Princess Yasmin Aga Khan in New York - October 27, 2009

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Actress Brooke Shields and Princess Yasmin Aga Khan attend the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Rita Hayworth Gala at The Waldorf Astoria on October 27, 2009 in New York City.

by Vanity Fair

October 28, 2009, 5:15 PM

 

Last night at the Alzheimer's Association Rita Hayworth Gala, in New York City, Brooke Shields was photographed alongside Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, the second daughter of Hollywood beauty Rita Hayworth. (The Princess gets her royal title from her father, Hayworth's third husband, Prince Aly Khan.) Started by Princess Yasmin in 1985, the galas have helped the Alzheimer's Association raise more than $250 million. Hayworth, who died in 1987, suffered from Alzheimer's in later years, and Princess Yasmin tirelessly worked to raise awareness about the disease at a time when it was little known and even less discussed.

Ismailis in the News - Food drive bridges the divide - Toronto Star

Abdulsultan Madhani and Helena Houldcroft sort food donations. (Oct. 11, 2009)

RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR FIL

The Sunni and Ismaili Muslims of Flemingdon Park share the same faith and pray a few blocks from each other in Thorncliffe Park.
But it took a crisis at the local food bank to bring the two branches of Islam to work together in a common cause, alongside their Christian neighbours, in the East York community.

Read complete story here

Ugandan Vice President speaks at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby

Gathered at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby (L to R): His Excellency George Abola, High Commissioner for Uganda in Ottawa; Samira Alibhai, President of the Ismaili Council for British Columbia; His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda; Malik Talib, Vice-President of the Ismaili Council for Canada; and John Halani, Honorary Consul for Uganda in BC. Photo: Riyaz Lalani

On 25 October 2009, His Excellency Professor Gilbert Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda visited the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby. Accompanied by His Excellency George Abola, High Commissioner of Uganda in Ottawa, he sought to reach out to the Canadian Ismaili community — many of whom were born in Africa — with an invitation to invest in the future of Uganda.

Read complete story at Ismaili.org

Ismailis in the News - Calgary parkade death stuns family, co-workers

 

CALGARY - With little time to spare, Rehana Sheeraz Allidina was rushing to meet a friend at a theatre after work with free passes to the early movie. She never made it.

Read story here in the Calgary Herald

Aga Khan in Zanzibar

Aga Khan pledges more support for Zanzibar

Zanzibar President Abeid Amani Karume (right) with The Aga Khan at the official opening of the Forodhani Park in Zanzibar on Thursday. Photo/LEONARD MAGOMBA

By Costantine Sebastian in ZanzibarPosted Friday, July 31 2009 at 17:45

The Aga Khan has assured the people of Zanzibar continued support in development projects, including setting up a micro-finance scheme that will provide loans of more than Sh1 billion.

Speaking during the opening of the refurbished Forodhani Park, the Aga Khan said the initiative would offer about 1,000 loans to different segments of Zanzibaris.

Forodhani Park has been rehabilitated by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) at a cost of $3 million.

Attractive look

The facelift involved the restoration of walkways, landscape, infrastructure upgrading, incorporating lighting, and drainage and renovating the seawall facing the park.

He said that the trust was ready to undertake the second phase of the project to give the area a new attractive look.

The Aga Khan was optimistic that the site would attract visitors and more enterprises, and improve lives of the people of Stone Town.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Amani Abeid Karume said that after the successful refurbishment of the park located in the World Heritage Site, his government planned more projects. He also supported an idea by the Aga Khan to establish the Indian Ocean Marine Museum.

The Zanzibar Association of Tourism Inventors chairman, Mr Simai Mohammed, told The Nation that the refurbished Forodhani Park would add value to the tourism products that Zanzibar offers to its visitors.

At the same time, some 57 traders were trained in modern business skills. They were picked from among local businessmen, who used to trade at the old Forodhani.

The chairman of the Forodhani Traders Association, Mr Salum Mohammed, said the training would improve their incomes. The training of the businessmen, which is still going on, started in January.

Forodhani, one of the last open spaces in the Stone Town, a densely populated world heritage site, is regarded as one of the most popular places for outings.

It was once a location for the main port and landing point for the sultans of Zanzibar, but the park has over the years remained a central meeting place for leisure and entertainment. The agreement for the project was signed between President Karume and His Highness the Aga Khan.

Under the agreement, also proposed for an upgrade is an Indian Ocean Maritime Museum that will showcase culture, including displays of naval vessels, artefacts reflecting the historic, commercial and cultural contacts between Africa, Middle East and India.

Ismailis in the News - Hazara Ismailis Celebrate Imamat Day

Hazara girls presenting a traditional song on 52nd Imamat Day.

Read story here

In the News....June 2009

UK to promote ghee-free Indian food

Indian Express - Jun 23, 2009
The Department of Health has launched an online nutrition centre in partnership with the Aga Khan, head of the Ismaili Muslim community. ...

East Africa gets broadband It may make life easier and cheaper

economist.com - Jun 18, 2009
The 2nd cable fronted by the Aga Khan network will connect more East African ... SEACOM is geared towards countries where the Aga Khan has businesses which ...

Rural areas in state also feel the heat of economic meltdown
Indian Express - Jun 25, 2009
He and his two friends got the placement at CSC after completing a basic course from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) Teaching Centre at Sagpara ..

Technology centres in Northern Areas

DAWN.com - Jun 16, 2009
Microsoft and the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan inked an agreement to establish the country's firstever pilot community technology learning centres in the ...

 

How the world is shaped by the 'clash of ignorances'

Daily Nation - Jun 15, 2009
These are issues which have engaged the Aga Khan Development Network for over two decades, including the innovative curricular planning of our schools and ...

 

Development: Looking back
DAWN.com - Jun 14, 2009
In Hunza, the Aga Khan Education Service has operated schools for over half a century; ... The various arms of the Aga Khan Development Network impacted on ..

 

2.7 Million Local-Currency Guarantee to Aga Khan Agency, First Mi

MicroCapital - Jun 12, 2009
The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its microfinance activities is administered ...

UNBEATEN ZARKAVA RETIRED TO STUD | Sporting Life - Horse Racing …

Sportinglife.com - Jun 9, 2009
The Aga Khan said: "The quality and youth of our broodmare band is of the utmost ... "The Aga Khan Studs have produced three exceptional fillies in three ...

