World Partnership Walk - Ismailis making a difference

A-Channel reporter Meribeth Burton embarked on a journey to East Africa to see how the funds raised in Canada through the World Partnership Walk are benefiting impoverished communities.



If you want to see all 7 videos as part of the series :

http://www.youtube.com/user/WorldPartnershipWalk



Zee's Notes: As the WPW celebrates it's 25th anniversary it's also time to reflect on our 30 plus years in Canada.

It's now been over 30 years since that fateful day in October, 1972 when then President for Life Idi Amin Dada dreamt of a homogeneous Uganda. That dream led to the greatest upheavel of Asians from a country they had called home only to be forced to leave with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Thirty years later, ex-Ugandan Ismailis are looked upon by Western countries as remarkable examples of fortitude and as hard working citizens who are solid contributors to their new homelands. I have first hand knowledge of this as my family, though from Tanzania, arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 1972 just a month before the Ugandans started their journey. That period was special in that families pulled together to survive and make a new life in a strange country - imagine jumping into a land where there was so much opportunity.

Working menial jobs - the most popular at that time was the local parking lots run by Imperial Parking (see history here) - a company that took a chance on the new immigrants and at one time probably had literally hundreds of Ismailis employed in their various city lots. A side story is a gentleman who hired many of the Ismailis - Paul Clough started with the company in 1968 worked his way up to eventually becoming President and CEO. Today Imperial Parking, started with one lot by Arne Olsen, is Canada's largest and North America's fourth largest parking lot operator.

The same story probably applies in other Canadian cities as well in the UK. The Ismaili immigrants were the beneficiares of the efforts of MHI who through his friendship with then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau was able to secure a new life for the displaced Ugandan Ismailis. In the context of modern Ismaili History there will no greater inflection point for our community than this event or period albeit it may compare to the migration of the Ismailis into the US from the Indian Sub Continent. Every day I think of my parents I see 30 years of sacrifice and hard work and the singular goal of making it a better quality of life for their children.

I dwell on the above for the simple reason that there lies an incredible opportunity for those of us who live in the Western World to make a difference in the lives of millions in other parts of the world in uplifting their quality of life. I mentioned in my blog yesterday that during tough times Allah taps us on one shoulder to find ourself to see whether we use the unique skills each one of us have in order to make a difference - the reason we are all here. I have to mention as well Allah has his other hand on our other shoulder and successful people tell me he never takes that hand away.

So the message today is that even though times are tough and will be tough for a few more years do not, do not miss this opportunity which may only come once in a lifetime. This opportunity is to make a difference in the lives of people you may have not met or may never meet and whether you contribute your time or your means remember one thing and one thing only - what if Idi Amin had allowed the Asians to stay and then decided to take out his wrath while they carried on with their lives in Uganda - we would have never had this chance of a lifetime to give what is so precious at this time - aaaahhh Allah brings his gifts in many different ways !!!

You're being tapped...are you ready ?

Zee's Notes: The Susan Boyles story received the most response out of any of the blogs in the past 3 years. Seemed a nerve was touched and that nerve was that the Morning Chai family really felt happy for her in that she achieved success against all odds - the biggest one being herself.

I don't know but maybe it has to do with the current economic climate that's threatening all of us. What I'm reading and hearing out there is that people are scared like they've never been scared in their lifetime - not only for themselves but also for their children. I'll leave the gory details out but if you read this you already know what's going on - nanima has sung (no my nanima was not a fat lady !) and now all the excesses of the past decade have come home to roost and we will have to get back to the fundamentals of living within our means - hey haven't we heard this for 50 years - so kudos to those who have been living this guidance. Anyhow we are neither there nor here and going forward people will need to alter their way of thinking and face this challenge with great courage and faith.

My thoughts on this are that we as humans only get tapped by the divine in times of turmoil - for some reason I seriously believe that. When things are good for us I think Allah, in his infinite wisdom, pretty well leaves us alone to have our party as long as we can do so in moderation. But we all get carried away and why buy a house we can comfortably afford when we can get a 40 year low interest mortgage with a balloon payment and really go for the million dollar 4 bedroom with all the bells and whistles. Works for some - we do know that only 5% of the people can live like that - don't we ?

Anyhow back to my line - tough times are an unbelievable opportunity for us to re-connect our relationship with our soul and along with that jump back on the rope that we call the light of Allah. A rich happy gentlemen once told me the greatest lessons he learnt in his life was during the times when he had nothing and the only thing that kept him going was his faith in that Light and the belief that there was something guiding him every single day - true story !!!

The time is now for us to strenghten that faith and come through these tough times stronger than ever - the ball is clearly in our court - yes you can have it all but are you prepared to lob some top spin crosscourts into the challenge of your life ? I think so and you have some unique qualities that will get you there...inshallah I hope to cover more of this in the days and months ahead and hopefully share with you some strategies that are working for the 5%...though I guarantee you know most of what you will hear from me...

I found this gem from Google Videos and needs no commentary.

University of Alberta to Honour Aga Khan

His Highness the Aga Khan is among 12 people to be honoured by the University of Alberta for their enduring contributions to society. The Aga Khan will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree on June 9 during convocation ceremonies.

Read PR here...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2333074.htm

Meet Farah Nasser...Ismailis in the Media

Farah Nasser
OCCUPATION:

Reporter, "CityNews"

SHOW DESCRIPTION: "CityNews" is Toronto News. All Day, Every Day, the City is our Newsroom. Intensely-local and urban-oriented, we focus on the 'Day in the Life' realities of people's lives with a visual realism that speaks directly to those that call Toronto home. "CityNews" is seen daily at Noon, Five, Six and 11:00pm on Citytv. "CityNews" ... What Toronto is Talking About Today.

BACKGROUND:

Farah Nasser caught the journalism bug early in life. Beginning in elementary school, Farah would bring in daily newspaper clippings for 'show and tell,' updating her classmates on the latest events and happenings in the world. It wasn't until highschool that Farah got to really report for local cable television station, Rogers Television in Mississauga.

