YAM to the world Jamat. Information about further Didar and Padramni programs.
My dear brothers and sisters,
I had a chance to be present in one of the recent meeting with our Imam at East Africa. MHI clearly mention to the jamati leaders that “I will be visiting my Jamat in the months ahead and there will be more visits in the years ahead”.
Next day while discussing this with one of the very important and well known Jamati leader; said to me that MHI has program that in next few years MHI will be visiting many different countries for Jamati work and Deedar, there will be several visits within next 3 to 4 years.
So I would like our world jamat to know that MHI will be visiting for Jamati work in most of the countries where His Jamat reside. East Africa was just the beginning of this world Jamati work and Didar program.
I am getting some unconfirmed news about from Sep Padramni to India, Canada, Bangladesh and so on. But we must wait for confirmation.
Mubaraki to the world Jamat
Kasim Ali
Deedar Visit to East Africa Jamats July 2011
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Important_Information
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His Highness the Aga Khan
Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Foundation Ceremony for the AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications (Nairobi, Kenya)
27 July 2011
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Rt. Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
Minister for East African Community and Acting Minister for Higher Education,
Science and Technology, Hon. Professor Helen Jepkermoi Sambili
Honorable Ministers
Your Excellencies, Members of the Corps Diplomatique
Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees of the Aga Khan University
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
As Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, I am enormously pleased to welcome you all most warmly, not only as participants in this Foundation Ceremony - but also as continuing friends of our Graduate School of Media and Communications.
That name of the School signals its place as an institution of advanced, post-graduate and professional learning. It also signals the School’s focus - not only on traditional news media - but on a broadening range of communication challenges.
We dedicate today the physical site for this School - an ideal location for the cutting-edge facilities that will be constructed here. But, beyond the physical planning, there are other Foundation stones that we also celebrate today - plans for the programmes the School will launch - the faculty and staff that will work here - the curriculum they will offer and the research they will carry out.
Let me also mention two older Foundation stones - strong pillars that have been in place for some time - which also support the creation of this School.
One, of course, is the Aga Khan University - now 27 years old and growing steadily from its base in health sciences and teacher education into new fields of learning, including new campuses and programmes here in East Africa.
The other Foundation stone is even older - an enterprise I launched here in Nairobi more than fifty years ago. I am referring of course to the Nation Media Group - now majority-owned by public shareholders, with an expanding presence throughout East Africa.
The Aga Khan Development Network thus comes to this project with useful experience both in the field of education and the disciplines of the media. We look forward now to continuing this learning experience.
The most important thing we can learn - or teach - at any School - in a world of perpetual change - is the ability to go on learning. None of us have all the answers - quite often we don’t even know what questions to ask. Nor can we discern the road ahead by looking in a rear-view mirror. Past lessons must constantly be renewed and reapplied, as we adapt to new technologies and new expectations.
The years immediately ahead will be a time of breath-taking change for Africa - and for the field of media. I believe that Africa can emerge from this transformation as the home of some of the most capable, innovative, constructive and respected media enterprises in the world.
Helping to advance that vision is what our new Media and Communications School is all about.
Even as our School builds on strong existing Foundations - it will also break new ground. Let me mention just five of the most important ways in which the School, we hope, will be truly distinctive.
In the first place, the School will work on the newest frontiers of media technology - with state-of-the-art equipment and innovative pedagogies - producing professional graduates who can not only operate across today’s multiplying media platforms, but can also help develop the media platforms of tomorrow.
This does not mean that we will ignore old skills and values. Our core concern must always be the ability of our students to think critically and creatively, to pursue the truth ethically and responsibly, and to articulate ideas clearly and vividly. Even as communicators learn new ways to “get a story out - and get it heard” we must also remember that our first obligation is to present the story correctly. At the same time, however, we want all of our students to be at home and at ease with the newest media technologies.
The second distinctive emphasis of our School will be its sharp focus on the singular challenges facing media in the developing world. This will mean exploring local and regional realities in all of their complexity. And then, instead of relying heavily, for example, on the perspective of Western news agencies for information about developing societies, our students will be better able to share an indigenous sense of these realities with audiences all around the world.
One place where this emphasis will be the most evident will be our use of the case study method - a technique that is often employed at law schools and business schools. Case studies can be wonderful teaching tools. But the key for our new School will be to prepare case studies that relate specifically to the developing world, and indeed to Africa. It occurs to me, for example, that a case study on how media cover African election processes might be of particular value. As part of the new school, we have already set up an African Case Development Centre working in close alliance with Columbia University. We look forward to cooperating with other academic institutions as our work moves forward.
A third special element of the School will be one of the first programmes in this region in the field of Media Management. In my view, the quality of media depends not only on those who produce the content - writers and artists and editors. It also depends on those who manage media enterprises - and on the proprietors who own them. Media institutions cannot play their role as responsible and independent information sources if they are economically insecure and thus vulnerable to a variety of distorting influences. And yet relatively few proprietors and managers are sufficiently prepared for their increasingly demanding roles.
Let me put this challenge into historical perspective. One of the inheritances of the African colonial period was an absence of indigenous, independent media enterprises - and, thus, of effective media entrepreneurs.
A half century later, healthy, African media companies are no longer such a rarity, but they are still in short supply. And the remedy to this situation will lie not just in more and better content producers, but in stronger media management.
The role of media owners and managers has been prominently exposed in the news this month as result of the so-called hacking controversy in the British press. It is impossible to judge the specifics of that situation from a distance. But one lesson that I would commend to you is the importance of establishing an on-going culture of responsibility within any media enterprise.
The Nation Media Group decided to address this matter, proactively, at an early date, by creating a detailed set of editorial conduct guidelines - a code that has been adopted by our shareholders, enforced by our directors, and incorporated in our training programmes. No such code – and I want to be absolutely clear on this - no such code can eliminate errors. Errors are part of every human profession. Butwe feel that such guidelines can help to build responsible media cultures. That objective will be an important area of emphasis for our programme in Media Management.