 

Posh Evenings And Golden Galas

Hamptons.com - Jun 7, 2009
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and designer Nancy Corzine hosted a simply elegant cocktail reception for the co-chairs and committees of this year's Rita Hayworth ...

Prince Rahim Aga Khan visits Gorno Badakhshan...Jun 4

Grameen-Jameel Joins Hands with Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance

Zawya - Jun 3, 2009
"We are proud to collaborate with the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, who is renowned in the ... The Chairman of the Board is his Highness the Aga Khan. ...

 

Walkers raise $75K to fight global poverty

Waterloo Record - Jun 2, 2009
They were taking part in the World Partnership Walk, a fundraising event for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada that began in Vancouver in 1985. ...

Prince Rahim Aga Khan arrives in Tajikistan tomorrow on a three-day working visit...June 1

Aga Khan - Forbes Magazine June 2009

In Pictures: World's Richest Royals

© Press Association via AP Images Prince Karim Al Husseini, Aga Khan Fortune: $800 million (down $200 million) Age: 72 Spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims chairs the Aga Khan Development Network that promotes investments in Asia and Africa. Horse racing enthusiast owns 900 thoroughbreds at stud farms in Ireland and France; holds stake in Goffs, one of Britain's largest horse auction houses, as well as French horse auction house Arqana. Values down in belt-tightening markets. Awarded titles of Grand Patron and Grand Donor by the French Minister for Culture for his contributions to cultural development in France; also made an honorary citizen of Canada in the past year.

Aga Khan receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from Cambridge University

Aga Khan honoured

His Highness the Aga Khan, Bill Gates and other honorary degree recipients processing into Senate House for the degree ceremony. Photo/Courtesy of University of Cambridge

Posted Saturday, June 13 2009 at 19:13

CAMBRIDGE, Friday

His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, on Friday received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Cambridge’s Pembroke College.

The Aga Khan becomes the first Muslim to receive the distinction in the university’s 800-year history.

“As we celebrate our eight hundredth anniversary, it is perhaps fitting that we first honour a man who traces his ancestry to the sixth century, and to the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him,” said Dr Rupert Thompson, classicist and Fellow of Selwyn College, in a citation read out in Latin, in keeping with the College’s tradition.

“Since becoming the fourth Aga Khan, he has worked tirelessly, through his development network, to ensure that those who are pressed by the worst poverty should enjoy a reasonable standard of health care, education and financial security. And this is not humanitarianism, as he says, but the requirement of his faith.”

The Honorary Doctorate of Divinity is awarded to individuals who have made a global impact through their religious leadership.

Earlier in the week, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta in recognition of his efforts to improve the lives of the world’s poor and build a global culture of tolerance.

Ismailis in the News - Shariff family invests in Orleans East End

New east-end hotel breaks ground
Orleans Star - ‎May 22, 2009‎
Bob Monette and the city to push the project forward, as well as enthusiastic backing from the family's Ismaili community. “Today is an exciting opportunity ...

Ismailis in the News - 'Saffron Dreams' author Shaila Abdullah

Noted as "Word Artist" by critics, Shaila Abdullah is an award-winning author and designer based in Austin, Texas. Her creative work focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistani women and their often unconventional choices in life. Her writing also deals with the Asian experience in America, the conflict between the two worlds and the culture of her adopted country. She offers her readers a window into the multicultural world through her vibrant characters.

Abdullah was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1971. She has a bachelors degree in English literature and a diploma in graphic design. She also has a diploma in freelance writing. She has written several short stories, articles, and personal essays for various publications, such as Maybe Quarterly, Damazine, Women's Own, She, Fashion Collection, Dallas Child, Web Guru, About Families, Sulekha, Pakistaniaat, and a magazine of the Daily Dawn newspaper called Tuesday Review, etc. She is a member of the Writers' League of Texas.



'I am an advocate of Islam's truer face'
Rediff - We're called Ismaili Muslims," she explains. "But I chose to live in the US because here I have the freedom to actually write what I want and I can use my ...

Ismailis in the News - Youth group captures Duke of Edinburgh awards

Youth group captures awards
North Shore News - ‎May 20, 2009‎
Fatehali is the leader and founder of the Lower Mainland Ismaili Youth Extreme Adventure Group, and 14 of its participants received the Duke of Edinburgh ...

Ismailis in the News - Dr Shelina Dhanji

Ajax dentist heads to Africa
Newsdurhamregion.com - ‎May 16, 2009‎
The hospital is funded through the Agha Khan Foundation, which was created by the spiritual leader of Ismailis. The foundation does international ...

Ismailis in the News - Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon win prestigious award

VANCOUVER AUTHORS WIN PRESTIGIOUS NAUTILUS SILVER AWARD

­­­­­­­­THE POWER OF GIVING, ONCE #1 ON AMAZON.CA, IS IN THE RUNNING FOR THE NAUTILUS GOLD AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2009

British Columbian authors Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon are thrilled that their book, The Power of Giving, has won the prestigious Nautilus Silver Award. The Power of Giving helps readers discover the many gifts they have to offer— including tapping into their potential, being creative and innovative and finding inner happiness.

“We are very thrilled and grateful that this book has been considered for such a prestigious award and also for the recognition of the message the book conveys,” said the authors of the book, Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon.

The Power of Giving was released by Tarcher/Penguin in August 2008 and hit #1 on Amazon.ca. To date, it has been published in seven languages in nine countries.
The Nautilus Book Awards recognize and reward world-changing books. This is the 9th annual award. Past winners include: Deepak Chopra, M.D., Barbara Kingsolver, Frances Moore Lappe’, Thich Nnat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Naomi Wolf and Paul Rogat Loeb, PhD.
An experienced team of book reviewers, librarians, authors, editors, bookstore owners, and leaders in the publishing industry carefully select the finalists and winners in a three-tiered judging process. Winning titles will be exhibited in a 2009 Nautilus Book Awards Showcase at BookExpo America held in the Jacob Javits Center in New York from May 28 - 31, 2009.
All Silver Award-winning titles will now move on to the final phase of judging. Gold Winners will be announced on http://www.nautilusbookawards.com/ on the morning of Friday, May 30th as well as at the BEA. The Nautilus Book Awards are administered by Marilyn McGuire & Associates, Inc. of Eastsound, WA, in association with Independent Publisher Online of Traverse City, MI.
All author royalties for The Power of Giving will go to Tides Canada Foundation.