In university, Farah made the jump to radio; first as a producer, then as a reporter and anchor for 1010 CFRB in Toronto. Upon graduation, Farah took the job of television reporter at Toronto 1, before making the move to A-Channel Barrie/Toronto in 2004.
Farah joined the "CityNews" news team in August of 2006, as General Assignment Reporter, where she continues to cover the latest in what's happening in and around Toronto.

Farah's previous work experience includes a summer internship at CNN International in New Delhi, India. An experience of a lifetime, Farah got to meet with South Asian politicians, a Bollywood producer and even interviewed Mahatma Ghandi's great grandson during her internship.

EDUCATION:

Ryerson University, Radio and Television Arts.
University of Westminster (London, England), European Media Studies.

FAVES:

When she's not chasing the news, Farah enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, rollerblading and attempting to cook Indian food like her mom (she hasn't quite mastered that one yet!)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Farah devotes a lot of time doing volunteer work. She is involved in the AgaKhan Foundation, a charity that provides sustainable solutions for the underprivileged in Asia and Africa. "I truly believe every Canadian should travel to a third world country at least once in their lifetime," says Farah. "After seeing children who most likely will never get an education, women being treated like second class citizens and seniors who don't have any form of healthcare at all, I just couldn't sit still."

Learning... By Heart - Ismaili Muslim volunteers

A great video of the work by Ismaili Volunteers in Edmonton to help resettle refugees from Afghanistan...

Meet Riaz Meghji...Ismailis in the Media

Check out some of his work..




Here is the bio on Riaz from Rogers TV...

About the Host


A born risk taker, Riaz Meghji was well on his way to a white picket MBA future when his love for entertaining took over. With perfect comedic timing and a natural talent in front of the camera, he took a chance and did a 180° turn. It paid off.

After a gig as a Roving Reporter in radio promotions for Z953FM, his talent and determination were noticed as he joined the powerhouse team at MTV Canada in Vancouver. With an undeniable desire to succeed, Riaz soon became Host/Producer for their flagship show “969”, earning a 2005 Leo Award Nomination for Best Host. Writing comedic editorial segments, along with honing his craft as a show host, MTV rewarded Riaz’s efforts with a majority of the A-List interviews that passed through Hollywood North.

Still wanting to learn more about television production in a live environment, he fought for the position of Weathercaster on a competing station, becoming one of the youngest on-air personalities to contribute to the CTV News team. By day, Riaz was up to his usual playful antics, engaging celebrities ranging from Miss Piggy to Matthew McConaughey, while still facilitating thought provoking discussion about the future of movies and music with the likes of Kevin Smith and Pink, respectively. By night, he was dictating low pressure systems in a suit and tie in the newsroom, taking in all he could about the industry.

Recruited by Toronto’s SUN TV in 2005, Riaz moved across the country to write for and eventually anchor entertainment for the show ‘Inside Jam’ and the live news program ‘Canoe Live’. In late 2006, he provided his hosting services to Bell ExpressVu’s ‘Festival Access’, having the illustrious task of covering the biggest Red Carpet and parties at the Toronto International Film Festival. Within a year, he had created opportunities allowing him to cover the MuchMusic Video Awards, Gemini Awards and once again, work his charm on stars such as Shania Twain and Pamela Anderson.

In between gigs, Riaz has still found time to travel, having lived in Puerto Rico and visited Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Peru, Pakistan and the Middle East. With his belief that life experience is essential to being a good interviewer, these particular adventures have left a lasting impression on just how crucial a journalistic flow of information is and how important a good laugh can be.

With an impressive resume and now his own production company ‘RM Entertainment’, Riaz Meghji is a face and a talent impossible to forget. An ambitious and polished performer, Riaz’s diversity as a producer and host, shows he is as capable behind the camera as he is in front of it.

Riaz has a BBA from Simon Fraser University and was recently named ANOKHI Magazine’s TV Personality of the Year for 2006.

Aga Khan Foundation - 25 year anniversary - In the News...

Local Vancouver TV Station covers the Media launch of AKF's 2009 WPW...

FYI - the male host is Riaz Meghji...

I Dreamed a Dream - life is a gift...

Zee's Notes: Over the last few days this You Tube video has been downloaded more than 30 million times - I'm sure many of you have caught it or heard of it in the news. Susan Boyles is a 47 year old Scottish amateur singer who simply 'blew away' the judges, including Simon Cowell, on the UK version of American Idol - Britain's Got Talent, and the audience with her rendition of a song from 'Les Miserables'.

Susan Boyles story is that she always wanted to be a singer but something always held her back and not until her 91 year old mom died 2 years ago she made a promise to herself that she would do something about her life's dreams.

My comment on seeing this is that you never know what life brings in front of you - but I also believe that you have to absolutely believe life is full of opportunity and yours is just around the corner. Only thing is you never give up and push all boundaries to achieve that dream. In studying and reading about people living their dreams I have learnt that these individuals look at life with the utmost optimism and their glasses are always half 'full' and never half 'empty'. The most important ingredient being the complete belief that they deserve a life of happiness and success. So when you watch this keep in mind to think about your dream - the only question is are you pursuing your own dream every single moment of your life ?

Remember there is a hand placed on your shoulder by the most powerful force you can imagine guiding you to achieve everything you ever wanted in your life - how do I know - I heard it on December 13th, 2008 and you know what if you look deep down inside yourself you'll know that only you are blocking that dream...The only funny thing is that most times, as in Susan Boyles story, it's during adversity that people get a wake up call and they kick themselves off the couch and push themselves. So my wish for you is that you make the decision, if not made already, to pursue your dreams and that 'the force' (my words) guide you to fulfill your wildest desires...

Watch the magical 7 minutes of Susan Boyles life here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

28 year old Ismaili Woman passes away in tragic accident

Soraya Nanji, centre, is seen with her roommates, Sharon Duhra, left, and Sherica Sharda. Nanji was killed when she was hit by a truck on Front St.

