Ismaili and Aga Khan in History: Today 1103

Today in History: November 3

1958, November 3: On the cover of Life Magazine, November 3, 1958: "Senior at Harvard, The Aga Khan" [Photo]

1966, November 3-4: Mowlana Shah Karim visited Lindi and Mtwara. He was interviewed on Radio Tanzania. He had tea at Regional Commissioner's house in Mtwara. [Photo]

1986, November 3 to 11, 1986: Mowlana Shah Karim visited Jamats in the U.S.A and gave Holy Deedar in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and New York. November 3, Hazar Imam spoke at the Donor's Banquet in Los Angeles attended by leaders of various Ismaili institutions. [Speech]

2001, November 3: "An honorary doctorate is the highest level of recognition that the Aga Khan University can bestow upon any individual. For this reason, AKU has awarded such degrees with great respect, but also care and circumspection. Indeed, AKU has only awarded three such degrees in the past 18 years. I am particularly happy that AKU has decided to recognize, with the highest honour it can award Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, the University’s first chairman of its Board of Trustees, who for the last sixteen years has brought to the Board, the apex governing body of our institution, his outstanding leadership." said Mowlana Shah Karim in his message from the Chancellor to the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees on the occasion of the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate on Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan at the November 3, 2001 Convocation. [More]

2002, November 3: DUSHANBE, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The Central Asian state of Tajikistan opened a bridge on Sunday that provides a new route for vehicles carrying humanitarian aid and goods in and out of war-ravaged Afghanistan. The bridge, opened by Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov and Prince Aga Khan IV, leader of Shi'ite Ismaili Muslims, is the first vehicle bridge spanning the Pyandzh river between the countries. Vehicles can now be driven from the Afghan capital Kabul through north-eastern Afghanistan to Khorog in Tajikistan, then on to Kyrgyzstan and Russia. "The opening of this new bridge is a significant step forward," the prince, who represents more than 20 million Ismailis around the world, told Reuters in Dushanbe on Saturday, before leaving for the bridge. H.H. The Aga Khan arrived late afternoon at Kabul Airport where he was welcomed by officials, including Mir Wais Zahir, the son of the King Mohammad Zahir Shah. Mukhi-Kamadia and various Ismaili institutional leaders also were present at the arrival. The Jamat was waiting on the sidewalk of the road leading from the airport to the city, and the Imam was very happy. Later that day, he met President Karzai. [Reuters] [Testimony from Khorog] [Tajik Television] [BBC] [Afghan Radio] [Opening photos]

2003, November 3: [French] Méconnue en Occident, la musique savante dite shash maqam (littéralement "six modes") est restée vivante en Asie centrale. Faite de longues suites de pièces instrumentales et vocales, cette tradition est répandue chez les Ouzbeks, les Tadjiks du Nord et les Ouïgours du Turkestan chinois. Sa préservation, face à la concurrence des musiques occidentales et locales, est due notamment à un immense travail de collectage et à la ténacité de musiciens qui ont compris l'importance de la transmission de ce savoir musical et poétique. [Le Monde] [Altérités 4 Nov.] [AKDN Press release] [Via Kaboul Web Site]

2004, November 3: Governor of Aleppo Osama Adi and Manager of Projects Development at Agha Khan Network Marco Najhouf on Tuesday discussed prospects of cooperation between Aleppo and the Network in the fields of culture and tourism. Adi was briefed on the best means for investment of places around the Citadel of Aleppo through restoration of the existing buildings and reuse them in a way to achieve the economic feasibility. [Arabic News]