Jamal and McKinnon are both sought-after speakers for their expertise in philanthropy. Jamal is a keynote speaker and management consultant who speaks worldwide with the goal of inspiring leaders, at all levels, to unleash potential and regain balance (The Corporate Sufi Way). McKinnon is one of North America’s leading fundraising experts, who also lectures globally. The Power of Giving has received acclaim from Wayne Dyer, Seth Godin, Jack Canfield and many more prominent reviewers.

For more information, please visit http://www.thepowerofgiving.org/.
For images visit: http://thepowerofgiving.org/media.aspx.

More information

Theresa Giacopasi Katie Sheehan
Tarcher-Penguin Harvey McKinnon Associates
(212) 366-2851 (604) 732-4351 ext. 100 Theresa.giacopasi@us.penguingroup.com ksheehan@harveymckinnon.com

World Partnership Walk - In the news

Thousands walk and roll at weekend fundraising events
Vancouver Sun - ‎May 31, 2009‎
By Denise Ryan, Vancouver SunMay 31, 2009 BC Premier Gordon Campbell (left) warms up with the crowd on Sunday, before the beginning of the 25th annual World ...
Ten thousand people and bright sunshine expected for Sunday's ...
Vancouver Sun - ‎May 31, 2009‎
By Mary Frances Hill, Vancouver SunMay 31, 2009 Sunny skies are predicted as some 10000 philanthropists prepare for Sunday's Aga Khan Foundation's World ...
Walkers raise $75K to fight global poverty
Waterloo Record - ‎21 hours ago‎
About 800 people laced up their shoes in Kitchener's Victoria Park and raised more than $75000 to fight global poverty. They were taking part in the World ...
Walking to combat poverty
Metro Canada - Vancouver - ‎Jun 1, 2009‎
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson takes part in the World Partnership Walk in Stanley Park yesterday. The 25th World Partnership Walk in Stanley Park raised ...
Aga Khan's Vancouver walk raises $2 million for global poverty fight
The Province - ‎May 31, 2009‎
By Carmen Chai, The ProvinceMay 31, 2009 Sara Janmohamed 2 1/2 of West Vancouver joined thousands of walkers in the World Partnership Walk to raise funds to ...
Thousands were on hand for the World Partnership Walk on Sunday at ...
24 Hours Vancouver - ‎May 31, 2009‎
By DHARM MAKWANA, 24 HOURS More than $2 million raised through Sunday's fundraising event, marking its silver anniversary, will go to the Aga Khan ...
Thousands walk in downtown Toronto to end poverty
CP24, Canada - ‎May 31, 2009‎
Thousands walk during the annual World Partnership Walk to raise money for people living in poverty in developing contries on May 31, 2009. ...

Ismailis in the News - Globe and Mail Finance Article

Globe and Mail Photo

'Sandwich generation' has a full plate
Globe and Mail - ‎May 31, 2009‎
In Ms. Mawani's Ismaili-Muslim culture, children look after their parents, and so her siblings do as much as they can to contribute. ...

Ismailis in the News - Nadir Mohamed, CEO Rogers

Nadir Mohamed, president & CEO for Rogers Communications.
Photograph by: Ward Perrin , Vancouver Sun

New CEO will boost Rogers: UBS analyst
Vancouver Sun - ‎May 30, 2009‎
By David Pett, Financial PostMarch 31, 2009 Based on trading yesterday, the jury is still out on the appointment of Nadir Mohamed as Rogers Communications ...
'Ted was Ted, what I do is different'
Financial Post - ‎May 30, 2009‎
Nadir Mohamed was both a colleague and close friend to the late Ted Rogers. Joining the company in 2000, he worked closely with Mr. Rogers, building the ...
Roger's tall challenges: New CEO takes it slow and steady
Canada.com - ‎May 30, 2009‎
By Jamie Sturgeon, Financial PostMay 30, 2009 Newly appointed Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed speaks to Post reporter Jamie Sturgeon at the Rogers Communications ...
The man who now rules Mr. Rogers' neighbourhood
Toronto Star - ‎May 30, 2009‎
Rogers Communications Inc. chief executive Nadir Mohamed, 53, is the first to admit he isn't Ted Part 2. In fact, they're a study in contrasts. ...
Rogers CEO says there's only room for one more national wireless ...
The Canadian Press - ‎May 29, 2009‎
TORONTO — Rogers Communications' (TSX:RCI.B) newly appointed chief executive Nadir Mohamed is preparing for what is expected to be a dramatic battle over ...
Rogers spends to get with the programs
Globe and Mail - ‎May 31, 2009‎
Canada's major television networks will unveil their new fall prime-time lineups this week, hoping to attract an influx of ad dollars with the promise of ...
Rogers' CEO facing an industry sea change, unfazed
Globe and Mail - ‎May 29, 2009‎
TORONTO, ONT- 29/05/09 - Nadir Mohamed is the new CEO of Rogers. This is our first one-on-one with him since he took the position. ...

Ismailis in the News - USF Mourns loss of Graduate

TAMPA, Fla. (May 19, 2009) The University of South Florida is mourning the loss of recent graduate Aly Zain Lakdawala, 21. The United States Embassy in Costa Rica confirmed that his body was found one nautical mile offshore near where he was swimming with other USF students in the Pacific Ocean near Matapalo. Lakdawala graduated from USF on May 1 with dual majors in International Studies and Philosophy, and was well known at USF for his involvement in community service. Since May 8, 14 USF students have been working with the organization "International Volunteer HQ" in rural Costa Rica. The trip was part of a community service trip of USF's alternative spring break program. Lakdawala went missing when a heavy current caught some of the group swimming during a lunch break midday Saturday May 16. Costa Rican coast guard, police, lifeguards and Red Cross have been searching for him. USF staff and the director of the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement were with the group during the entire trip. Maria Crummett, Dean of International Affairs, and other staff flew to Costa Rica to assist his father in rescue efforts. Media inquiries, please contact Lara Wade, News Director, lwade@admin.usf.edu, office phone 813-974-9060, cell phone 813-833-1498.