Woman hit by truck as she talked on phone - TheStar.com

Former roommate heard bystander scream at moment of tragedy

Mar 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Dale Anne Freed staff reporter

The moment before she died, Soraya Nanji, 28, was laughing on her cellphone with a good friend.
"`Oh my God,' I heard her say," her friend, Tylar Bertie, told the Star.
The phone dropped from Nanji's hand as she walked along Front St. just before 10 o'clock Wednesday night. Trucks honked in the background and cars drove by.
"I heard a (bystander) scream," said Bertie, 28, a former roommate. "I thought maybe she fell, dropped her phone."
And Bertie thought her friend would come back on the phone for sure so she could share another funny story. "She was eager to hear the story. I thought she'd call me back."
But that never happened.
Bertie, who was at her parents' home in Richmond Hill at the time, later saw a news flash on TV about a young woman hit by a truck while talking on the phone. She knew it was her friend.
"I called the police ... they were able to I.D. her based on what I said," Bertie said.
"Soraya was on her phone all the time. I can't imagine something like this happening when you do something as routine as this all the time," she said. "She'd walk and talk all the time. It's just so unbelievable."
Nanji had called Bertie to wish her a good flight before Bertie left yesterday for Florida, where she was flying to help her sister Lakeyshia move back to Toronto.
"She was just an amazing, amazing person who always saw the best in people," said Bertie.
At the time of the accident, they had been talking and laughing for about five or 10 minutes. It was about 9:50 p.m. Nanji had been having dinner with another former roommate in the Entertainment District and was walking to the condo she shared with two roommates several blocks west.
Nanji, an administrative assistant in sales and marketing, had worked at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre since July, said her boss David Chisholm, who said his staff was still reeling from the news.
Born in Uganda, Nanji grew up in Vancouver, where she met her current roommates.
She completed a bachelor of administrative studies at York University in 2007.

With files from Paola Loriggio and Michele Henry

MG Vassanji - A Place Within: Rediscovering India- Review

Zee's Notes: MG Vassanji has written more than 10 novels and won numerous literary awards for his work. In life, if we can somehow hook up to waking up every morning and doing what we love to do then it probably is the closest thing to it being heaven on earth. Imagine that ! - getting paid to do what you are the most passionate about and in MG Vassanji's world it is to write and indeed to write well.

So the story is that Allah in his infinite wisdom has given each one of us a unique gift of what we can do in this world. The lucky ones 'get it' early in their life and achieve that nirvana of wanting to jump out of bed every morning and many continue to live each day hoping to have a better tomorrow and I've learnt that hope is not a good strategy to hang your hat on if you want that 'zest' for living. Hope is waiting for your dreams to fall into your lap - not good ! Faith, however, is a different animal in that it's there residing in our inner self waiting to be called to do it's magic. It is that critical ingredient for you to realize that you are destined and moreso capable of achieving great things in life. Anyway i'm getting ahead of myself here as this post is to review the book.

A Place Within - MG Vassanji


What I love about MG Vassanji's work is that all his work relates to something within himself and who he is. His earlier novels took him back to his birthplace in Africa and the stories revolved around his childhood and subsequent experiences of being an immigrant in a new land - Canada - through his various characters. Also noted was that he hardly wrote of his faith and indeed he has spoken out on his inability to accept religous dogma. For someone like me who's life experience mirrors his characters in many ways I found it hard to put down any of his novels as they flooded my imagination of the years that have passed and passed so quickly. In A Place Within he goes back to the land of his ancestors and connects to the history not so much of his family but, to me, to his people. An interesting anecdote that I caught was that whenever he went to the villages and towns of his ancestors the first place he was directed to was the Ismaili Jamatkhana - there he would find a snippet of an answer of his search. Vassanji takes us into the main cities and to the villages and we get a sense of this amazing country which now is seen as one of the two, China being the main one, major drivers of ecenomic growth in the century ahead. In understanding the dynamic that is occuring in India now, one wonders how the heck can such progress be achieved in the midst of challenges such as abject poverty, communalism, corruption and the list goes on. But at the end of the day India works and it is moving at a pace where it may just be the number two economy in the universe once it sorts out it's problems though it may take a generation or two.

So yes if you get a chance MG Vassanji's A Place Within is a great read and be careful if may be a while before you can put it down.

MG Vassanji was recently in India to promote his book - here are some news items:

Home Pages
Mumbai Newsline - ‎Mar 22, 2009‎
If MG Vassanji has to search for his past, his own provenance, he would need to sit beside an unrolled map and then trace backward - from Canada where he ...

'Anything is possible in India' Daily News & Analysis

"India hits you like a tidal wave"
Financial Express - ‎Mar 21, 2009‎
But for MG Vassanji, it has taken him over 15 years and 10 visits to India to come up with a book. “I had thought I could be like Naipaul, come to India and ...

Spicezee
MG Vassanji turns to India in book
Spicezee - ‎Mar 13, 2009‎
New Delhi, Mar 13: Internationally renowned writer and two-time winner of the prestigious Giller Prize, MG Vassanji, turns his eyes towards India with new ...

Always the writer in exile
Macleans.ca - ‎Mar 12, 2009‎
MG Vassanji, one of Canada’s pre-eminent novelists, experienced his first moment of kinship with the late, great Mordecai Richler at a writer’s festival in ...

Calcutta Telegraph
MARCH IS THE LOVELIEST MONTH
Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎
In this category, my latest addition is MG Vassanji. I first read his novel, The Gunny Sack, and was charmed by it. Next, I read his latest novel, ...

Canadian Ismaili teen genius wants to be...a politician !!!

Thornhill
March 19, 2009 11:06 AM

By Kim Zarzour

At 12, the future is an open book: you can do anything, be anything - actor, doctor, astronaut or NHL player.
Tariq Haji is that promising age, and his dream for the future is very clear.

Some day, he hopes to be elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament.

And the first thing he'll do?...read story here

Ismaili Businessman caught in Stanford Investment scheme.

