The role of our volunteers in keeping that spirit of service alive, and in materially enabling our institutions to maintain their fabric and improve their facilities is beyond praise. His Highness the Aga Khan was Chief Guest at the 60th anniversary of the Aga Khan Maternity Home (Janbai), Kharadhar, Karachi. He presented a special award for the longest service at leadership ...

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I think in terms of, let us say, the philosophical environment in which an individual lives, there is no doubt that the faith of Islam places the individual in society in the world in which he lives, in a position where he is not in conflict with his time and he is not in conflict with science and technology of his ...

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The relationship between the intellect of man and faith has always been of fundamental importance to Muslims. How can a modern university respect and re-enforce that relationship? The Divine Intellect Akl-i-kul', both transcends and informs the human intellect. It is this intellect which enables man to strive towards two aims dedicated by the faith: that he should reflect upon the environment ...

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The Ismaili community has sought to create a building here which is both Islamic in its architectural inspiration and of a quality to enhance the overall distinction of Burnaby. The Jamatkhana is designed to be a social and cultural centre, as well as a place of congregation. It expresses the Ismailis' desire to give of their best to the cultural and ...

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In a number of Islamic languages, the word 'Zamana' means both the 'age' or the 'epoch.' It thus reflects the reasons for my founding this Gallery -- to try to improve understanding in the West for the art and culture of the Third world and to do this, not simply in terms of historical achievements, but in the present day context ...

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[O]ne of the questions to which I don't have an answer, but I would like to find one, is, what is happiness -- for rural population in the developing world? And unless the definition of happiness, the definition of a sense of purpose is clear to planners in the developing world, they are never going to be able to address the ...

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I am often struck by the imbalance of comprehension between the Christian and Islamic cultures. Of course, in government and well-informed specialised institutions -- universities for example -- the perception is accurate. But the general public in the West is too often shown the Ummah -- the worldwide community of 800 million Muslims -- as a monolithic block of believers whose ...

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If we could turn to the wider Muslim world, it's a world with a lot of conflict in it now. What's your feeling about what is going on in the Middle East between Muslims in Iraq, Iran, in the Lebanon, in Afghanistan? I think what has happened is that, perhaps more than ever before in the history of the Islamic world, ...

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His Highness the Aga Khan said that these two institutions today constitute the single largest resource base for Islamic Architecture in the world. Referring to the next phase of the expanded programme, the Aga Khan said: "In addition to the newly established Masters Degree Program in Design for Islamic Cultures, the programme will also encompass an outreach dimension directed at selected ...

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The key objective for the remaining decade of the twentieth century in the developing countries, should be the creation of an environment in which every resourceful, hardworking person or entity will be able to function in a context that encourages and rewards initiative. Speaking to an audience of 200 business leaders in Zurich, His Highness the Aga Khan called on industrialised ...

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[In India] the track record of an urban housing finance institution has been so good that the creation of a specialised agency for the financing of rural housing is being envisaged. We all know the problems which Indian agriculture has had to face. If it is realistic to envisage institutional private sector financing for rural housing there, then three conclusions are ...

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[T]he poor can display considerable ingenuity in improving their own environment and in utilising locally available materials. I was delighted when Hassan Fathy's work of a lifetime in this direction, reflecting his profound understanding of the virtues and possibilities of vernacular architecture, was recognised by the Chairman's Award in 1980. People are the Islamic world's greatest single resource. If we are ...

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In the Third World ... the great majority of the people are rural, and about eighty per cent of the population construct their own housing. The self-built house is a permanent phenomenon and is certain to continue so, because the cost of employing contractors and architects is totally beyond the means of the ordinary people. At the same time, the vernacular ...

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How far is it justifiable to draw on a developing nations' limited resources for the expensive research and educational effort involved in restoring a building tradition? However, the central question is cultural. We have to maintain our cultural heritage and one of the continuing aims of the Award must be to help discover acceptable mechanisms for eliciting valid responses to problems ...

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The Islamic world, as we all know, is being compelled to face two challenges at the same time. That of dealing with the Islamic countries' own indigenous problems, and that of adapting to twentieth century Western technology to those countries' development needs. How we meet these challenges will condition our ability to make progress both within our own context and in ...

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Above all we need to learn from experience, discovering how both ancient and modern forms have evolved so that we can succeed in our task of creating an environment for the Islamic world which is both appropriate to its traditions and relevant to its future. The architectural environment of man is both a master and a servant. Because it is financially ...

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Generally speaking, there is a very deep communication gap between decision makers and populations, rural or urban. The reports from the workshops were also unanimous in stating that unless the people were genuinely and continuously involved in the restoration of these beautiful parts of Yemeni cities, there would be very little chance of restoration being successful. In my mind this is ...

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The Aga Khan Foundation and the Aga Khan Education and Housing Services have extensive plans for the future in this region, which they are coordinating fully with the government. Of the tens of millions of rupees which the Aga Khan Services devote to Pakistan, no less than 80% is being spent in the Northern Areas. No one would wish to deny ...

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You have heard that the Medical Centre has a maternity wing and a child care centre, with a doctor and excellent staff. Children need to be cared for from the time they are conceived until they reach maturity and I strongly advise expectant mothers to come here regularly.... We are also helping pregnant women and young children by distributing three kinds ...