And here I would just divert for a moment. It was a source I think of great satisfaction in the media field when not so long ago, elections were organised in the Republic Democratic du Congo, and the UN guidelines for media behaviour during those elections were read as if they had been copied from our own guidelines. So that was a demonstration I think that we are trying to bring to Africa the best of the industry.
A fourth distinctive dimension of the Graduate School of Media and Communications will be interdisciplinary study. The new School will work closely with other faculties of the Aga Khan University so that media students can deepen their knowledge in fields such as health, economics, political science, religion, and environmental studies. Our students will learn to combine their command of effective communication skills with a more sophisticated understanding of the subjects about which they are communicating.
The pursuit of this goal is particularly important at a time when information is flooding over all of us in ever-greater quantities. Someone has said that plugging into the media today can sometimes be like trying to drink water from a high-pressure fire hose!
In such a world, effective communicators must truly be effective educators - providing background as well as foreground, the big picture as well as the close-up detail. And this will be true not only for journalists, but also for communication professionals in government, at NGO’s, in the business sector, at entertainment and cultural organisations -and with a host of civil society institutions. In brief, the School of Media and Communications is designed to serve a very wide range of constituencies - engaging a broad array of disciplines.
Fifth and finally, we like to say that our School will be demand-driven - which means that it will be flexible, evolving with the changing needs of both our students and their eventual employers. Masters degrees offerings will be central, but professional and continuing education courses will also be important. We believe this approach will attract outstanding students - and produce outstanding graduates.
We hope to enlist talented students of various ages and from many countries - helping to motivate the best and the brightest young people to enter the media professions. We also hope to involve people who are already in a mid-career situation - as well as those who would like to change careers and move into the communications arena.
These, then, are five ways in which the Graduate School of Media and Communications will seek to embrace the future. We might think of them as five new foundation stones that we will now put in place: an emphasis on new technologies, a focus on the developing world, a new programme in media management, an inter-disciplinary emphasis, and a governing perspective which is demand-driven and broadly responsive.
Allow me to conclude by mentioning one other word that I trust will permeate everything we undertake at this School - and that is the word “quality.” Above all else, when people think in years to come about the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications, I would like them to think of its dedication to uncompromising quality.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I thank you again for joining us at this moment of foundation and dedication. With your support – and management reminds me I should add the word financial - intellectual and moral - this ambitious endeavour will surely thrive - making a major impact on the quality of media - and thus the quality of life - throughout this region - and across the world.
Thank you.
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1061
Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Foundation Ceremony for the AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications (Nairobi, Kenya)
27 July 2011
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Rt. Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
Minister for East African Community and Acting Minister for Higher Education,
Science and Technology, Hon. Professor Helen Jepkermoi Sambili
Honorable Ministers
Your Excellencies, Members of the Corps Diplomatique
Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees of the Aga Khan University
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
As Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, I am enormously pleased to welcome you all most warmly, not only as participants in this Foundation Ceremony - but also as continuing friends of our Graduate School of Media and Communications.
That name of the School signals its place as an institution of advanced, post-graduate and professional learning. It also signals the School’s focus - not only on traditional news media - but on a broadening range of communication challenges.
We dedicate today the physical site for this School - an ideal location for the cutting-edge facilities that will be constructed here. But, beyond the physical planning, there are other Foundation stones that we also celebrate today - plans for the programmes the School will launch - the faculty and staff that will work here - the curriculum they will offer and the research they will carry out.
Let me also mention two older Foundation stones - strong pillars that have been in place for some time - which also support the creation of this School.
One, of course, is the Aga Khan University - now 27 years old and growing steadily from its base in health sciences and teacher education into new fields of learning, including new campuses and programmes here in East Africa.
The other Foundation stone is even older - an enterprise I launched here in Nairobi more than fifty years ago. I am referring of course to the Nation Media Group - now majority-owned by public shareholders, with an expanding presence throughout East Africa.
The Aga Khan Development Network thus comes to this project with useful experience both in the field of education and the disciplines of the media. We look forward now to continuing this learning experience.
The most important thing we can learn - or teach - at any School - in a world of perpetual change - is the ability to go on learning. None of us have all the answers - quite often we don’t even know what questions to ask. Nor can we discern the road ahead by looking in a rear-view mirror. Past lessons must constantly be renewed and reapplied, as we adapt to new technologies and new expectations.
The years immediately ahead will be a time of breath-taking change for Africa - and for the field of media. I believe that Africa can emerge from this transformation as the home of some of the most capable, innovative, constructive and respected media enterprises in the world.
Helping to advance that vision is what our new Media and Communications School is all about.
Even as our School builds on strong existing Foundations - it will also break new ground. Let me mention just five of the most important ways in which the School, we hope, will be truly distinctive.
In the first place, the School will work on the newest frontiers of media technology - with state-of-the-art equipment and innovative pedagogies - producing professional graduates who can not only operate across today’s multiplying media platforms, but can also help develop the media platforms of tomorrow.
This does not mean that we will ignore old skills and values. Our core concern must always be the ability of our students to think critically and creatively, to pursue the truth ethically and responsibly, and to articulate ideas clearly and vividly. Even as communicators learn new ways to “get a story out - and get it heard” we must also remember that our first obligation is to present the story correctly. At the same time, however, we want all of our students to be at home and at ease with the newest media technologies.
The second distinctive emphasis of our School will be its sharp focus on the singular challenges facing media in the developing world. This will mean exploring local and regional realities in all of their complexity. And then, instead of relying heavily, for example, on the perspective of Western news agencies for information about developing societies, our students will be better able to share an indigenous sense of these realities with audiences all around the world.
One place where this emphasis will be the most evident will be our use of the case study method - a technique that is often employed at law schools and business schools. Case studies can be wonderful teaching tools. But the key for our new School will be to prepare case studies that relate specifically to the developing world, and indeed to Africa. It occurs to me, for example, that a case study on how media cover African election processes might be of particular value. As part of the new school, we have already set up an African Case Development Centre working in close alliance with Columbia University. We look forward to cooperating with other academic institutions as our work moves forward.