Zee's Notes: The last 7-8 years have been, in most accounts, a great time for individuals to make significant economic gains due to one of the greatest economic expansion periods witnessed. Investors took advantage of low interest rates and easy credit to leverage themselves to untold riches. I know of many, many Ismaili's who rode that wave and attained financial success not only in the Western World but also in Asia and Africa. But sadly as we see in the media today that fast moving party has smacked into a wall and now we are starting to see the carnage in the financial markets and in our own individual lives. Falling stock markets and real estate declines are hurting people like I've never witnessed in my lifetime and I remember my father paying 17% mortgage rates in 1982. When times are good a lot of frauds like the Stanford and Madoff ponzi scheme can be hidden but sooner or later the 'fat lady sings' to reveal the fraudsters for what they are - crooks taking advantage of the greed in people.

The Madoff ponzi scheme, which took in the elite Jewish Community, hit home to many Ismailis who got caught in the Salim Damji Colgate fiasco almost 10 years ago. Damji's Instant White fraud (see story here...)soaked $75 million from the Ismaili Community and most of the the money was never recovered. The sad part was that a lot of middle income families and seniors got taken in whilst Madoff was more content to only take down the very richest Jewish elite. Worse is that many of Damji's bag men, those in various cities who solicited (or conned) their friends out of their money are still out there walking though they have lost their reputations in the community.

So we will hear of many stories on these type of frauds in the days ahead and here is one of them...

In the lawsuit, filed on Feb. 25 in Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary, Dynasty Furniture Manufacturing Ltd., one of Canada's largest manufacturers of upholstered furniture, started in 1979 by East African immigrant Jim Sunderji, seeks damages for misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, conversion, fraudulent conveyance and breach of trust for what it claims is an investment scheme that is "untruthful and inaccurate...read complete story here

Here is another story of an Edmonton Ismaili entrepreneur who is very active in the Vancouver real estate market which, in the last few years, had the greatest uplift in home values in comparison to any large city throughout the globe - yes it was that good...read story here

Aga Khan to visit Winnipeg in 2010 ?

UWinnipeg To Host G8 Religious Leaders In 2010

WINNIPEG, MB – Up to 100 religious leaders from diverse faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Islam, Indigenous Spirituality and Shinto traditions will gather in Winnipeg in late June, 2010 at the invitation of Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg and the Canadian Council of Churches. It is the first time Canada will host the G8 Religious Leaders Summit which, for the past five years, has been organized to complement the meeting of G8 political leaders (in 2010, G8 leaders meet in Huntsville, Ontario.)
Participants will travel to Winnipeg from France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia (G8) as well as Africa for three days of dialogue devoted to advancing the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the G8 countries in 2000. The goals encompass pressing global concerns ranging from eradicating extreme poverty to combating HIV and malaria to ensuring environmental sustainability

Religious heads to hold own summit during G8 - Toronto Star Mar 19,2009

Nadir Mohammed to be named CEO of Rogers Communications - Ismailis in the News

Zee`s Notes: Vancouver`s Nadir Mohamed is soon to be announced as CEO of Canada`s largest media and wireless conglomerate Rogers Communications.

Nadir will become the first Ismaili to be a CEO of a major global public company - Rogers has a market cap of USD $19 billion - with interests in Cable, Telecom, Wireless, Radio, Television, Print and off course the Toronto Blue Jays professional baseball team. I first met Nadir in the early seventies as teammates of the Vancouver Aga Khan Cricket Club. I remember him vividly as at the time he was one of the only ones on the team with a car and he would, every Saturday, make the rounds and drive all over the city giving the young players rides to the game`s. A fine all-rounder who stopped playing the game to concentrate on his studies eventually becoming a Chartered Accountant. He went on to major success at BC Tel`s wireless division as President and then to Rogers in Toronto.
I saw him and wife Shabin, also a CA by profession, again in 2005 at the U. of Toronto at the commencement ceremony where MHI received an Honorary Degree. I spoke to him and Shabin for some time and both had not changed in 20 years - Nadir was the same gracious personality and he even asked me if I needed a ride to the airport. I could not be more happier for Nadir and look forward to reading on his success at Rogers in the years ahead.

Nadir Mohammed eyed as new Rogers chief Company founder, CEO Ted Rogers died last year By Etan Vlessing March 16, 2009, 12:37 PM ET TORONTO -- Rogers Communications wireless division head Nadir Mohammed has emerged as the company's next CEO. The Globe and Mail newspaper on Monday cited sources close to the executive hunt that indicated the announcement of Mohammed's promotion to the CEO post is imminent. Toronto-based Rogers, Canada's largest cable and wireless operator, has been in executive search mode since the death of company founder Ted Rogers in December. One of the few remaining obstacles to Mohammed's appointment is establishing a key management role for Edward Rogers, son of the late Ted Rogers and head of the company's cable division.

See this excellent video of the Business Community`s reaction to the news...

http://www.bnn.ca/news/7897.html

Financial Post profile on Nadir in 2005

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1021490

Profile of Nadir by CA Magazine in 2001

http://www.ica.bc.ca/kb.php3?pageid=713

Navroz Mubarak to our global Morningchai family !!!

Zee's Notes: Amazing 12 months have gone by since, at this time last year, the Ismaili's were preparing to head off to the four cities in the US for the Golden Jubilee Darbars. A lot has happened since then - most notably the entire global economy blew up in front of our eyes - yes times have changed and indeed in most Ismaili centers there will be no central 'Khushiali' celebrations. So thanks to the people who recorded some past Navroz celebrations here is a taste...

But first...I absolutely love the new rendition of the Ismaili Anthem...yes you can guess I love being an Ismaili !!!





While we are in the Khushiali mood - I need to give you this incredible story of one man who, to me, is the absolute soul of every Khushiali celebration in Vancouver. When we first moved to Vancouver in the early seventies there was this gent - his name is Mamlo Dhanji - who started the Vancouver Ismaili Band you are listening to in the video above. Mamlo has kept the Ismaili Band tradition alive for the past 30 years and he really epitomizes the celebration of our 'Khushiali. So the story is this - I am sitting here at 2:40am at my computer and looking in my hard drive if I have a picture of Mamlo - no luck - I could get it tomorrow but I want it right now - and by chance I surf over to Flickr - the photo sharing site - and type in Ismaili and lo and behold - there is a photo of Mamlo taken by an amateur lady photographer who happens to be at the Punjabi Market on Main Street - how cool is that !!!

