarded Irish fillies, Found and Lucida, runners up in the Irish and English ...
Healthy Hints A full meal giving you protein, fat and carbs at just over 500 kcalories is likely to be much healthier than a traditional roast chicken dinner. However, if you want to cut the calories even more, and watch your saturated fat intake too, remove the chicken skin before cooking and use less butter. If you'd like a bigger meal, ...
TKN -- Shaahin Sayani has been involved with the QOL's GED initiative since its early beginnings. "We had a soft launch with two classes in Atlanta in February of 2013 before we launched the full program in the Southeast," recalls Shaahin. As the head of logistics, Shaahin was responsible for ensuring that facilities and resources were available for the three-hour classes ...
Healthy Hints Chicken breast without the skin is lower in fat than the leg meat. You could try lower fat coconut milk if you want to cut down on fat and calories. A great way to bring in some fibre and nutrients is to add pigeon peas or garden peas at Step 5, and serve with brown rice. 2 tbsp canola ...
The holy month of Ramadan begins on the first day of Ramadan which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year it starts on June 18, 2015 which equates to Ramadan 1, 1436 A.H. After the moon's lunar cycle of 30 days or so, the end of the fasting month is celebrated by Eid where the devout celebrate ...
Cairo, Egypt, 16 June 2015 - The restoration of the Tarabay al-Sherif Complex and 1.5 kilometres of the historic Ayyubid wall were inaugurated today by the Minister of Antiquities, Mamdouh El Damaty, the Governor of Cairo, Galal Said, and Luis Monreal, General Manager of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Both projects are part of the much larger urban regeneration programme ...
Ismailimail Image via Simerg.com The Ismaili Gnosis Book Club is an online platform for Ismailis to discuss a book with a particular interest to Ismailis. We discuss a chapter at a time and bring in relevant pictures, newspaper clippings, articles and other book excerpts to add context to the quote being discussed. Currently we are reading Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah's Memoirs. ...
Letter from Publisher Muslim Harji's portrait of an Ismaili girl in the Wakhan Corridor of Badakhshan. Little Suranoor is seen having her breakfast before getting ready for school in the Village of Namadgut. By Abdulmalik Merchant When my parents visited me in Voorhees, New Jersey, during the spring of 1995, we would together walk to the main library twice a week. ...
The First Part in a Special Series on Badakhshan and Central Asia STORY AND PHOTOS BY MUSLIM HARJI (Special to Simerg and Simergphotos) An eighteen hour ride from Dushanbe to Khorog needs a well maintained 4 wheel drive. This drive is not for weak at heart, but a dream ride for an intrepid traveller. The rough road ( I would ...
Global -- Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa have kindly shared photographs of Prince Irfan, their first child, who is pictured with his parents and grandfather, Mawlana Hazar Imam. Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa have kindly shared photographs of Prince Irfan, their first child, who is pictured with his parents and grandfather, Mawlana Hazar Imam. News of the birth of Prince Irfan ...
Winners and well-bred individuals at Arqana and Tattersalls The Aga Khan drafts for forthcoming horses in training sales at Arqana and Tattersalls both feature winners and placed colts and geldings with plenty of potential for the future. Held at Deauville on 1st and 2nd July, Arqana's Summer Sale will see seven Aga Khan bred colts and geldings go under the hammer. ...
LETTER FROM PUBLISHER By Abdulmalik Merchant Muslim Harji, a regular contributor to this website and its sister blog, Simergphotos, says that his recent visit to Central Asia with his wife Nevin was the best trip of his life, surpassing the jouney he had made to Iran some time ago. His visit to Badakhshan, in particular, has resulted in a perfect blend ...
Editor's Note: The list is incomplete and the remaining links will be added during the course of the next few days. MIDDLE EAST PLEASE CLICK:Dubai's Jewel: The Ismaili Community's Congregational Space A view of the main entrance hall of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai draws architectural inspiration from the Fatimid mosques in Cairo. At the centre of the colourfully patterned marble floor ...
BY ABDULMALIK J. MERCHANT A fortnight ago, during the weekend of May 23-24th, 2015, the city of Toronto hosted its 16th Annual Doors Open allowing thousands of Toronto residents and visitors to explore more than 150 architecturally and culturally rich buildings across the city, free of charge. Several thousand visited the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre, and my ...
Unbeaten half-brother to Rajsaman heads for Irish Derby. Aga Khan Studs homebred RADANPOUR recorded his third win in as many outings on Friday, taking the Listed King George V Cup and earning his place in the Irish Derby. Trained by Dermot Weld, the progressive colt made all the running in the mile and a half contest at Leopardstown, battling on bravely ...
COMPILED BY SIMERG Please click on photo for enlargement A portrait of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims. Photo: AKDN/Anya Campbell. Copyright. In an unprecedented historical event, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, and Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Rui ...
News story -- The graduation ceremony for the sixth cohort of the Institute's Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP) was held on 11th April 2015 at The Ismaili Centre, London. Students from Canada, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America graduated at the ceremony with a double Master's degree: an MA in ...
Portugal -- Lisbon, 3 June 2015 -- Mawlana Hazar Imam and Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Rui Machete signed a landmark agreement today, for the establishment of a formal Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal. Marking the first such accord in the Imamat's modern history, the Agreement will come into effect once it has been approved by Portugal's ...
Antonio Marujo/Faranaz Keshavjee: How are the projects which you have launched in Portugal? Can we expect to have, in Lisbon, a school of excellence as part of your network of academies? Aga Khan: Portugal is a very important country ... I have been to several other places. But Portugal has very important factors: in the Portuguese society, pluralism is a social ...