A third special element of the School will be one of the first programmes in this region in the field of Media Management. In my view, the quality of media depends not only on those who produce the content - writers and artists and editors. It also depends on those who manage media enterprises - and on the proprietors who own them. Media institutions cannot play their role as responsible and independent information sources if they are economically insecure and thus vulnerable to a variety of distorting influences. And yet relatively few proprietors and managers are sufficiently prepared for their increasingly demanding roles.
Let me put this challenge into historical perspective. One of the inheritances of the African colonial period was an absence of indigenous, independent media enterprises - and, thus, of effective media entrepreneurs.
A half century later, healthy, African media companies are no longer such a rarity, but they are still in short supply. And the remedy to this situation will lie not just in more and better content producers, but in stronger media management.
The role of media owners and managers has been prominently exposed in the news this month as result of the so-called hacking controversy in the British press. It is impossible to judge the specifics of that situation from a distance. But one lesson that I would commend to you is the importance of establishing an on-going culture of responsibility within any media enterprise.
The Nation Media Group decided to address this matter, proactively, at an early date, by creating a detailed set of editorial conduct guidelines - a code that has been adopted by our shareholders, enforced by our directors, and incorporated in our training programmes. No such code – and I want to be absolutely clear on this - no such code can eliminate errors. Errors are part of every human profession. Butwe feel that such guidelines can help to build responsible media cultures. That objective will be an important area of emphasis for our programme in Media Management.
And here I would just divert for a moment. It was a source I think of great satisfaction in the media field when not so long ago, elections were organised in the Republic Democratic du Congo, and the UN guidelines for media behaviour during those elections were read as if they had been copied from our own guidelines. So that was a demonstration I think that we are trying to bring to Africa the best of the industry.
A fourth distinctive dimension of the Graduate School of Media and Communications will be interdisciplinary study. The new School will work closely with other faculties of the Aga Khan University so that media students can deepen their knowledge in fields such as health, economics, political science, religion, and environmental studies. Our students will learn to combine their command of effective communication skills with a more sophisticated understanding of the subjects about which they are communicating.
The pursuit of this goal is particularly important at a time when information is flooding over all of us in ever-greater quantities. Someone has said that plugging into the media today can sometimes be like trying to drink water from a high-pressure fire hose!
In such a world, effective communicators must truly be effective educators - providing background as well as foreground, the big picture as well as the close-up detail. And this will be true not only for journalists, but also for communication professionals in government, at NGO’s, in the business sector, at entertainment and cultural organisations -and with a host of civil society institutions. In brief, the School of Media and Communications is designed to serve a very wide range of constituencies - engaging a broad array of disciplines.
Fifth and finally, we like to say that our School will be demand-driven - which means that it will be flexible, evolving with the changing needs of both our students and their eventual employers. Masters degrees offerings will be central, but professional and continuing education courses will also be important. We believe this approach will attract outstanding students - and produce outstanding graduates.
We hope to enlist talented students of various ages and from many countries - helping to motivate the best and the brightest young people to enter the media professions. We also hope to involve people who are already in a mid-career situation - as well as those who would like to change careers and move into the communications arena.
These, then, are five ways in which the Graduate School of Media and Communications will seek to embrace the future. We might think of them as five new foundation stones that we will now put in place: an emphasis on new technologies, a focus on the developing world, a new programme in media management, an inter-disciplinary emphasis, and a governing perspective which is demand-driven and broadly responsive.
Allow me to conclude by mentioning one other word that I trust will permeate everything we undertake at this School - and that is the word “quality.” Above all else, when people think in years to come about the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications, I would like them to think of its dedication to uncompromising quality.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I thank you again for joining us at this moment of foundation and dedication. With your support – and management reminds me I should add the word financial - intellectual and moral - this ambitious endeavour will surely thrive - making a major impact on the quality of media - and thus the quality of life - throughout this region - and across the world.
Thank you.
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1061
Milestone Visit
Our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam concluded His 25 day visit to East Africa yesterday, leaving Nairobi in the morning at approximately 9:30am. The Imam, accompanied by Princess Zahra, arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport at approximately 10:10am and from there went by helicopter to the site allocated for the Aga Khan University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He left KIA at approximately 4:30pm.
Mashallah! This was indeed a very unique visit and surely blessed is the entire East African community. It is indeed very rare in this age and time for the Imam to spend so many days in one particular region of the world, and for this extremely generous and merciful visit, we bow down and offer our deepest and most heartfelt shukranas to our beloved Imam.
I was very very happy that the Imam took the time during this visit to take a break from His heavy schedule of jamati visits and official functions and meetings and spend time in lodges, both in Tanzania and Kenya, to rest and have personal time. For this, I offer shukranas and consider it a very great blessing that our beloved Imam remained within our midst and took a holiday.
The jamati visits were outstanding. All the jamati ceremonies took place in very intimate gatherings and everyone got the chance to obtain a close up view of the Imam. Also after a very long time, the Imam came to jamatkhanas and to add to the splendour of this unique occasion was the Imam's radiant joy and happiness. He was literally glowing with love, affection and happiness, and the crowning jewel were the three darbars in which the Imam looked so very majestic and dazzling in a brand new white sherwani. The most beautiful and awesome sight that I have seen to date!
Our leaders too were very blessed during this visit with the Imam accepting to attend banquets in all three cities, during which He was very happy with the contribution made by the leadership.
Mowla's visit was also a blessing to the indigenous communities of Kenya and East Africa in general with the opening of the new Heart and Cancer Unit and the groundbreaking of the AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi. The Imam also visited the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa and the Bujagali Power Project in Jinja, all of which will benefit the entire community at large.
