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THE AGA KHAN'S VISION - To him, architecture is not the mother of the arts; it is the mother of civilization

(Interview on 29 January 2019)

In 1957, the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as the leader of the Ismailis. He is the 49th Imam of a community estimated at between 12 and 15 million believers living in 25 countries. Prince Karim Al-Husseini (his birth name) created the Aga Khan Development network (AKDN), committed to development in the world, regardless of whether there is a community in the country in question. Grand Croix of the Legion of Honour, this discreet man, aged 82 years old, welcomed us for one of his rare French interviews in his property in Gouvieux, Oise.

A rare portrait of an intent young ruler who rejects the temptations of an idle life in order to carry on his dynasty's sporting tradition. He runs a huge racing stable, is building a vast Mediterranean resort and skis with Olympic skill

• 29 October 1960
• Interview to Radio Pakistan
• Source : Speeches book II – pg 47 – 50

(In September / October 1960 His Royal Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan toured whole of Pakistan for about 40 days. At the conclusion of this tour, he gave an interview to the Radio Pakistan’s representative and explained how it is possible to live a modern life and at the same time a religious life.

His message to the world’s largest Muslim State, Pakistan was “Islam and Work”)

{On October 9 1960 His Royal Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan opened a colloquium on the “Present day Students’ Problems” sponsored by the Punjab University Students’ Union at Lahore in Pakistan. On that occasion he announced award of 5 post-graduate scholarships for one year study in Europe or the Middle East. Opening the colloquium His Royal Highness said:

In September/October 1960, His Royal Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan toured all over Pakistan. Many foreign and local correspondents and photographers accompanied him on this colourful tour made in a Special Train called the ‘Aga Khan Express’ in West Pakistan. In the northern-most picturesque part known as Hunza Valley, His Royal Highness went in jeep and on horse-back. In East Pakistan the tour was done mostly by air and river transport.

Press Interview in Iran
November 1st , 1959
Source: Speeches II (pg 5 – 7)

Mawlana Hazar Imam and Brown University President Christina Paxson meet at President's House. 2014-02-19

AGA KHAN

The descendant of Prophet Muhammad celebrated in Lisbon, the 60 years as leader of the Ismailis. An exclusive interview with the wealthiest spiritual leader in the world
By Alexandra Carita
Photographs by Tiago Miranda

[Interview]

“This is a faith of reason”

CNN) -- Prince Karim Aga Khan is considered one of the most influential voices in the Muslim world. The 65-year-old spiritual head of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims is a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed and one of the world's wealthiest men. His foundation, the Aga Khan Development Network, has been working to raise money to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Judy Woodruff sat down for an interview with the Aga Khan last week.

Judy Woodruff: Your highness, thank you very much for joining us.

Aga Khan: Thank you, Judy.

Imran: Good evening ladies and Gentlemen, we have a very distinguished visitor here this evening. Somebody who has always been a great friend of Pakistan, he is the Spiritual Leader of the Ismaili Muslims, an illustrious son of Islam, and as I said earlier, every time he visits, the People of Pakistan look forward to it. Look forward to his interventions and to his great vision, which is always translated eventually into reality. I'd like to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan.

-Aga Khan: Thank you very much indeed.

Imran: Welcome to Pakistan.

Aga Khan: Thank you very much.

His Highness Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, is many things.

“Virtually a one-man state,” as Vanity Fair once put it, he’s the spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims and a unique embodiment of the potential for East blending with West. He inherited from his Indian-born grandfather a dynasty that spans the Muslim world, but he is a British citizen, born in Switzerland, raised in Kenya, educated at Harvard, and lives in a French chateau.

Aga Khan talks to Nicholas Tomalin about the problems of guiding his people in a continent in political ferment.

His Highness Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, occupies tor twenty million Ismaili Muslims in the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Middle East a position “somewhere between that of a Head of State and a Pope.” Though only 28, he has been their spiritual ruler since he succeeded his grandfather at the age of 19. This frank discussion of his role and duties is his first interview with a Western journalist for two years. The first part appeared last Sunday.

Peter Mansbridge: Welcome again, to Canada, Your Highness.

His Highness the Aga Khan: Thank you very much.

PM: This place [the Ismaili Centre in Toronto], it’s going to be wonderful. It’s quite spectacular to look at. What do you hope will be accomplished inside these walls?

Peter Mansbridge: Welcome again, to Canada, Your Highness.

His Highness the Aga Khan: Thank you very much.

PM: This place [the Ismaili Centre in Toronto], it’s going to be wonderful. It’s quite spectacular to look at. What do you hope will be accomplished inside these walls?

GM: Your Highness, thank you very much for seeing us, we really do appreciate it. These opportunities come few and far between.

AK: Well maybe they didn't mention this, but I've had a long-standing regard and respect for the Globe and Mail. You may not know it, but you actually helped me create what is East Africa's biggest media group.

GM: Really!? How is that?

Interviewer: Geoffrey Barker in Aiglemont
From the Sunday Nation, Nairobi, which republished the interview
His Highness the Aga Khan recently gave a candid interview to the Melbourne newspaper, “The Age,” on a variety of topical issues. He is due to visit the Australian city at the end of October for the climax of the spring racing carnival and to be guest speaker at a “Racehorse of the Year” presentation jointly sponsored by the newspaper and the VRC [Victoria Racing Club]. He was interviewed By Geoffrey Barker.

From The Age, Melbourne, as published by the Sunday Nation

Interviewer: Geoffrey Barker in Aiglemont
From the Sunday Nation, Nairobi, which republished the interview
His Highness the Aga Khan recently gave a candid interview to the Melbourne newspaper, “The Age,” on a variety of topical issues. He is due to visit the Australian city at the end of October for the climax of the spring racing carnival and to be guest speaker at a “Racehorse of the Year” presentation jointly sponsored by the newspaper and the VRC [Victoria Racing Club]. He was interviewed By Geoffrey Barker.

From The Age, Melbourne, as published by the Sunday Nation

Below is the Google English translation)

Gilles Maarek / Gaetane Morin: How faithful are you planning in France and in the world?
His Highness the Aga Khan: Some 5,000 Ismailis live in France after fleeing domestic unrest in their countries of origin.
Worldwide, there are about 15 million. Our structure radiates worldwide. It is governed by a Constitution, which adapts to local laws.
Imam that I was responsible to interpret Islam and to ensure the quality of life of those who refer to me.
GM/GM: How do you do?