Ismailis in the News - India's Salim and Sulaiman Merchant nominated for Emmy

Salim and Sulaiman are Hindi music directors and singers in India. The duo consists of two brothers, Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant. Salim and Sulaiman have been composing music for over a decade having scored for movies such as Chak De India, Bhoot, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Matrubhoomi and Fashion. The duo has also composed for several Indi-pop performers including Viva, Asmaan, Shweta Shetty, Jasmine and Style Bhai among others, composed and produced several TV commercials and collaborated with a artistes such as Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Sultan Khan. They got their first break when Karan Johar asked them to compose the music for his movie, Kaal. After that, they have gone to do movies with well-known producers and directors like Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai and Ram Gopal Varma. Before composing music, they were composing the background scores for movies. They are famous for their background scores in horror flicks.

http://www.salimsulaiman.com/


Salim-Sulaiman nominated for Emmy
Times of India - ‎May 21, 2009‎
Here's news of another case of Indian music going global. Our very own hit-making duo of Salim and Sulaiman Merchant has been nominated for a prestigious ...
Salim-Sulaiman bag Emmy Awards nomination
Oneindia - ‎May 19, 2009‎
After AR Rahman did the nation proud by bagging two Oscars for his Slumdog Millionaire score, it's now the turn of ace music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman to ...
Salim Sulaiman go global now!
India-Forums.com - ‎May 22, 2009‎
2009 seems to be the for the Indian music industry. After AR Rahman winning various awards all around the globe, it's time ... 2009 seems to be the for the ...
Salim-Sulaiman Nominated for Daytime Emmy!
Bollywood Spice - ‎May 19, 2009‎
By Stacey Yount - BollySpice.com Salim-Sulaiman are known in Bollywood for their outstanding musical scores and soundtracks and now they are garnering ...

Aga Khan Gift to Burnaby Mayor

This photo is of a decorative clock which was a gift from His Highness, The Aga Khan to Mayor Derek Corrigan to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebration and the Aga Khan's visit to City Hall on November 25th, 2008. The clock will be on display in the glass display cabinets located in the outer hallway of the Mayor's Office.

His Highness the Aga Khan in Berlin

Photo credit: AKDN/Hinrik Schmoock

Berlin, Germany, 15 May 2009 - His Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Berlin yesterday for a two-day official visit to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.

http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=752

Focus Summer 2009 Hike4Life

Bishkek

WHAT: FOCUS Summer 2009 Hike4Life in Kyrgyzstan
WHEN: July 30 – August 9, 2009
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE? This is an incredible opportunity to challenge yourself, to meet people from other parts of the world, and to build lifelong friendships, while raising vital funds for Focus Humanitarian Assistance. Your participation will assist FOCUS in enabling disaster resilient communities.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2009 or when all places are filled, whichever is earlier.
APPLICATION AND EVENT INFO: Available at http://www.focuschallenge.org/.
QUESTIONS: Can be referred to info@focuschallenge.org.



Tentative Itinerary: July 30 - August 9, 2009 (with approximate hike durations and distances)

Ismailis - Shah Hasan Ali Mausoleum

Hasanabad, Mazgaon, Mumbai - India

By Al-Waez Alijah Hasan Husayn Nazar Ali

Mowlana Shah Hasan Ali spent the last years of his life in the peaceful enjoyment of his large income and hereditary honours at Poona , Bombay and Bangalore . He devoted the last 30 years of his life to the up liftment of the Ismaili community in India . One of his great passions in life was horses. He had in his stables some of the best breeds of Arabian horses. His fondness for horses made him one of the prominent supporters of the turf. There are many cups won by him on the racecourses which are still preserved in the family. The Duke of Edinburgh and King Edward VII, who was Prince of Wales at that time, visited Mowlana Shah Hasan Ali at his residence during their visit to India . It was an honour which, with the exception of the leading ruling princes, was accorded to no other nobleman; this was an acknowledgement of Imam’s princely birth and of the great and loyal services he had rendered to the British government.

Mowlana Shah Hasan Ali died in April 1881 A.D., leaving three sons -Aga Ali Shah, who succeeded him to the Imamat, Aga Jangir Shah and Aga Akbar Shah. Before Mowlana Shah Hasan Ali’s death there was reconciliation between him and the ruling family in Persia . The last resting place of this great Persian nobleman, warrior, statesman, sportsman and Spiritual Leader, is at Mazagon in Bombay . This place is called "Hasanabad" after the Imam, where Ismailis have erected a mausoleum. Millions of Ismailis and Non Ismailis has visited this mausoleum from all over the world.

World Partnership Walk - Over $45m raised

Canadians join 25th World Partnership Walk to fight global poverty 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 31st, 2009
(Sunday, June 7th, in Ottawa
Sunday, June 14th, in Calgary)
WorldPartnershipWalk.com

Zee' Notes: This month the news spotlight has been on the World Partnership Walk to be held in various Canadian and US cities. Who would have ever thought the growth of this initiative from $50,000 in its inaugural year 25 years ago to last year's $5.5 million raised to help fight global poverty - and off course the impact much more due to matching contributions from various Government organizations. So if you have done your part in signing up to walk and got sponsors from your circle of life have a lot of fun and for those who haven't done so it's never too late and remember you are helping someone who, thru AKDN, may help jumpstart their family to a better life - you don't need any motivation then that....

Here some coverage for the Walk:

Vancouver Sun

Seaway News

Fighting poverty with cookies
Cornelia Naylor, Surrey NowPublished: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Rotman MBA students visit Dubai Ismaili Centre

Zee's Notes: In January of this year a group of University of Toronto's Rotman Business School MBA students visited the Ismaili Centre in Dubai. Here is the story...


http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2009/week19/Tuesday/050517.htm

Ismailis in the News - Ali Velshi - CNN

TINA FINEBERG FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Zee's Notes: I've followed Ali Velshi ever since he was a reporter on BNN - Canada's financial TV channel - and in the past few years he has become a household word in North America from his perch as a financial anchor on CNN. He will be in Toronto on June 17-19 to speak at Moses Znaimers IdeaCity09 - billed as a gathering of 50 of the planet's brightest minds.