All in all, it was the most milestone occasion in East Africa! Mowla came and showered His love and noor and affection over all, giving everyone a chance to make a fresh new beginning with all the misdeeds of the past washed away. I appeal to all my brothers and sisters in East Africa to take maximum benefit of this immense blessing and try our best to honour the Imam by becoming good and praiseworthy momins. A special appeal to the NRM of Nairobi: I appeal to them to soften their attitudes towards the jamat, allow jamati members to catch glimpses of their beloved Imam wherever possible and to carry out their duties with respect, humility and dignity. The demeanour of the NRM in Nairobi was the only negative factor during this entire visit, especially so during the opening of the Heart and Cancer Unit at the Hospital, afterwhich the Imam attended His next function in a very sombre mood (Please see photographs of the Imam at the groundbreaking ceremony of the School of Media and you will see what I mean). Security should understand that the Imam loves to see His jamat as evidenced by the change of cars in Mombasa from tinted to untinted, and the Imam does not like His jamat to be upset and unhappy for having missed to see Him due to unnecessary toughness by the young boys in security who have as yet a lot to learn about how to respect the emotional attachment jamat have with their Imam which is a mutual attachment; the Imam too loves to see His jamat.
Otherwise, as I have said over and over again, this was a unique, special, most blessed, most happy, milestone once-in-a-lifetime occasion...forever imprinted in our hearts and memories. Allahu akbar, subhanallah, Shukranlilah alhamdulillah. Mubaraki to one and all!
Mashallah! This was indeed a very unique visit and surely blessed is the entire East African community. It is indeed very rare in this age and time for the Imam to spend so many days in one particular region of the world, and for this extremely generous and merciful visit, we bow down and offer our deepest and most heartfelt shukranas to our beloved Imam.
I was very very happy that the Imam took the time during this visit to take a break from His heavy schedule of jamati visits and official functions and meetings and spend time in lodges, both in Tanzania and Kenya, to rest and have personal time. For this, I offer shukranas and consider it a very great blessing that our beloved Imam remained within our midst and took a holiday.
The jamati visits were outstanding. All the jamati ceremonies took place in very intimate gatherings and everyone got the chance to obtain a close up view of the Imam. Also after a very long time, the Imam came to jamatkhanas and to add to the splendour of this unique occasion was the Imam's radiant joy and happiness. He was literally glowing with love, affection and happiness, and the crowning jewel were the three darbars in which the Imam looked so very majestic and dazzling in a brand new white sherwani. The most beautiful and awesome sight that I have seen to date!
Our leaders too were very blessed during this visit with the Imam accepting to attend banquets in all three cities, during which He was very happy with the contribution made by the leadership.
Mowla's visit was also a blessing to the indigenous communities of Kenya and East Africa in general with the opening of the new Heart and Cancer Unit and the groundbreaking of the AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi. The Imam also visited the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa and the Bujagali Power Project in Jinja, all of which will benefit the entire community at large.
All in all, it was the most milestone occasion in East Africa! Mowla came and showered His love and noor and affection over all, giving everyone a chance to make a fresh new beginning with all the misdeeds of the past washed away. I appeal to all my brothers and sisters in East Africa to take maximum benefit of this immense blessing and try our best to honour the Imam by becoming good and praiseworthy momins. A special appeal to the NRM of Nairobi: I appeal to them to soften their attitudes towards the jamat, allow jamati members to catch glimpses of their beloved Imam wherever possible and to carry out their duties with respect, humility and dignity. The demeanour of the NRM in Nairobi was the only negative factor during this entire visit, especially so during the opening of the Heart and Cancer Unit at the Hospital, afterwhich the Imam attended His next function in a very sombre mood (Please see photographs of the Imam at the groundbreaking ceremony of the School of Media and you will see what I mean). Security should understand that the Imam loves to see His jamat as evidenced by the change of cars in Mombasa from tinted to untinted, and the Imam does not like His jamat to be upset and unhappy for having missed to see Him due to unnecessary toughness by the young boys in security who have as yet a lot to learn about how to respect the emotional attachment jamat have with their Imam which is a mutual attachment; the Imam too loves to see His jamat.
Otherwise, as I have said over and over again, this was a unique, special, most blessed, most happy, milestone once-in-a-lifetime occasion...forever imprinted in our hearts and memories. Allahu akbar, subhanallah, Shukranlilah alhamdulillah. Mubaraki to one and all!
Mawlana Hazar Imam departs Kenya; visits Arusha at the end of his East Africa visit
Also see:
» AKDN coverage: Press release and photographs
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1244/Mawl ... rica-visit
Mawlana Hazar Imam is greeted by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman of the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees at the site of the University’s Arusha campus. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Nairobi, 28 July 2011 — As Mawlana Hazar Imam prepared to depart Nairobi, senior Jamati leaders bid him farewell at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday. Hazar Imam’s departure marked the end of his 24-day visit to the Jamats of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
Prior to leaving East Africa, Mawlana Hazar Imam stopped over in Arusha, where he travelled by helicopter to the site of the planned Aga Khan University campus. When developed, the campus will house the University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa.
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
In the afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the organisation’s headquarters in the Arusha International Conference Centre. Hazar Imam briefed the Secretary General on the progress of various Aga Khan Development Network projects in East Africa, and discussed the contribution that the Arusha campus of the Aga Khan University will make to the region.
The Secretary General hailed the establishment of the new campus, saying that it would contribute to the creation of an East African identity.
“Your Highness, your vision is very exciting and compelling, and we [the East African Community] support these noble objectives meant to develop the region as a unit,” said the Secretary General. He called on the Community to work closely with AKDN in the areas of education, research and healthcare.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Arusha in the evening, drawing his East Africa visit to a close.