Here is the post from Flickr - hats off to my friend Mamlo - seventy and getting younger....



Click here for comments by visitors to this lady`s site on Mamlo...http://www.flickr.com/photos/janisbrass/118390503/

Speaking of Khushiali - there is no tradition as old and universal to Ismailis from the Indian Sub-Continent and Africa as Dandiya. I dandiyad at 12 and 3 decades later I still dandiya - though a few times I ended up at the end of the line and don`t you hate that when you turn and no one on the right to catch your dandia stick - well here is what you can do if there is just the two of you and you don`t want to go into the line...just brilliant...have a great Navroz with your loved ones...

Canadian Minister sends Navroz Greetings to the Aga Khan and the Ismaili's

Obama sends Navroz Message to Iran

Zee's Notes: Clearly the new President in the US is a different breed in that he has done in 60 days what we haven't seen from an American leader in generations or maybe centuries. Last night I caught him on Jay Leno's Tonight Show and this leader of the most powerful nation on the earth is as humble as they come...I pray that he succeeds beyond our wildest dreams as finally there is someone in the Oval office who may lead us toward world peace - if there is such a thing...maybe I'm hoping too much !!!


Here is another example yesterday in this message of hope to the people of Iran.



Here is a snippet...



Can you believe the number of people he has to travel with daily...

Aga Khan - Personality of the Year - Apollo Magazine

Apollo - The Magazine for Collectors honored MHI as the Personality of the Year in the December 2007 issue.

Personality of the year
This year the Aga Khan celebrated his 70th birthday and his golden jubilee as spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims. His extraordinary investment in arts and architecture includes plans for a museum of Islamic art, writes Lucian Harris.

Click Here for the article - you have to register - it's free.

http://www.apollo-magazine.com/features/380491/personality-of-the-year.thtml

Rita and Prince Aly Khan

I've never read - or found much material - about Prince Aly Khan and his life. Here is a video I found chronicling his romance and marriage to Hollywood queen Rita Hayworth - I believe the video footage must be from a movie that was made about the couple 50 plus years ago which also had the visit to East Africa after the wedding.

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - Madagascar

Another GJ video - this time from one of the earlier visits - Madagascar in November 2007.

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - Central Asia

An interesting video - would be nice to have the translation.

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat - Ottawa

Canada was blessed again with MHI's visit this time for the opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building in Ottawa.

Here is Stephen Harper's address - nice to see his sense of humor...



A pictorial of the day in Ottawa...

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - France 2008

Paris is one of the world's most romantic cities and in December 2008 was also the location of the GJ Darbar. When Mukhianima of Burnaby Lake read the announcement I was sure the message was to include a notice to the International Jamat not to travel for the Paris Darbar - but no - the message was that the France Council was open heartedly inviting the world jamat with joy to celebrate this historic visit - and what a visit it turned out with most of the Noorani family in attendance - a bonus of bonuses for those lucky to be in the City of Lights - so aptly named for Ismailis as the light lives not to far away in the town known as Aiglemont.

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - Canada 2008

Now that the GJ is over it's time to reflect on the marvelous year. All the JK's have been showing the movies from all the different visits - such memories !
Personally, I took a break from blogging to also look at the year that was and to think about the messages from Morning Chai readers. Many of you are undertaking journeys within to use the momentum of the GJ to move your own lives forward both material and spiritual by working harder to maintain or progress the balance which MHI wishes for us - it was truly a blessed year for Ismailis though it looks like it's going to be challenging in the years ahead - so my personal take was that the GJ was a primer - call it a preparation - for me to use the strength gained and to use it as a lever to fulfill all my wishes and achieve success in all my endevours.

In the months ahead I will focus on the the challenge of the economic downturn and also to undertake a journey into the history of the Ismailis.

In the meantime here are some videos on the Canada darbar. Enjoy...



Toronto Darbar Preparations



Calgary Darbar Preparations - where they transformed an entire warehouse into a spectacular showcase - leave it to those Albertans to create magic with their never say never attitude...

Aga Khan Canada Visit - Summary

MHI arrival at Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver - Nov 24th, 2008

Youtube Video by Adil Chagani



CBC News - Vancouver



CTV News - Vancouver




GLobal TV - Calgary



YouTube - Flag raising at Burnaby Darkhana (at dawn)



YouTube - Welcome Calgary style



YouTube Video on Calgary Preparations and Celebrations

YouTube Video on Toronto Prepararations and Celebrations






http://www.theismaili.org/cms/622/Canada-visit - the best summary of the visit.


An unforgettable occasionBurnaby Now, Canada - 19 hours agoNatasha Rajan can't remember the first time she saw the Aga Khan as a four-year-old in her native Tanzania. But she won't forget the most recent time, ...

Q and A with the Aga KhanVancouver Sun, Canada - 28 Nov 2008... and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and Don Cayo of The Vancouver Sun. The interview took place Nov. 23 in Toronto. ...

Golden JubilationSouth Asian Post, Canada, Canada - 27 Nov 2008Vancouver was the final stop on the Aga Khan’s eight day, four-city Canadian tour, which began in Ottawa last Tuesday, with stops in Toronto and Calgary. ...

Gallery: Aga Khan's arrival in VancouverCanada.com, Canada - 25 Nov 2008VANCOUVER - She was only nine, but Almira Bardai remembers the day the Aga Khan came to dinner at her mother's family home. She didn't get to join the 200 ...

Ismaili Muslim leader says Canada's diversity is a model for the worldThe Canadian Press, B.C. - 25 Nov 2008VANCOUVER, BC — The leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims says Canada's pluralism is a model to the world. The Aga Khan thanked Canada for ...

Muslim leader draws crowds in VancouverCBC.ca, Canada - 25 Nov 2008The Aga Khan was greeted by a crowd of thousands as he arrived at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on Monday night. (CBC) Thousands of people turned up ...

Aga Khan's devotion to humanity revealed during Calgary visitCalgary Herald, Canada - 25 Nov 2008Unlike his father, a notorious playboy who had an eye for racehorses and Hollywood starlets, his highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV--the highness part was ...