Here is a great article on Ali's trek from Canada's centre of the universe to now the actual centre of the universe - New York City. I never knew his father is Murad Velshi - the first Ismaili in Canada to be elected as a member of a legislature - Provincial or Federal - he was an MPP in Ontario in 1987-1990.

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/631901

Ismailis in the News - Bilal Rajan

Zee's Notes: As we draw near to the World Partnership Walk to be held in many North American cities at the end of this month it seems there are many Ismailis who have made the decision to make a difference and certainly a young man we have met before is Bilal Rajan - author, fundraiser and UNICEF ambassador - who at a very early age made the world aware that he was making that difference with his Barefoot Challenge project. By the way did I mention he has single handedly raised $5 million for charity and that's before his 13th birthday.

Here's a couple of recent articles...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/citizenbytes/2009/04/my_barefoot_challenge.html

http://newsblaze.com/story/20090512125936iwfs.nb/topstory.html

Ismailis in the News - Dr. Vali Jamal

Zee's Notes: I came in contact with Dr. Vali Jamal entirely via the internet. His is an amazing story of a man who, though booted out of his home by Idi Amin, came back and loves to tell about the country he loves. His compelling story includes living in Canada as well as obtaining a doctorate degree from one of the most prestigous Universities in the world - Stanford and to boot, working for the UN as an economist for 25 years. He is writing a book about the Ugandan Asians and also writes articles about life in Uganda from his busy cafe in Kampala. Recently he has started a blog (see below) which I am definitely subscribing to and inshallah one day look forward to meeting him in person...

First his story as articled in New Vision in December 2007

Uganda: Two Asian Returnees' Nostalgic Tale of Love And Passion for Uganda

His Blog: For those of you from Kampala you will be absolutely floored by Dr. Jamal's look at life back in the old days and his recollection of events and people is simply mind boggling - you'll think you're back in your youthful days...

http://www.vivaeastafrica.blogspot.com/

His forthcoming book:

The JAN Project - May 24th, 2009

Zee's Notes: Over the last few weeks you will notice a number of articles and videos on Morning Chai relating to Uganda - a country where many readers were born and grew up during their formative years. Today Uganda is desperately trying to grow out of the perils facing many African countries. It is a struggle and one of the issues it faces is the lack of medical facilities and knowhow. A few years ago a Canadian doctor visited Uganda and came back with a resolve to do something about the issue of children and mothers who die tragically at childbirth. I learnt last weekend a group of former Ugandan women who are all in the medical field in Vancouver are also involved in the cause. My kudos to them and I offered to pass on the message in the hopes that Morning Chai readers will wholeheartedly support them. Here is info on an event being held next week to raise funds

Click on the photo...




When clinical professor Jan Christilaw first arrived in Uganda, she found a country “so vibrant and full of life it’s like a heartbeat. You land there and you see mangoes hanging from the trees and you think, how can this place be poor? It’s just dripping with lush vegetation and the weather is perfect and there are fruits and vegetables everywhere.”

“A woman was admitted, [who] had been in obstructed labour for days and was in septic shock and HIV positive. She died that afternoon.You hear these statistics, but when it happens when you’re there, it’s unbelievable. Suddenly, it’s a real person with a real family. It changes everything in terms of how you think about it.”

The Makerere University hospital delivers 27,000 babies a year—nearly 20,000 more than BC Women’s Hospital—and faces a number of pressing problems, including a lack of resources to deal with this huge demand for maternal health care.

If you wish to make an online donation click here:

https://www.bcwomensfoundation.org/form_jan_project.php

NUR LIGHT - The Essence Art Exhibition - May 13 to May 29

Zee's Notes: A great exhibition - don't miss it ! Here is my favorite video of Sura Nur - I know you've seen it but indulge me...

NUR
LIGHT - The Essence
Art Exhibition
May 13 to May 29
Opening celebration: May 13 at 7:00pm
Roundhouse Community Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
tel 604.713-1800
http://www.roundhouse.ca/index.php
A Roundhouse Partnership

Allah is the Light
Of the heavens and the earth
The likeness of His Light is as a niche
Wherein is a lamp - the lamp is in a glass
The glass as it were a brightly shining star
Kindled from a blessed Tree
An Olive neither of the East nor of the West
Whose oil is well-nigh luminous
Though no fire touched it
Light upon Light
Allah guides to His Light
Whom He Wills
(Qur'an 24:35)

Inspired by the mystical verse on light in the Qur'an (24:35), the exhibition NUR: Light - The Essence seeks to explore the multifaceted notion of light in both its popular and mystical forms - especially within a contemporary context.

Light, in both its physical and esoteric forms is a shared motif to many faiths and philosophies,
and is prevalent as a symbol of 'the good" in popular culture. Light, in poetry, philosophy and visual arts in the Islamic tradition (though not exclusive to it), is an intricately layered reality, metaphor and symbol, is not literally perceptible to the eye, but rather, concealed within the core of being itself. It is this symbolic illumination that gradually reveals the essence of things

The world seen through such a prism, becomes a series of veils to be uncovered by both outward and inward exploration, rational and intuitive intellection. In such a process of unveiling, there is a constant 'shrinking' of space between the macro and the micro, assimilation of the profound and the prosaic.

Curated by Amyn Sunderji and Jabbar al-Janabi, this exhibition is a collaboration of the artists from the Ismaili*, Iraqi and Iranian communities and features the work of:

Amir Ali Alibhai
Jabbar Al Janabi
Sherazad Jamal
Pari Azarm
Mohamed Somani
Rozita Moini Shirazi
Rubina Rajan
Riyadh Hashim
Alia Noormohamed
Nabil Adnan
Naznin Virji-Babul
Farida Mawji

Join us at 3pm on May 23rd for music and dance performances in celebration of light, with Ibrahim Hanna, Sufi dancer Tanya Evanson, and much much more. In conjunction with the exhibition Riyadh Hashim will offer workshops on Islamic Calligraphy (see the Roundhouse Program Guide for more information)

Inspired by Light? In collaboration with the exhibition NUR: Light - The Essence, World Poetry presents a Create a Poem space in the exhibition from 2-5 pm on weekdays and 1-4 pm on weekends between May 13 and May 25. World Poetry Volunteers will be on hand to support your muse and get you writing. Selected local poets will be contacted to read their poems at the World Poetry Extravaganza on May 25th.