Mawlana Hazar Imam waives as he prepares to depart Nairobi at the conclusion of his Jamati visit to Kenya. Photo: Aziz Islamshah
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1244/Mawl ... rica-visit
Also see:
» AKDN coverage: Press release and photographs
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1244/Mawl ... rica-visit
Mawlana Hazar Imam is greeted by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman of the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees at the site of the University’s Arusha campus. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Nairobi, 28 July 2011 — As Mawlana Hazar Imam prepared to depart Nairobi, senior Jamati leaders bid him farewell at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday. Hazar Imam’s departure marked the end of his 24-day visit to the Jamats of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
Prior to leaving East Africa, Mawlana Hazar Imam stopped over in Arusha, where he travelled by helicopter to the site of the planned Aga Khan University campus. When developed, the campus will house the University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa.
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
In the afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the organisation’s headquarters in the Arusha International Conference Centre. Hazar Imam briefed the Secretary General on the progress of various Aga Khan Development Network projects in East Africa, and discussed the contribution that the Arusha campus of the Aga Khan University will make to the region.
The Secretary General hailed the establishment of the new campus, saying that it would contribute to the creation of an East African identity.
“Your Highness, your vision is very exciting and compelling, and we [the East African Community] support these noble objectives meant to develop the region as a unit,” said the Secretary General. He called on the Community to work closely with AKDN in the areas of education, research and healthcare.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Arusha in the evening, drawing his East Africa visit to a close.
Mawlana Hazar Imam waives as he prepares to depart Nairobi at the conclusion of his Jamati visit to Kenya. Photo: Aziz Islamshah
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1244/Mawl ... rica-visit
Imamat in Ismaili Qasidas
Posted by Malik Merchant, Editor under Uncategorized
In Celebration of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Recent Visit to East Africa
http://simerg.com/2011/07/31/imamat-in-ismaili-qasidas/
Posted by Malik Merchant, Editor under Uncategorized
In Celebration of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Recent Visit to East Africa
http://simerg.com/2011/07/31/imamat-in-ismaili-qasidas/
Admin, What do you thing?
Brother Admin and readers,
Is it ok to forward any farmans via e-mail?, How can we know that requesting person is Ismaili or not? I heard from a reliable sources that USA councils already made announcement in JK for not circulate any farmans via e-mail.
and I think Mowla bapa also want same way, I need more clarification in this matter.
Is it ok to forward any farmans via e-mail?, How can we know that requesting person is Ismaili or not? I heard from a reliable sources that USA councils already made announcement in JK for not circulate any farmans via e-mail.
and I think Mowla bapa also want same way, I need more clarification in this matter.
There was a time people were sending farman via post office. Then came the fax, they were sending the Farmans to their Ismaili brothers and family by Fax machine. This is the time of email. Ismailis have never shy away from new means of communication.
There is no conflict between science and faith. If someone wants to tell you not to use the email to send Farmans to people you know that they are Ismailis then the farman of Mowlana Sultan Muhammad shah who said that people who stop you from reading farmans are themselves evil.
Please do not follow people who try to stop you from getting farmans of your Imam. Without Farmans, there is no ismailism. If you come accross people who want to restrict you from reading the farmans of your Imam, send them to hell
There is no conflict between science and faith. If someone wants to tell you not to use the email to send Farmans to people you know that they are Ismailis then the farman of Mowlana Sultan Muhammad shah who said that people who stop you from reading farmans are themselves evil.
Please do not follow people who try to stop you from getting farmans of your Imam. Without Farmans, there is no ismailism. If you come accross people who want to restrict you from reading the farmans of your Imam, send them to hell
I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT READING FARMANS OF OUR HAZAR IMAM I READ ON AND OFF AND EVERY ISMAILI SHOULD READ FARMANS MORE OFTEN MATTER OF FACT EVERYDAY, but my question was is it ok to forward recent farmans of Hazar Imam which I received few days ago (many thanks to the sender) but I choose to follow my council's instruction so this chapter is close for now.If you come accross people who want to restrict you from reading the farmans of your Imam, send them to hell
That is correct jdessa15, we should respect our council's instruction as well because it comes from Mowla bapa.
The recent announcement I heard about not sending any farmaan via internet was last year, I think it was during that lawsuit filled by Mr. Jiwa in Canada, in that announcement it was clearly stated and prohibited to print, send or distribute any farmans.
but question arise here and bro Admin is absolutely right if we can not print, fax, mail or e-mail any farmans then how can we spread Ismailism? is this fair? I haven't seen any new farman books in last 10 years, so how can we read these new farmans during this period?
Admin, Of course you are 100% right bro, but how do we know what Imam want regarding his farmans, whether he like to send his farman via internet or not? Mowla bapa doesn't come in our contact or in our touch, so we can't ask himabout his wish, therefore we have to rely on what our council say, I think council receives all instructions from Imam and after that they make annoucement in jk.It is always better to follow the Imam's instructions.
The recent announcement I heard about not sending any farmaan via internet was last year, I think it was during that lawsuit filled by Mr. Jiwa in Canada, in that announcement it was clearly stated and prohibited to print, send or distribute any farmans.
but question arise here and bro Admin is absolutely right if we can not print, fax, mail or e-mail any farmans then how can we spread Ismailism? is this fair? I haven't seen any new farman books in last 10 years, so how can we read these new farmans during this period?
Mr Jiwa has NEVER filed any suit against Hazar Imam. he has never even participated remotely to publish one page of Farman. He was falsely accused because our leaders thought he was involved in publishing Farmans. Hazar Imam will never do such a blunder to accuse an innocent Murid who is one of his loyal follower.
This showed that many times some people from Council mislead the jamat into believing that whatever they say under the name of the Imam comes from the Imam. Here they have made the Jamat believe that Imam is suing his Murid, even worse, they made the Jamat think that these Murids are suing the Imam.
Why not look into the farmans on what they say about distributing Farmans to Ismailis. Why not stick to these instructions?
This showed that many times some people from Council mislead the jamat into believing that whatever they say under the name of the Imam comes from the Imam. Here they have made the Jamat believe that Imam is suing his Murid, even worse, they made the Jamat think that these Murids are suing the Imam.
