LATE VAZIER ABDULALLI & FATEMA MOTANI COLLECTION: RARE AND HISTORICAL PHOTOS OF MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM’S VISITS TO UGANDA 1957 TO 1964
Shortly after assuming the hereditary leadership on July 11, 1957 as the 49th Imam of Ismaili Muslims, His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, took leave from his studies at Harvard University to attend the Takhtnashini or ceremonial installation celebrations in East Africa, India and Pakistan.
Late Vazier Abdulalli and Varasiani Fatema Pirbhai Lalji Motani served as Kamadia and Kamadiani of Kampala’s Darkhana Jamatkhana from c.1957 to c.1964. Late Count Kassamali and Countess Fatema Virani served as Mukhi and Mukhiani at the same time. During their term of office, Mowlana Hazar Imam visited Uganda several times.
Kamadia Abdulalli had the distinct honour of being designated by Hazar Imam to translate his Farmans into Gujarati on the spot. He delivered the Gujarati version of Farmans immediately after Hazar Imam completed the Farmans in English.
The Motani family came to Canada in October 1972 following the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin’s decree. Our parents were fortunately able to carry with them some of the family photographs when they were forced out of Uganda.
A selection of pictures on this page are from the family’s precious collection.
The photographs were taken at several locations in Kampala during Hazar Imam’s visits to Uganda including Darkhana Jamatkhana; Aga Khan Secondary School; and Aga Khan Hostel.
Our friend Malik created this website Barakah to celebrate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, and requested readers to search their archives for historical photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam. In response to Malik’s request, we are happy to share our collection with readers of Barakah.
More...
barakah.com/2018/01/23/late-vazier-abdulalli-fatema-motani-collection-rare-and-historical-photos-of-mawlana-hazar-imams-visits-to-uganda-1957-to-1964/
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS OF MHI' S VISITS
Le prince Aga Khan III, le maharadjah de Pudukota et sa femme la maharani, et la princesse Aga Khan, Andrée Joséphine Carron, la bégum des ismaéliens, en 1931, au Cap d’Antibes, France.
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news- ... d690482130
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news- ... d690482130
His Highness The Aga Khan Skiing In The 1964 In Innsbruck, Austria.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3L5mjh ... rce=Direct
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3L5mjh ... rce=Direct
Imamat Takhtnashini - October 1957 - Nairobi Kenya
Video:
The second Coronation Ceremony of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan took place in Nairobi Kenya on October 22, 1957. His Highness was accompanied by his parents, Princess Tajuddawlah & Prince Aly Solomon Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jusiG ... p=&index=3
Video:
The second Coronation Ceremony of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan took place in Nairobi Kenya on October 22, 1957. His Highness was accompanied by his parents, Princess Tajuddawlah & Prince Aly Solomon Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jusiG ... p=&index=3
Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens
The book Depth of Field features more than 200 images of Mawlana Hazar Imam, spanning eight decades.
A new collection of personal photographs — many never-before published — offers a fascinating glimpse into the work and life of Mawlana Hazar Imam. The book, entitled Depth of Field, is available to pre-order now from The Ismaili Shop https://shop.ismaili/.
In 1984, shortly before the inauguration of the Ismaili Centre Vancouver, a young local photographer was commissioned to take photos of the building and its gardens during the final construction phase. A few months later, to his surprise, he was invited back to photograph the official opening of the Centre in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam and the then Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney.
The event marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between him and the Aga Khan Development Network. The photographer, Gary Otte, has since taken many thousands of photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visits to his Jamats, his meetings with world leaders, and AKDN projects across the world.
Printed photographs allow us to peek into the past, to an era before camera phones and Instagram, and also help us to learn how we arrived where we are today. They enable us to observe the world and its people from different perspectives, capturing the most fleeting of moments, preserving them forever within the bounds of a frame.
In recent years, Mr Otte has undertaken a process of selecting a number of photos — taken by him and others — to feature in a special new publication entitled Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens. Presented for the first time in one volume, the collection of more than 200 images of Hazar Imam spans eight decades and 48 different countries, and includes the work of 50 different photographers.
In an exclusive interview https://tv.ismaili/watch/ismaili-centre ... -july-2021 for The Ismaili, Mr Otte described the process of compiling a visual narrative of Hazar Imam’s life and work.
“The pictures have all been very carefully chosen,” he said. “I tried to find pictures that draw the viewer into the picture, that try to tell a story or make the viewer themselves imagine a story.”
Rather than being sorted into a chronological or geographic sequence, the images appear in no particular order. “They're designed so that when you turn the page, you'd be surprised by what you see throughout the whole book,” he continued.
Mr Otte also explained the thinking behind the title of the book.
“’Depth of field’ is a photographic term, and it refers to the thing closest to the camera and the object farthest from the camera that's in focus in a photograph,” he said. “But I used it because with His Highness, his field of endeavour is very deep as well — his interests, and his activities, and his successes — it's a very deep list of items.”