Aga Khan Visit - San Antonio April 2008

Zee's Notes: An interesting article on how the San Antonio Convention Center pulled off the Golden Jubilee visit with three weeks notice after the Houston and Dallas Convention officials said no to the Golden Jubilee Organizers.

http://www.pcma.org/Convene/Issue_Archives/September_2008/Eat_Pray_Love.htm


As well, the Austin Jamat pulled off the following to celebrate 50 years of MHI Imamat - simply unbelievable !!!

Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Syria to discuss AKDN

Apr 30, 2009

Aleppo, (SANA)-Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri discussed Thursday with Prince Rahim Karem Agha Khan cooperation between the Syrian government and Agha Khan Development Network, and the importance of its developmental and social projects in Syria.

Both sides reviewed the situation and stages of the projects being implemented by the Network in Aleppo and their positive impact on boosting social and tourist development in the Syrian second city.

During the meeting held at Aleppo Governorate building, the two sides underlined the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation in the rural development and small village projects.

Mazen Eyon

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2009/04/30/224293.htm

Samir Alibhai's Film 'The Aga Khan - Voice of Reason' to broadcast on BC's Knowledge Network

Shamir Alibhai is the young filmaker who has traveled the world showcasing this documentary. You can follow his blog at http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.com/

Ismaili Ginans in Burushaski

Burushaski (Urdu: بروشسکی - burū́šaskī) is a language isolate (that is, not known to be related to any other language of the world).[1] It is spoken by some 87,000 (as of 2000) Burusho people in the Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, and parts of the Gilgit valleys in the Northern Areas in Pakistan.

Ismaili Geet - 'Karibu Karim' by Shaheena Karim - Youtube

Zee's Notes: Why do I love doing this blog - every once in while I find sparks of light and genius and today I found this gem - though there is no video or pictures the voice and the music alone will mesmorize you. Enjoy...

Ismailis in the News - John Hopkins student Salman Mohammed named to USA Today First Academic Team

Photo by Will Kirk / HIPS

"I very much appreciate being recognized by USA Today; it's quite humbling," said Mohammed, winner of the university's Chester Wickwire Award for Diversity in 2006, the Johns Hopkins Exemplary Leadership Award in 2006-2007 and a 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Service. "The things I have done are a product of how I was raised and what I believe," he said. "As a child I looked up to His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. The Aga Khan's vision has led to the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve the lives and conditions of people in the developing world. Thus, as an Ismaili Muslim, I am passionate about serving my local communities in urban Baltimore and also the larger world community."

http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2009/04may09/04usatoday.html

Ismailis in the News - Odessa, Missouri C-Store Owner shot dead in family tragedy...

ODESSA, MO. - Police have identified the two people shot and killed at a BP gas station in Odessa. Nurali (Nicky) B. Bhimani, 28 and the gas station's owner, was shot and killed by a family member, Nasruddin N. Dhanani, 42. Dhanani was also found dead at the scene. Complete story here...

Ismailis in the News - Ugandan Business Tycoon and Rally Champion Riyaz Kurji Dies in Crash

Zee's Notes: Ugandan Business Tycoon and Rally Driver Riyaz Kurji,46, was buried in Kampala among thousands of wellwishers and fans after suffering a fatal car accident in a car rally. The rally was stopped after the crash with Kurji leading the race. Riyaz Kurji moved to Uganda after completing studies in Ireland and founded the largest Fish exporting company in East Africa. His Alpha Group has an annual turnover of $150 million a year spread throughout Africa, The Middle East and exports products throughout the globe. But his passion lay in driving in the various car rallies throughout the African continent.

Mourners carry the casket of the late Riyaz Kurji after prayers at Aga Khan Shia Ismaili Mosque in Old Kampala yesterday

Uganda: Fare Thee Well, Riyaz Kurji
Thousands bury rally driver Kurji New Vision
OBSERVER LOCKER ROOM: Farewell Kurji The Observer
Uganda People News: Hundreds burry Riyaz UGPulse.com
Daily Nation
TRIBUTE: Kurji is cut down in his prime
It was all about speed for fallen Kurji Daily Monitor
Renown rally driver Kurji dies Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Rwanda: Kurji Wins Pearl of Africa Rally AllAfrica.com
Celebrate Kurji's life
Dar motorists mourn Kurji
Kurji confident
Kurji's death: Motor-sport always a risk

Atlanta Convenience Group cleared - Ismailis in the News

Zee's Notes: Interesting article in a Convenience Store Trade Magazine - seems a group of 900 Ismaili c-store owners in Atlanta (wow that's a lot in one city) formed a trade group to negotiate with large suppliers and were sued for discrimination for not allowing non-Ismailis to join.

Discrimination Charges Dismissed against Muslim Convenience Store Group ATLANTA

Ismailis in the News - Meghji's expand Alberta hotel empire

Rahim Meghji along with Amin Meghji with Platinum Investments outside of their Hilton Garden Inn hotel at 17610 Stony Plain Road
Photograph by: Walter Tychnowicz, Edmonton Journal

Family brings Platinum luxury to city
Two new hotels planned by 2011
The Edmonton JournalApril 22, 2009