Crowd of thousands greets arrival of spiritual leaderVancouver Sun, Canada - 25 Nov 2008VANCOUVER - Thousands of Ismaili Muslims from across North America took to the streets of downtown Vancouver Monday evening to welcome their spiritual ...

The Aga Khan reflects on the world best hopes and worst dangersVancouver Sun, Canada - 24 Nov 2008It’s something I hear a lot from people who know far more about international development than I do. Enough pieces of the puzzle have been found and fitted ...

Aga Khan sees hope for Muslim-West relationsCanada.com, Canada - 24 Nov 2008The spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims says he sees real prospects for new bridges and better relations between Muslim states and ...

Welcome to an honoured visitorCalgary Herald, Canada - 24 Nov 2008The Aga Khan's visit to Calgary today marks a significant event for the city's small but influential Ismaili community. For the first time in 16 years, ...

Spiritual leader brings out followers' emotionsCalgary Herald, Canada - 24 Nov 2008With tears in his eyes and his voice quivering, Nash Jetha speaks quietly when asked why he came to see the Aga Khan's arrival Sunday night in Calgary. ...

Aga Khan takes a personal interest in empowering womenVancouver Sun, Canada - 24 Nov 2008There are Golden Jubilee flags flying high in our great city this week denoting the visit of the great spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim Community ...

Aga Khan holds up Canada as model for the worldCanada.com, Canada - 23 Nov 2008TORONTO - What may often sound to Canadians like a discordant cacophony of voices from our diverse cultures and interest groups is apparently music to the ...

Thousands expected for Aga Khan's visit in CalgaryCanada.com, Canada - 22 Nov 2008CALGARY - Calgary's close-knit Ismaili Muslim community is on pins and needles in anticipation of Sunday's visit by the Aga Khan, spiritual leader for the ...

Thousands expected to attend gatheringsVancouver Sun, Canada - 22 Nov 2008VANCOUVER - Two large events will be held by religious organizations downtown in the next few days, despite BC's reputation as one of the most secular ...

Leader walking 'road of hope' salutedThe Province, Canada - 26 Nov 2008The Aga Khan's golden jubilee tour of BC made two stops yesterday -- one rubbing elbows with BC leaders, another mixing with his Ismaili supporters. ...

Aga Khan praises Canadian pluralism during Vancouver visitMetro Canada - Vancouver, Canada - 25 Nov 2008The spiritual leader of 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims and head of the world’s largest NGO, the Aga Khan, thanked Canadians yesterday for our contribution ...

Aga Khan's message of plurality a lesson for us allThe Province, Canada - 25 Nov 2008Two year-old Rose Mwaka had her foot amputated last August after an intern misdiagnosed her illness and gave her the wrong injection. ...

Thousands give Aga Khan a rock star greetingCTV British Columbia, Canada - 25 Nov 2008Thousands lined Vancouver streets Monday night for a brief glimpse of the Aga Khan as he arrived in BC for a quick stop. The leader of the world's 15 ...

Thousands welcome Aga KhanThe Province, Canada - 25 Nov 2008More than 25000 people will flock into BC Place today to greet the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims. ...

Royal hello for Muslim leaderCanoe.ca, Canada - 25 Nov 2008By DAVE DORMER, SUN MEDIA Thousands of the city's Ismaili Muslim community turned out at the Roundup Centre yesterday to hear words of wisdom and ...

Ismailis prepare to celebrate Vancouver visit of Aga Khan to BC PlaceGeorgia Straight, Canada - 24 Nov 2008By Shadi Elien Tomorrow (November 25) will mark an important day for the estimated 15000 members of the Ismaili community in Vancouver as they celebrate Aga ...

Aga Khan Marks Golden Jubilee In CanadaSouth Asian Link, Canada - 24 Nov 2008OTTAWA – Ismaili Muslims’ spiritual leader Aga Khan, the Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) arrived in Vancouver this week as ...

Thousands gather to hear Aga KhanCalgary CTV, Canada - 24 Nov 2008Thousands are filling the Round Up Centre for their opportunity to hear the Aga Khan. The spiritual leader of more than 15-million Ismaili Muslims is in ...

Aga Khan, spiritual leader to Ismaili Muslims, in Canada for eight ...Daily Gleaner, Canada - 22 Nov 2008By LAUREN LA ROSE TORONTO - Canadian Ismaili Muslims are marking a half-century of leadership of the Aga Khan, as the spiritual leader to millions around ...

The Aga Khan after 50 years: We may yet set the world rightVancouver Sun, Canada - 25 Nov 2008Despite the West's "big, big, big failure" in Iraq and continuing conflict in much of Afghanistan, the Aga Khan says the world has made great strides ...

Ismaili Muslim leader says Canada's diversity model for the worldWhistler Question, Canada - 25 Nov 2008British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, right, shares a laugh with spirtual leader Aga Khan during a photo op in the Premiers office during a visit to ...

Ismaili visitors arrive in Vancouver for Golden Jubilee Visit

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The map above is Downtown Vancouver - click on the bed icon to see the Hotels listed on the GJ Canada website - these are on the Transport Shuttle route to the Agrodome Satellite JK 

BC Place is the Green button and the Blue button is Downtown JK

The restaurant icon is Vancouver's famous Simbas Grill Downtown location and the Burnaby location is below - click on them for directions.

The map below is a Greater Vancouver map highlighting key areas - the Yellow button is the Pacific National Exhibition - site of the Pacific Coliseum and the Agrodome. Click on the icons to see specific areas of interest.

View Larger Map

The Aga Khan: faith and action

His Highness the Aga Khan is presented with the insignia of Companion of the Order of Canada by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, during a private ceremony that was held at Rideau Hall, on Monday, June 6, 2005. His Highness the Aga Khan was invested as an Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, for his meaningful contributions to Canada.

Photographer: Sgt Eric Jolin, Rideau Hall

ADRIENNE CLARKSON

(former Governor General of Canada)

Special to Globe and Mail Update

November 20, 2008  

My interest in His Highness the Aga Khan, and in his vision, dates back to 1957. Then, as a young university student, I read about Prince Karim, who had suddenly inherited his grandfather's mantle as the imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismailis. His grandfather had been a remarkable figure of worldwide renown. The young prince was still a student at Harvard, and I remember thinking, "How does he feel about inheriting this enormous responsibility as the leader of the Ismailis at the age of 20?"