From the Imam’s childhood years in Nairobi, Kenya, to his education at Harvard University, to his participation as an Olympic skier, the photographs illustrate his numerous achievements in the worlds of culture, socio-economic development, international diplomacy, and humanitarian aid, especially through the Aga Khan Development Network.
Unlike photos on a screen, which appear in an instant and vanish even faster, the tactile quality of Depth of Field will stand the test of time, and would make a valuable addition to any bookshelf for many generations to come.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/imamat- ... d-the-lens
The book Depth of Field features more than 200 images of Mawlana Hazar Imam, spanning eight decades.
A new collection of personal photographs — many never-before published — offers a fascinating glimpse into the work and life of Mawlana Hazar Imam. The book, entitled Depth of Field, is available to pre-order now from The Ismaili Shop https://shop.ismaili/.
In 1984, shortly before the inauguration of the Ismaili Centre Vancouver, a young local photographer was commissioned to take photos of the building and its gardens during the final construction phase. A few months later, to his surprise, he was invited back to photograph the official opening of the Centre in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam and the then Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney.
The event marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between him and the Aga Khan Development Network. The photographer, Gary Otte, has since taken many thousands of photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visits to his Jamats, his meetings with world leaders, and AKDN projects across the world.
Printed photographs allow us to peek into the past, to an era before camera phones and Instagram, and also help us to learn how we arrived where we are today. They enable us to observe the world and its people from different perspectives, capturing the most fleeting of moments, preserving them forever within the bounds of a frame.
In recent years, Mr Otte has undertaken a process of selecting a number of photos — taken by him and others — to feature in a special new publication entitled Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens. Presented for the first time in one volume, the collection of more than 200 images of Hazar Imam spans eight decades and 48 different countries, and includes the work of 50 different photographers.
In an exclusive interview https://tv.ismaili/watch/ismaili-centre ... -july-2021 for The Ismaili, Mr Otte described the process of compiling a visual narrative of Hazar Imam’s life and work.
“The pictures have all been very carefully chosen,” he said. “I tried to find pictures that draw the viewer into the picture, that try to tell a story or make the viewer themselves imagine a story.”
Rather than being sorted into a chronological or geographic sequence, the images appear in no particular order. “They're designed so that when you turn the page, you'd be surprised by what you see throughout the whole book,” he continued.
Mr Otte also explained the thinking behind the title of the book.
“’Depth of field’ is a photographic term, and it refers to the thing closest to the camera and the object farthest from the camera that's in focus in a photograph,” he said. “But I used it because with His Highness, his field of endeavour is very deep as well — his interests, and his activities, and his successes — it's a very deep list of items.”
From the Imam’s childhood years in Nairobi, Kenya, to his education at Harvard University, to his participation as an Olympic skier, the photographs illustrate his numerous achievements in the worlds of culture, socio-economic development, international diplomacy, and humanitarian aid, especially through the Aga Khan Development Network.
Unlike photos on a screen, which appear in an instant and vanish even faster, the tactile quality of Depth of Field will stand the test of time, and would make a valuable addition to any bookshelf for many generations to come.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/imamat- ... d-the-lens
Highlights from Mawlana Hazar Imam's Visit to UK (1979)
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmMkcZiTJpM
In 1979, Mawlana Hazar Imam (A.S) visited the UK to meet with Jamat. He met with government and civil society leaders and most importantly, laid the foundation stone of the Ismaili Centre London
Watch this video to learn more about Hazar Imam's activities, Jamat's preparation, and other things held during this visit
Reflection | October 1959: His Highness Aga Khan IV visited Mwanza, Tanzania
BY ISMAILIMAIL POSTED ON OCTOBER 18, 2022
Old Africa: Stories From East Africa’s Past, Issue 103, October-November 2022
In October 1959, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV undertook his first visit to Mwanza, Tanganyika (now Tanzania). During his overnight stay, the Aga Khan was hosted by the Honourable Iqbal Chand Chopra at their house on Capri Point… today the President’s State House.
The Aga Khan’s uncle, Late Prince Sadruddin, who was UN’s Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (1962-1965), and High Commissioner for Refugees (1966-1977), visited Chopra House on many occasions.
aga-khan-hosted-in-mwanza-chopra-1DOWNLOAD ismailimail.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/aga-khan-hosted-in-mwanza-chopra-1.pdf?force_download=true
Old Africa: Stories From East Africa’s Past, Issue 103, October-November 2022
In October 1959, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV undertook his first visit to Mwanza, Tanganyika (now Tanzania). During his overnight stay, the Aga Khan was hosted by the Honourable Iqbal Chand Chopra at their house on Capri Point… today the President’s State House.
The Aga Khan’s uncle, Late Prince Sadruddin, who was UN’s Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (1962-1965), and High Commissioner for Refugees (1966-1977), visited Chopra House on many occasions.
aga-khan-hosted-in-mwanza-chopra-1DOWNLOAD ismailimail.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/aga-khan-hosted-in-mwanza-chopra-1.pdf?force_download=true