Why not look into the farmans on what they say about distributing Farmans to Ismailis. Why not stick to these instructions?
http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/04/23/ ... ral-court/
The Aga Khan has followed up on his lawsuit for copyright infringement of his writings by serving a writ to Toronto lawyer Alnaz Jiwa.
THE RESPONSE BY JIWA AND TAJDIN – SEE THIS STORY
The Aga Khan, one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists and spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, is suing for copyright in the Canadian Federal Court over a book produced by Jiwa and Nagib Tajdin. The 1,500-page volume is a compilation of the Aga Khan’s written instructions and advice to his community.
The Aga Khan has followed up on his lawsuit for copyright infringement of his writings by serving a writ to Toronto lawyer Alnaz Jiwa.
THE RESPONSE BY JIWA AND TAJDIN – SEE THIS STORY
The Aga Khan, one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists and spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, is suing for copyright in the Canadian Federal Court over a book produced by Jiwa and Nagib Tajdin. The 1,500-page volume is a compilation of the Aga Khan’s written instructions and advice to his community.
I don't have anything against Alnaz Jiwa or Nagib Tajdin but their names were mentioned in that lawsuit therefore I thought they both were plaintiff, matter of fact I give up to read update of that lawsuit long time ago, so I was not sure who actually filed the lawsuit? who won that lawsuit? or what is the outcome of that lawsuit?! I have no idea till today, so if you know the outcome of that lawsuit please let me know.Mr Jiwa has NEVER filed any suit against Hazar Imam
By the way, if this lawsuit was not filled by Alnaz Jiwa or Nagib Tajdin then someone else must have to filled lawsuit, whoever filled the lawsuit it doesn't matter, but the lawsuit was filled that is 100% true and correct, I don't have any concern regarding that lawsuit or anything against plaintiff (matter of fact I was about to order that publication and I inquired about the cost via e-mail but....that announcement was made in JK so I changed my mind) but my point was that announcement were read during that time i.e. not to publish, purchase, print, fax, mail, e-mail any faramns and that is what I want to prove, matter of fact I am in favor to publish the farmans because IIS and Tariqua Board are not publishing any new farmans book, I haven't seen any new farmans books in decade.
Imam filed this lawsuit. When the Tajdin and Jiwa claimed it was not him and it was Jamati leaders, Imam himself sent them a letter. They then claimed it was forged. He ended up coming to court and said in front of them that he is the one who is suing them.
It was not Sachedina, it was Imam. Even Jiwa and Tajdin know it, they got a 15 minute "discovery" to question the Imam.
It was not Sachedina, it was Imam. Even Jiwa and Tajdin know it, they got a 15 minute "discovery" to question the Imam.
The Imam has confirmed during a 30 minutes conversation that he was the one who gave instructions to continue publishing and he has denied the lies contained in the statement of claim. If you do not know what has happened in the 30 minutes meeting, you should not try to misled others.
The discussion on this subject is on
http://www.ismaili.net/heritage/node/29740
The Imam has denied the content of ALL the forged letters including the content of the so called Boston Affirmation which ended up being also a forgery.
The discussion on this subject is on
http://www.ismaili.net/heritage/node/29740
The Imam has denied the content of ALL the forged letters including the content of the so called Boston Affirmation which ended up being also a forgery.
sorry for taking so long to reply, my password would not work and when i tried to reset my password it said user info not found, interesting..so i had to register all over again
anyways where did this 30 minute meeting take place? how come nobody knows about this? it is nowhere in the media...this lawsuit is well documented in the canadian media...it says nowhere that the Aga Khan said the letter sent from Boston was forged, it actually says that was the Imam, the link you sent is from this site, its not from any media publication, any credible media publication states that the Imam filed this lawsuit and said this in a 15 minute discover in front of Nagib and Jiwa....its all out there for everyone to read, can't make this up
anyways where did this 30 minute meeting take place? how come nobody knows about this? it is nowhere in the media...this lawsuit is well documented in the canadian media...it says nowhere that the Aga Khan said the letter sent from Boston was forged, it actually says that was the Imam, the link you sent is from this site, its not from any media publication, any credible media publication states that the Imam filed this lawsuit and said this in a 15 minute discover in front of Nagib and Jiwa....its all out there for everyone to read, can't make this up
There has never been any 15 minutes meeting meeting between Alnaz, Nagib and the Imam, this is an invention.
There has been a 30 minutes meeting on 15 October 2010 from 10:40am to 11:10am on the 38th Floor of the Royal Bank Plaza South Tower in Toronto on 200 Bay Street.
Depending only on some media for your information can led you to be misled
This is not the proper place for this subject which is discussed on the link already provided. Please post your queries there only.
The link provided contains 2,800 post so you have to look at the posts after October 15th last year.
All posts unrelated to the East African Visit of this year, including this post, will be deleted from this thread in a couple of days.
There has been a 30 minutes meeting on 15 October 2010 from 10:40am to 11:10am on the 38th Floor of the Royal Bank Plaza South Tower in Toronto on 200 Bay Street.
Depending only on some media for your information can led you to be misled
This is not the proper place for this subject which is discussed on the link already provided. Please post your queries there only.
The link provided contains 2,800 post so you have to look at the posts after October 15th last year.
All posts unrelated to the East African Visit of this year, including this post, will be deleted from this thread in a couple of days.
The subject of this thread is "Padhramnis, Mulaquats and Didar". I will delete everything which is outside this subject.
I have already indicated where the other subject is discussed, please post there.
As for people who have no idea of what are the Instructions of the Imam to Alnaz and Nagib, there is no need to imagine and guess, the Imam knows exactly who is right ans who is wrong and he knows how this case will come to an end and nothing will happen outside his will. So all of you who are worried and stressed, chill out
I have already indicated where the other subject is discussed, please post there.
As for people who have no idea of what are the Instructions of the Imam to Alnaz and Nagib, there is no need to imagine and guess, the Imam knows exactly who is right ans who is wrong and he knows how this case will come to an end and nothing will happen outside his will. So all of you who are worried and stressed, chill out
Why? Why?? Why???