Amin Meghji's family owned a soap, glycerine and oil manufacturing empire in Kenya and Tanzania, and he lived a life of luxury in Nairobi with five servants.
Then nationalization of large companies, first in Tanzania and later Kenya, forced him to flee to Canada in 1976.
"We were really spoiled in Africa. If we wanted anything done we just ordered the staff to do it. Then we came to Edmonton and I had to do my own laundry," Amin says with a laugh.
He can afford to chuckle these days. Platinum Investments, the family company he runs with nephews Ali and Rahim, owns two of the city's top-rated hotels and is building another two in the next two years despite the slow economy.
The five-year-old Hilton Garden Inn and the more recent Hampton Inn and Suites -- both in the west end -- are rated the top two city hotels by travellers on the Trip Advisor website.
And they hope the Marriott Courtyard, under construction at 184th Street and 100th Avenue, and the nearby Marriott Residence Inn, due in 2011, will be just as successful.
It hasn't been easy. They were able to take advantage of the late-'70s boom by buying the 10-unit Parkland Motel on the west edge of the city, and expanding it to 40 rooms, while Amin's wife, Shahbegum, developed her Mill Woods medical practice.
They lost their downtown highrise apartment building to the bank during the '80s recession, but survived to run the Coliseum Inn next to Rexall Place for a number of years.
"We're proud we were able to get Hilton back into Edmonton," says Ali. "It wasn't easy because they had failed before (with the current Sutton Place), and weren't getting a lot of franchisee applications. But we brought them up here and they liked what we were doing."
Hampton Inns and Marriott also were impressed with the collegial approach taken by the Meghjis, an Ismaili Muslim family of Indian descent, to the hospitality industry.
"We believe in prayer and what has happened to us in Edmonton has been a miracle," Amin says.
"You can change stones into gold if you believe, but it has to benefit everyone else as well as you."
The only regret is that Amin's older brother, Alaudin -- the visionary of the family -- is not around to see the latest success.
He died two weeks after the Hilton opened in 2004.

His Highness the Aga Khan in Washington, DC - April 23, 2009

His Highness the Aga Khan meeting with The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Secretary of State, at the State Department.
Photo credit: AKDN / Zahur Ramji

Washington, DC, 23 April 2009 - His Highness the Aga Khan delivered a keynote speech at the 8th annual Global Philanthropy Forum. The Aga Khan also met with The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Secretary of State, at the State Department prior to delivering the address to participants at the Global Philanthropy Forum

http://www.akdn.org/photos_global_philanthropy_forum.asp

Zee's Notes: You must read the speech MHI delivered at the Forum yesterday. He is so articulate and makes key points in the challenges of fighting poverty in areas of the world where it seems there may be no hope. More important his views are from a first hand perspective and I am encouraged that the audience and location may well be one that can move the Global Poverty agenda at a faster pace - allbeit in an enviroment where everyone is watching their money. The advantage of the AKDN is that it has probably the lowest administrative cost as an NGO meaning most of it's money gets spent effectively.

The second reason you must read this is that MHI, at the beginning of his speech, is very funny. Is it me or does everyone notice that lately MHI inserts jokes in all his speeches and firmans. Here is the link for the speech on thed AKDN site:

http://www.akdn.org/speech/736/Global-Philanthropy-Forum-Washington-DC

Video of MHI's speech at the Forum:

Ismailis in the News - Eboo Patel named to Obama Inter Faith Council

Zee's Notes: If you haven't heard of Eboo Patel, an Oxford University PHD, here is a look at this remarkable young American Ismaili who through his passion for articulating his faith has managed to be appointed on President Obama's Inter Faith Council in Feb. 2009. If you have children you must pass this on to them for inspiration.




His background :

EBOO PATEL, Founder and Executive Director

Eboo Patel is the founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit working to build mutual respect and pluralism among religiously diverse young people by empowering them to work together to serve others. He is the author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. Eboo holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. He writes "The Faith Divide", a featured blog on religion for The Washington Post and has also written for the Harvard Divinity School Bulletin, the Chicago Tribune, The Clinton Journal, The Review of Faith and International Affairs, The Journal of College and Character and National Public Radio. Eboo serves on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation USA, the Advisory Board of Duke University's Islamic Studies Center, and the National Board of the YMCA.. He has spoken at the TED Conference, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and at universities around the world. Eboo is an Ashoka Fellow, part of a select group of social entrepreneurs whose ideas are changing the world; was named by Islamica Magazine as one of ten young Muslim visionaries shaping Islam in America; was chosen by Harvard's Kennedy School Review as one of five future policy leaders to watch; and was given an honorary doctorate from Washington and Jefferson College..

He wrote this gem of an editorial in the Washington Post a couple of years ago:

Eboo Patel
Aga Khan a Man of Vision, Inspiration
How do you explain your faith to people who do not share your truth claims and who find your sacred practices foreign?

As a minority within a minority within a minority in the West – a Muslim, a Shia, an Ismaili – I have long struggled with that question.

When I was a child and I had to explain why I was fasting from food and drink on a certain day, or why I wore an Arabic symbol for God on a chain around my neck, I would put my head down and mutter: "My mom makes me do it."

In a world where people from different faith backgrounds are in constant contact with one another, and there are forces who actively seek to sow division between diverse people, we need better ways to build understanding. We need what I call a 'public language' of faith, a language which highlights the history of our traditions, and the good works they are doing for the broader world.

Every tradition has a history, and while yours might be different from mine, I expect that you will have more understanding for who I am and how I practice faith if I tell you a little about where I come from. And every tradition has a core which seeks to serve others. And if I tell you about how the people, institutions and leader of my faith are helping people live more peaceful and prosperous lives, I think that you will have deeper respect – perhaps even admiration – for my tradition.

Today, on one of the holiest days of my life, I want to use this public language of faith, in the hopes that it will provide a window of understanding into my tradition and community.

Today, I celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Imamat of my spiritual leader, the Aga Khan.

I am an Ismaili Muslim, one of 15 million members of a Shia Muslim community spread across 25 countries. Ismailis, like all Muslims, affirm the Shahada – that there is no god but God and Muhammad is God's messenger. Like all Shia, we believe that the Prophet Muhammad appointed his cousin and son-in-law Ali to lead the Muslim community after his death. Ali was known as the first Imam (this is not to be confused with the small 'i' imam, as in the person who leads Muslim congregational prayers), a designation that carried with it the unique ability to interpret the meaning and application of the Holy Qur'an in changing times. The Imam, according to Shia tradition, chooses his successor from within the Ahl al-Bayt, or the family of the Prophet. Over the course of history, disputes arose over the appointment of certain Imams, and the Shia split into multiple communities.