Read complete article here...

Aga Khan hails brilliant filly and Cartier Horse of the Year Zarkava

Video on Telegraph.co.uk

Great pictures from the event at Getty Images...

Article from Bloodhorse.com

Zarkava was the big winner at the at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards in London's Grosvenor House Hotel Nov. 17, collecting both the Horse Of The Year and Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly awards.

The daughter of Zamindar was unbeaten in seven starts, culminating in a brilliant Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) victory in October, and owner Aga Khan revealed that the filly's great, great grand dam had been named after his daughter Princess Zahra, who also attended the 2008 Cartier Awards.
“I would like to thank Cartier for the prize that has been given to Zarkava and just share with you what she means to me," he said when accepting the Three-Year-Old Filly Award.
“Zarkava goes back to my grandfather's time, to my father's time and the family carries the name of my daughter and so she is very special and I think very exceptional. Sometimes we are associated with fast ladies and this is a case when I am very happy to be associated with a fast lady.”
After collecting the Horse of the Year award, the Aga Khan added: “Thank you very much for the honor and I have to mention my daughter. She bred Mandesha and she bred Darjina, and she will probably be putting her father back out to the field.”


Read complete article here...

Governor General Welcomes His Highness the Aga Khan

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, officially welcomed His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. His Highness is visiting Canada on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee

Date: November 19, 2008

Photographer: MCpl Jean-François Néron, Rideau Hall

Visit the official GG site for more...

Canadian Press...

Aga Khan Visit to Canada - November 19th, 2008 - Day 2

Zee's Notes: It's now Day 2 of MHI's visit to Canada.

I went to BC Place today to volunteer for preparations for the Darbar on Tuesday Nov. 25th. What's impressing me more and more everyday is the number of youngsters who are making the committment to their faith and to MHI. I come from a time where we almost lost a whole generation of teens. In the early '80's my generation had the benefit of growing up in Africa and when we came to Canada our value systems were firmly entrenched so it was not too hard to retain our culture, faith and heritage - and off course moms stayed home while dads went off to work in their new jobs. For many new families both parents had to work so the kids, in many cases, who really grew up in Canada were heavily influenced by peer pressure and sought different answers to pressures of life. The '90's kids really grew up influenced by their grandparents who babysat them for the most part. The last 20 years have been more stable as the Canadian Ismaili nuclear family (including grandparents) firmly established themselves socially, economically and moreso their committment to their faith.
So when I saw all the teens and youth working and having the time of their life it made me grateful to all the dads, moms, grandmas and grandpas who gave themselves so their kids could have a better life. We really need to say a big thank you to those pioneers who took on the challenge in 1972 - many who arrived at Canadian airports with the clothes on their backs literally - and made it a life - and a good one at that.
So the message here is that when we celebrate the Deedar in the next few days let's spare a moment to shed a tear of joy of gratefulness of the blessings we've been lucky to have received in the almost 40 years of life in Canada - which was only possible due to the vision of one who may have a time horizon of 100 years or possibly more - is that not incredibly mind boggling ?....all we can do is be in total awe...

Some news from the wires today:

Governor General Welcomes His Highness the Aga Khan at Rideau Hall
November 18, 2008
OTTAWA—Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will officially welcome His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. His Highness is visiting Canada on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at 4:30 p.m.

Aga Khan on eight-day visit to Canada Thaindian.com, Thailand -
Toronto, Nov 20 (IANS) The Aga Khan, the spiritual head of Shia Ismaili Muslims, is on a eight-day official visit to Canada to meet his followers and the ...

BC welcomes the Aga Khan The Asian Pacific Post, Canada
A current of electrified excitement is crackling through British Columbia’s Ismaili community as the arrival in Vancouver of His Highness the Aga Khan fast ...

The Aga Khan builds a better world The Asian Pacific Post, Canada
Celebrating his Golden Jubilee as the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan brings his message of pluralism, peace and prosperity to ...

Aga Khan to address Ismaili community here Vancouver Sun, Canada
As Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, he will meet and address members of Canada's 75000-strong Ismaili community in special events to mark his Golden ...

Aga Khan kicks off 8-day visit The Province, Canada
The spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims will meet with Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and BC ...

Aga Khan in Canada to celebrate 50 years of leadership of Ismailis The Gazette (Montreal), Canada - 18 Nov 2008
By Salim Jiwa, Vancouver Province Thousands of Ismaili Muslims have begun a week of celebration to mark the arrival of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan on ...

His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Canada - Tuesday November 18th, 2008

Upon his arrival in Ottawa, Mawlana Hazar Imam is received by President Mohamed Manji of the Ismaili Council for Canada. The Honourable Ministers John Baird and Jason Kenney welcomed Hazar Imam on behalf of the Canadian Government. Photo: Gary Otte

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/622/Canada-visit

Video of MHI's arrival also on The Ismaili.org

Zee's Notes: Mubaraki to all on MHI's touchdown on Tuesday November 18th, 2008 at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Some interesting notes on watching the video:

Hazar Imam was met by 2 senior Cabinet Ministers from the Canadian Government as he came down the stairs off the Gulfstream jet - the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. Next was Mohamed Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada

Mobina Jaffer, the senator from BC, was the first in line to receive MHI followed by her spouse Mr. Nurullah Jeraj. Yasmin Ratansi, the Liberal member of Parliament for Toronto's Don Valley East riding was next.

The most heart warming welcome was with Justin Trudeau, recently elected as Liberal MP for the Papineau riding in Quebec, who also happens to be the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau - a great friend of MHI. Indeed MHI was present at the funeral in October 2000 at Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica. A cheer ensued from the jamat, watching the video, at Burnaby Lake JK as this exchange took place.