Why why why???
The Holy Quran is readily available to one and all as is the Bible, the Geeta and other scriptures. So it is really puzzling as to why there is so much reticence on the part of our leaders to make farmans, taliqas and hidaayats of our beloved Imam available even to Ismailis themselves. We are not allowed to record farmans. We are not allowed to carry pen and paper into the Darbar halls to jot down points (even lipsticks and eyeliner pencils were confiscated lest they be used to make any notes). So how are we supposed to assimilate the farmans into our daily lives? Is this not just ridiculous?! If we want to read a Farman, mukhi-kamadia sahebs and Tariqa board members hover over you like hawks making sure you are just reading and not jotting down anything. There is just no logic or sense to this. Not all of us have photographic or computer memories and I am sure the Imam would want His farmans to be made available to all jamats. So why are our leaders so possessive of these farmans? I have thought and thought about this and the only conclusion I can draw is that there is some sinister agenda behind all these restrictions on farmans. Do they want to change them and put in their own words? Or do they want to edit them and remove portions they don't like? We can think of anything now because it just does not make any sense as to why these farmans which should be the backbones of our lives are just not made available to us. And the notion that these are Mowla's directives is just ridiculous. Leaders should stop thinking we are illiterate imbeciles.
Anyway Admin hit the nail on the head: anyone who stops murids from reading and following farmans is evil (shaitaan)
And the same applies to great efforts made by leaders, that Ismailis in particular, should NOT get to see the Imam physically anywhere except in the Darbar hall. This is outrageous and WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS! to see the face of Ali carries the very greatest of blessings which our leaders want us to miss out on. And yet, they know everything. They know how Pir Sadardin was blocked for six months and six days for not allowing his young son, Hassan Kabirdin, to accompany him to see the Imam. They know that the Imam changed His car in Mombasa from tinted windows to untinted windows. And yet they pay no heed. Have they forgotten the miracle of City Park, Nairobi (July 2009)? Jamat was cruelly stopped from seeing the Imam and the Imam walked towards the jamat.
If I was a sincere leader, I would take heed of all this and ensure that when the Imam goes anywhere, the jamat can see Him, albeit in a dignified and decorous manner, from a distance at least. But going out of the way to stop this is EVIL and how can we then respect such evil actions?!
Leaders should take heed. If you do not change your attitudes and your ways, the Imam will find many ways in which to leave you in embarrassing positions in front of the jamat who will then just laugh at you. So please remove the tints from the cars to be used by the Imam and make farmans available readily for the jamat to keep in their homes and use in their everyday lives. Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah has said, "We should live and breathe in our faith daily." How can this be possible without having farmans to refer to at a moment's notice.
And as for trying to hide the Imam from the jamat at every possible opportunity, I promise you: you will NEVER succeed. The Imam has taken physical form just to be seen and whenever He goes anywhere He wants to be seen. Surely, the Imam is busy but no Ismaili would dare disturb the Imam during His meetings and official functions. But to see Him from the road, in His car or as He traverses through hotel lobbies should and must be allowed. This also applies when the Imam arrives at or leaves from the airport.
My advice: stop being hypocrites and putting the Imam in the position to take steps to embarrass you which He will do out of love for all of us and for which you yourselves will be responsible.
"Sache ke gale mein padi mala,
Jootho ka mu hua kaala"
With Ya Ali Madad.
Sister Zeenatara Allahrakhya
The Holy Quran is readily available to one and all as is the Bible, the Geeta and other scriptures. So it is really puzzling as to why there is so much reticence on the part of our leaders to make farmans, taliqas and hidaayats of our beloved Imam available even to Ismailis themselves. We are not allowed to record farmans. We are not allowed to carry pen and paper into the Darbar halls to jot down points (even lipsticks and eyeliner pencils were confiscated lest they be used to make any notes). So how are we supposed to assimilate the farmans into our daily lives? Is this not just ridiculous?! If we want to read a Farman, mukhi-kamadia sahebs and Tariqa board members hover over you like hawks making sure you are just reading and not jotting down anything. There is just no logic or sense to this. Not all of us have photographic or computer memories and I am sure the Imam would want His farmans to be made available to all jamats. So why are our leaders so possessive of these farmans? I have thought and thought about this and the only conclusion I can draw is that there is some sinister agenda behind all these restrictions on farmans. Do they want to change them and put in their own words? Or do they want to edit them and remove portions they don't like? We can think of anything now because it just does not make any sense as to why these farmans which should be the backbones of our lives are just not made available to us. And the notion that these are Mowla's directives is just ridiculous. Leaders should stop thinking we are illiterate imbeciles.
Anyway Admin hit the nail on the head: anyone who stops murids from reading and following farmans is evil (shaitaan)
And the same applies to great efforts made by leaders, that Ismailis in particular, should NOT get to see the Imam physically anywhere except in the Darbar hall. This is outrageous and WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS! to see the face of Ali carries the very greatest of blessings which our leaders want us to miss out on. And yet, they know everything. They know how Pir Sadardin was blocked for six months and six days for not allowing his young son, Hassan Kabirdin, to accompany him to see the Imam. They know that the Imam changed His car in Mombasa from tinted windows to untinted windows. And yet they pay no heed. Have they forgotten the miracle of City Park, Nairobi (July 2009)? Jamat was cruelly stopped from seeing the Imam and the Imam walked towards the jamat.
If I was a sincere leader, I would take heed of all this and ensure that when the Imam goes anywhere, the jamat can see Him, albeit in a dignified and decorous manner, from a distance at least. But going out of the way to stop this is EVIL and how can we then respect such evil actions?!
Leaders should take heed. If you do not change your attitudes and your ways, the Imam will find many ways in which to leave you in embarrassing positions in front of the jamat who will then just laugh at you. So please remove the tints from the cars to be used by the Imam and make farmans available readily for the jamat to keep in their homes and use in their everyday lives. Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah has said, "We should live and breathe in our faith daily." How can this be possible without having farmans to refer to at a moment's notice.