Today, the Ismailis are the only Shia community with a living and present Imam. The current Aga Khan is the 49th in the line of Imams recognized by Ismailis. Previous Imams have played a significant role within the Muslim ummah and the wider world. Ali was not only the first Shia Imam, he was also the fourth Caliph of the entire Muslim community. Ismaili Imams laid the foundation for the modern city of Cairo in the 10th century, and built there one of the world's most ancient universities, Al Azhar. This Imam's immediate predecessor, Sultan Muhammad Shah, served as the President of the League of Nations and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

As an Ismaili, I look to the Aga Khan for religious guidance. But one does not need to have a spiritual allegiance to the Aga Khan to admire the work of his institutions. As the Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) - an innovative and highly effective association of health, education, cultural and economic development institutions - he has helped literally millions of people in forgotten parts of the developing world live more peaceful, prosperous and dignified lives.

Consider these concrete examples:

-There are 300 Aga Khan schools in the world, educating 62,000 students and employing nearly 5000 staff.

- There are over 200 Aga Khan health centers in the world, caring for nearly two million and employing nearly 10,000 staff.

- The AKDN is currently building the University of Central Asia, whose purpose is to foster the human and social capital for democracy, pluralism and prosperity in a region that gets far too little attention.

- When a tragic earthquake struck Kashmir in 2005, AKDN helicopters were amongst the first to arrive on the scene.

Two particularly distinctive aspects of the AKDN is its understanding that culture – architecture, poetry, music, calligraphy – is a crucial part of human existence, and its commitment to nurturing effective private enterprise in developing countries. On the culture front, the AKDN built Al Azhar park in Cairo and restored Humayan's Tomb in India. It has supported everything from indigenous music in Tajikistan to Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. Regarding effective private enterprise, Roshan, a mobile phone company that the AKDN owns a 51% share in, is the single largest private employer in Afghanistan.

A substantial amount of this work is funded by the private resources of the Aga Khan and the Ismaili community. (I serve on the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation in the USA, which raises money and awareness for AKDN programs around the world, especially through the Partnership Walk). But all of it – the hospitals and schools, the private companies and university courses – is non-sectarian. In fact, these programs are specifically designed to nurture pluralism. As the Aga Khan once said, "Tolerance, openness and understanding toward other peoples' cultures, social structures, values and faiths are now essential to the very survival of an interdependent world. Pluralism is no longer simply an asset or a prerequisite for progress and development, it is vital to our existence."

There is a guiding philosophy, an animating ethos, behind the AKDN – Islam. Over and over again, the Aga Khan has emphasized that his work for mercy, compassion and dignity emerge directly from his commitment to Islam.

So while many people call the Aga Khan a leading philanthropist, I believe that term captures neither his inspiration nor his vision.

He is the Imam of the Ismaili community. He is a Muslim.

"On Faith" panelist Eboo Patel is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core and the author of "Acts of Faith."

Posted by Eboo Patel on July 11, 2007 9:23 AM

Kampala - 35 years later for Ugandan Ismailis

Zee's Notes: In October 1972 over 10,000 Ismailis left Uganda and migrated to Canada. Here's the funny thing even though things changed in Uganda, once Idi Amin was driven away to exile in Saudi Arabia, most have never gone back. So here is a little nostalgia.

If you get a chance send this page to someone you know who may remember some of the landmarks in the video or send them this link:

http://morningchai.blogspot.com/2009/04/kampala-35-years-later-for-ugandan.html

Here's a photo journal from someone who visited Kampala recently and you might remember the JK and the Primary School - amazing...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajk36/sets/72157614595999787/show/

Ismailis in the News - Salima Ebrahim named on Calgary Herald People to Watch List

Each year on Jan. 1, the Calgary Herald reveals its list of Compelling Calgarians -- people to watch and people who will help make our community great in the year to come. Here are some of their thoughts.

Salima Ebrahim: Issue Strategist, Community And Protective Services, City Of Calgary - "My passion is really just breaking down the barriers between people in general. The one thing I've learned from living in different parts of the world is that at the end of the day, people just want to be treated with the same level of dignity as anyone.''
Photograph by: Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald

Ismaili Authors - Meet Ameer Janmohamed

Zee's Notes: I know this book came out last year but I just finished reading it and for those who want to connect with some history or want to know about our community in Kenya 2 generations ago this is a must must read - I absolutely loved it. If you want to buy a copy email me and i'll connect you with someone in Toronto who may a few copies left.

Article from Coastweek in Mombasa

A Regal Romance byAmeer Janmohamed

'This book is a gold mine for those who were born and brought up in Mombasa'

Coastweek - - FORMER Mombasa resident, Ameer Janmohamed has written a book about his life and events revolving around it, writes ANJUM ASODIA.
Aptly titled, "A Regal Romance and Other Memories", this book is a fascinating journey of a well-known and respected individual, who spent a major part of his life in Mombasa, finally settling in London in 1972.
Ameer, or ‘Bhurio’ as he was affectionately known as, begins his book tracing back his family tree as far back as possible, noting actual events that occurred and were recorded in family letters to the late 1800s.
From his forefathers, grandfather, and father and down to his own birth, every event is documented with times and excerpts from diaries and letters.
The story then picks up speed through to the family business, family affairs, deaths in the family and how it affected his immediately family and, of course Ameer himself. His youth, adulthood and final retirement is chronicled in detail.
But this is not just a story about the man himself.
Even as he speaks (this book seems to come from the heart), Ameer gives the reader an insight into society of that time, why things happened the way they did and other people’s influence on him and the events that took place.
You can feel the awe and bond that he had with his parents, grandparents and forefathers as he carefully tracks down his lineage.
The writer has kept his language simple and clear, making you feel that you are watching a black and white film as you go through the pages.
Each character that he talks about vividly takes shape in your mind, the numerous photographs in the book aiding this.
The book ends with a glossary of Gujerati words that will be useful to non-Gujerati readers and an in-depth chronology dating back to 3000BC to date.
This book is a gold mine for those who were born and brought up in Mombasa from the 1930s to the seventies, as they will definitely remember many events and people from that time.
For those, like me, who have an interest in history and past events, this book will open a chapter in Mombasa life in that era that will not only be interesting but educational too.
Ameer Janmohamed came from a very well-to-do family and thus was involved more with people in that class of society.
Thus there is little mention of those that did not reach that level, which is the only drawback in the book.
However, had he written about every little detail in his life, this would be a much thicker version and would, perhaps lose the reader’s interest span which the current book has.