Also in line was BC Judge Sheni Dossa (wearing the red scarf) and her spouse. Next, and receiving a cheer also from the local BC crowd, off course was our very own Darkhana M/K's (Salim and Leila Ahmed and Karim and Shairoz Nathoo) , who also had travelled to Ottawa to receive MHI.

After the Nashid al-Imamah and the Canadian national anthem, MHI's motorcade departed and passed through Lansdowne Park where the Ottawa jamat had gathered to celebrate MHI's arrival. Some great pictures and first hand commentary on this at http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/ottawa-photos/ .

All in all, a great start to MHI's historic visit to Canada on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee.

His Highness the Aga Khan to arrive in Ottawa today Tuesday Nov. 18th, 2008

Media advisory

His Highness the Aga Khan to visit Canada on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee

18th-25th November 2008

Prime Minister Stephen Harper meeting with His Highness the Aga Khan in October 2006. (CNW Group/Aga Khan Foundation Canada)

OTTAWA, Nov. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritualleader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) arrives in Ottawa today at the start of an 8-day visit to Canada on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. The Aga Khan, who is in Canada as a guest of the Government, is commemorating his fifty years of leadership as Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. He will be met by The HonourableJohn Baird, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on behalf of the Government of Canada.

During the visit, His Highness will be welcomed by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada and will meet with senior government officials to discuss areas of active collaboration between Canada and the AKDN.

The Aga Khan will travel to Toronto, where he will meet with The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario. He will also preside over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between McMaster University and the Aga Khan University (AKU), which has campuses and programmes in eight countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

During his stay in Calgary, the Aga Khan will meet with The Honourable Norman L. Kwong, Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta; Dr. Indira Samarasekera, the President of the University of Alberta, and Dr. Carl Amrhein, Provost and Vice President.

In Vancouver, the Aga Khan will meet with the Mayor of the City of Burnaby, His Worship Derek Corrigan, as well as The Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia.

The Aga Khan will meet and address gatherings of the Ismaili community in each city.

His Highness is scheduled to return to Ottawa for the official inauguration of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building on Sussex Drive,on December 6, 2008. The Delegation will serve a representational role for the activities of the Imamat including the AKDN, and will mark a new phase in the Imamat's partnership with Canada.

The Aga Khan Development Network has a long-standing relationship with Canada and Canadians. Over the past 25 years, the AKDN, particularly through Aga Khan Foundation Canada, has collaborated with a diverse set of institutions, including universities, government departments, the private sector and civil society organizations, to bring the best of Canada's human,intellectual and technical resources to bear on the challenges of thedeveloping world.

NOTES

Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan His Highness the Aga Khan completed his 50th year as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on 11th July 2007, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah. The Aga Khan leads a community of 15 million Ismaili Muslims living in some 25 countries around the world and is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). As part of the commemoration of His Highness the Aga Khan's GoldenJubilee which began on 11th July 2007, he has been paying official visits to some 35 countries, using these occasions to recognize the friendship and longstanding support of leaders of state, government and other partners in the work of the Ismaili Imamat, and to set the direction for the future, including the launching and laying of foundations for major initiatives and programmes.

The Aga Khan Development Network

His Highness the Aga Khan is founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals and to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network's nine development agencies focuson social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless ofgender, origin or religion. The AKDN's underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for social development is in excess of US$500 million.

www.akdn.org

Aga Khan Foundation Canada

Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a non-profit international andnon-denominational agency that supports social development programs in Asia and Africa. As a member of the world-wide Aga Khan Development Network, the Foundation works to address the root causes of poverty: finding and sharing effective and lasting solutions that help improve the quality of life for poor communities. AKFC programs focus on four core areas: health, education, rural development and building the capacity of non-governmental organizations.Gender equity and protecting the environment are integrated into everyprogram. Established in 1980, the Foundation has built a reputation in Canada as an effective development organization that acts as a catalyst forincreasing awareness and understanding of key global issues.

www.akfc.ca

Aga Khan Golden Jubilee - Ismaili Frontierless Brotherhood

Zee's Notes: During the 7 days of the Golden Jubilee Games it was very, very evident the notion of Frontierless Brotherhood among the 1100 plus athletes who gathered in Nairobi. It almost seemed that every individual who came to the games was predisposed to connecting with their Ismaili brothers and sisters from other countries. Whether you were Canadian, American, Pakistani, Indian, East African, Tajik, Afghani, Syrian, French, English etc. etc. they all were one and though the games were competitive it was all about the unity and celebrating the diversity - at the end during the closing ceremonies there were no countries but simply Ismailis and all we will remember is how joyous it was to be one.

Here's a clip from the Opening Ceremonies if you haven't seen it...




Click on the link below to get a taste of the what the Frontierless Brotherhood is all about.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/531/Orchestra-in-Dubai-expresses-the-harmony-of-the-international-Jamat-through-a-unique-musical-compilation

Ismailis prepare for Aga Khan Visit - D-2

Zee's Notes: Today is Sunday November 16th (2 days to go for MHI's arrival in Ottawa)

Vancouver was abuzz all weekend with the performances of the 'Allah Hu' shows - all four of them sold out - even though there is so much activity in preparation for MHI's Darbar being 9 days away. The youngsters who hail from Calgary mesmerized the local crowds with their 'Qawali' show and in the JK's, the restaurants and anywhere where Ismailis gathered it was to talk up the 'Allah Hu' shows - such was the impact they had on the city. So if these talented artists come to your city do not miss their spellbinding and inspirational performance.
On Saturday the local leadership gave presentations to various stakeholders on where things stood in terms of Darbar preparations. The noticeable theme in the Golden Jubilee Darbars is the effort by the leadership to keep the Jamat upto date with information. The one learning the leadership has taken away from all the Darbars held so far is that it is vital to give the Jamat info in a timely manner in order to mitigate the swell of rumors which have had major impacts - examples include the December '07 Dubai visit dates which proved to be false and the potential Summer '08 visit to Canada which also was a hoax - seemed someone had too much time on their hands - though it was a well thought out document.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the leadership across Canada that Inshallah, their hard work and efforts be rewarded with a successful visit and a happy Imam.

Here is a great video highlighting the Golden Jubilee in various cities throughtout the world...enjoy