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The Aga Khan Academy here at Karimabad will be our first high school and hostel for girls in the Northern Areas and a landmark in our progress in Pakistan.... Obviously the girls with the best potential will not only come from this district. They may come from anywhere in the Northern Areas and I hope that the Academy will be open ...

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Unless a continuous, problem-oriented discussion about the practical issues of development of the Third World continues and unless good, effective solutions are found, the majority of the world in the next 10 to 25 years is going to be increasingly instable and demanding. Interviewer: Michael McDowell 28 April 1983: The Aga Khan's Mission His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who ...

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No matter how intellectually compelling we find such international objectives as "Health for all by the year 2000" or the International year of Shelter scheduled for 1987, or the concept of universal primary education, these worthy objectives will not be achieved -- not even be approached -- if the world's rural populations do not participate in them. Equally, the objectives will ...

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I have not had previous occasion to publicly express my gratitude to Canada and Quebec for having welcomed Ismailis at a particularly difficult time in the history of the Third World when they had to be moved and had to leave Uganda during a period of serious crisis. This hospitality, in my opinion, has gone beyond the understanding of the Western, ...

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April 26, 1983: Agreement signed with McMaster University and C.I.D.A.April ??, 1983: Other functions and events His Highness the Aga Khan attended in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and other cities, where speeches may have been made, during the Silver Jubilee visit are unknown. SOURCESismaili.net POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...

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I do want to take this occasion, to say here this evening -- because it's the first occasion I have had to say this publicly -- how deeply grateful I am to the government, the people of Canada, for the most generous, kind, and warm welcome that they have received my wife, my brother and me on the occasion of my ...

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Nearly all the Foundation's programmes involve integrating resources from different parts of the world in collaboration with governments, with such international agencies as UNICEF and the World Health Organisation and with other private agencies. Inevitably, and rightly, this experience has led us to certain conclusions about ways of handling international aid. Indeed we are learning all the time. One conclusion is ...

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Tourism developments can do much to assist economic progress. Hotels such as this and the hotel we are planning at Quetta, are labour intensive. They have a substantial impact on the construction industry and they affect the revitalisation of local arts and crafts. All this gives employment while hotel purchases benefit local businesses. At the same time they can bring foreign ...

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Out-reach services can do a great deal to improve standards of health care. This will be more than just a conventional maternity home. It will be the hub for a variety of activities, bringing medical service and knowledge into peoples' homes. Helping a mother deliver her baby in the world should involve far more than just sending a midwife to attend ...

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In Islamic belief, knowledge is twofold. There is that revealed through the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) and that which man discovers by virtue of his own intellect. Nor do these two involve any contradiction, provided man remembers that his own mind is itself the creation of God. Without this humility, no balance is possible. With it, there are no barriers. Indeed, one ...

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At present many millions of unfortunate people enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Not only are they miserable, the social and economic cost of their plight is incalculable. Adequate accommodation is a principal factor in human health and well-being. It can bridge that terrible gulf between ...

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March 23, 1983 (Islamabad): Nishan-e-Pakistan Award Ceremony. SOURCESismaili.net POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...

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On the whole, though the Ismaili community wherever it exists is well tolerated by the majority community. Is it because a low profile is deliberately maintained? Or that it does proselytise [sic]? I think there may be a number of reasons for that. First of all, we don't seek to proselytise. We don't seek to tell others that what they practise ...

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Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version . You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. His Highness the Aga Khan IV SOURCESGulf News, 13 March 1983Audio: ismaili.net POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...

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How would you comment on the notion popularised by Western critics that scientific and technological progress is incompatible with the practice of Islam? I think that's one of the most offensive things that can be said about Islam and I take issue with it in every way. In the first place, to say that science in the modern age is incompatible ...

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March 13, 1983: Dinner hosted by Lt. Gen. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. (Gulf News, 13 March 1983)March 13, 1983: Dinner hosted by Shaikh Surour bin Mohammed, Chamberlain of the Presidential Court. (Khaleej Times, 14 March 1983)March 14, 1983: Dinner in honour of The Ruling Families. (Gulf News, 14 March 1983) SOURCESAs above from ismaili.net POSSIBLY RELATED ...

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His Highness the Aga Khan visited the Gulbekian Foundation and Museum in Lisbon. Portugal's Foreign Minister, Mr. Vasco Futscher Pereira, paid tribute to the Ismaili community in his speech at the dinner he hosted. He said, "It is with satisfaction that today we see the activities of the Portuguese Ismailis and thus witness to their spiritual leader deep appreciation of the ...

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The Ismaili community here is a new one. It was enabled to make its home here because of the exceptional humanity and open-mindedness with which Portugal treated people of all races from their former colonies. The Aga Khan Foundation, which is involved in the fields of health care, education and rural development, chiefly in Asia and Africa, has now been registered ...

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There are those, as I said when I inaugurated this project, who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Unless these unfortunates can be touched with the spark which ignites the spirit of individual enterprise and determination, they will only sink back into renewed apathy, degradation and ...

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The Prince, who arrived here on Wednesday, in connection with the sliver Jubilee celebration of his accession to the Imamat told the Delhi Doordarshan in an interview that the Jubilee year was dedicated to the cause of improvement of life in Third World countries. Expressing his deep concern over the tremendous difference in the quality of life in rural area and ...

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