And as for trying to hide the Imam from the jamat at every possible opportunity, I promise you: you will NEVER succeed. The Imam has taken physical form just to be seen and whenever He goes anywhere He wants to be seen. Surely, the Imam is busy but no Ismaili would dare disturb the Imam during His meetings and official functions. But to see Him from the road, in His car or as He traverses through hotel lobbies should and must be allowed. This also applies when the Imam arrives at or leaves from the airport.
My advice: stop being hypocrites and putting the Imam in the position to take steps to embarrass you which He will do out of love for all of us and for which you yourselves will be responsible.
"Sache ke gale mein padi mala,
Jootho ka mu hua kaala"
With Ya Ali Madad.
Sister Zeenatara Allahrakhya
Another miracle
I also want to share something more. I think it was really inconsiderate of the leaders of Nairobi to keep the banquet at the Safari Park. I mean, do they not know that there are road constructions going on? They took Mowla through such terrible conditions; really they have no shame. Furthermore, at the hotel itself there were some Ismailis standing waiting to greet the motorcade. The Ismaili security did not like this and so they called for the hotel security and informed them that these Ismailis were "security threats" to His Highness Aga Khan. The hotel security then escorted the Ismailis out of the gate of the hotel, stating that they were not even allowed to spend one more minute on their grounds let alone eat at any of the other restaurants. Indignant and hurt, these Ismailis were just leaving the hotel only to be stopped a few metres away for low and behold! Mowla's motorcade had arrived. They abandoned their car and stood on the side of the road. Due to these bad road conditions, the motorcade was very slow these Ismailis managed to see the Imam who waved and smiled at them. They were so happy and the NRM did not know where to hide their faces...
Sincere Appeal
Sincere appeal to all leaders and decision makers
As we rapidly approach the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, inshallah, our Imam will soon bless another jamat with a jamati visit. This is a sincere, heartfelt appeal to all leaders and decision makers of whichever jamat the Imam will bless with a visit. Please ensure that the welfare of the Imam, physical welfare of the Imam, must come FIRST and be the uppermost of the preparation agenda. That is your duty and foremost responsibility. It would be nice if the various jamati ceremonies could be contained within one venue so that the Imam is not subject to hurriedly travel from one place to another within a day. Keeping the ceremonies contained within one venue will give our beloved Imam the chance to relax in the lounge with a glass of juice or a cappuccino whilst changeover is taking place in the ceremonial halls.
It was appalling to see how Nairobi dismally failed in this regard. The Imam never had the chance to relax on any of the three days allocated for jamati ceremonies. He had to rush from one venue to another, twice a day, morning and afternoon. And the roads in between, undergoing construction, were full of dust, twists and turns and presented the most ugly views to the Imam of deep trenches, puddles etc. It was possible to have kept the ceremonies within the premises of Darkhana but this was not thought of at all. Also, the Institutional banquet was organised at a venue miles outside the city, and the Imam had to go there after a long day of jamati work, once again, through appalling roads with no street lamps and full of dips and bumps.
It really pains me to see such a lack of concern for our Imam's physical welfare. Not once did He ever go to the rest lounges and this was indeed not fair on the part of leaders and decision makers in Nairobi. And the amazing part is that when these facts are pointed out to them, the only response is "Mowla was happy so it doesn't matter now". Mowla, oft forgiving and infinitely merciful, accepted everything. He has the biggest heart, Mashallah. But that does not give us the right to make His visits difficult, tiring and cumbersome. We must be always mindful that He is not subject to even a minute of inconvenience at any time. Just arranging a police and CID escort and a bulletproof car is not everything.
Therefore this appeal is being made to leaders and decision makers of other countries which inshallah our Imam will visit soon. Learn from Nairobi's failure! Keep the Imam's physical comfort and convenience uppermost at all times. Please please please please!
As we rapidly approach the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, inshallah, our Imam will soon bless another jamat with a jamati visit. This is a sincere, heartfelt appeal to all leaders and decision makers of whichever jamat the Imam will bless with a visit. Please ensure that the welfare of the Imam, physical welfare of the Imam, must come FIRST and be the uppermost of the preparation agenda. That is your duty and foremost responsibility. It would be nice if the various jamati ceremonies could be contained within one venue so that the Imam is not subject to hurriedly travel from one place to another within a day. Keeping the ceremonies contained within one venue will give our beloved Imam the chance to relax in the lounge with a glass of juice or a cappuccino whilst changeover is taking place in the ceremonial halls.
It was appalling to see how Nairobi dismally failed in this regard. The Imam never had the chance to relax on any of the three days allocated for jamati ceremonies. He had to rush from one venue to another, twice a day, morning and afternoon. And the roads in between, undergoing construction, were full of dust, twists and turns and presented the most ugly views to the Imam of deep trenches, puddles etc. It was possible to have kept the ceremonies within the premises of Darkhana but this was not thought of at all. Also, the Institutional banquet was organised at a venue miles outside the city, and the Imam had to go there after a long day of jamati work, once again, through appalling roads with no street lamps and full of dips and bumps.
It really pains me to see such a lack of concern for our Imam's physical welfare. Not once did He ever go to the rest lounges and this was indeed not fair on the part of leaders and decision makers in Nairobi. And the amazing part is that when these facts are pointed out to them, the only response is "Mowla was happy so it doesn't matter now". Mowla, oft forgiving and infinitely merciful, accepted everything. He has the biggest heart, Mashallah. But that does not give us the right to make His visits difficult, tiring and cumbersome. We must be always mindful that He is not subject to even a minute of inconvenience at any time. Just arranging a police and CID escort and a bulletproof car is not everything.
Therefore this appeal is being made to leaders and decision makers of other countries which inshallah our Imam will visit soon. Learn from Nairobi's failure! Keep the Imam's physical comfort and convenience uppermost at all times. Please please please please!