Guests at the dinner were treated to a unique musical rendition that combined classical and modern Indian styles, a graceful dance performance, and a poetic folk song from Afghanistan accompanied by traditional Persian instruments. The performing artists represented different age groups and showcased the depth of artistic talent in the Jamat.
President of the Ismaili Council for India, Asif Porbanderwala, thanked the princes for their visit to India, and for their continuous efforts, support and keen interest in the AKDN projects in several parts of the country.
“Today, AKDN in India is recognised for its mosaic of activities across various sectors,” he said. “They are in health, in education, in habitat, disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and climate change. And all these organisations have won awards, and government agencies today are very happy and satisfied with the contribution that AKDN has been making.”
In his remarks, Prince Rahim thanked the government of India for its warm welcome and expressed his deep appreciation to the leaders, staff, donors and many volunteers for their work over decades to enhance the quality of life and improve the standing of the Jamat.
“It’s nice for my brother Aly and I to be here with you – it’s our first trip together to see projects and… we’re really happy to be here,” he said.
“Hazar Imam is going to be very happy to know that the institutions are doing great work here,” he added. “We look forward to sharing what we’ve seen with him.”
The following day, Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad visited the Aga Hall Estate to review progress on construction.
Aga Hall is a revitalisation project rooted in legacy. Originally established by Mawlana Hasan Ali Shah in the 1860s, the site was also a home to Mawlana Ali Shah and Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah. Over the years, it has witnessed Mumbai’s evolution into a thriving international hub, while symbolising the city's historic roots.
In 2012, Mawlana Hazar Imam originally approved plans to redevelop the site for the benefit of residents and their neighbours. Alongside a new, enlarged Jamatkhana, a new international-standard school, and a new hospital, the estate’s two residential towers will offer a convenient and holistic lifestyle, with lush gardens that will cover more than half of the site’s total area, creating a green oasis in the densely urbanised area. The aim is to enhance the quality of life for current and prospective residents and provide a safe, community-oriented living experience.
The Aga Hall design applies AKDN’s Green Building Guidelines, incorporating energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive features, while reducing waste and carbon emissions. One of the two towers will be allocated to existing residents of the estate, who will progress from being tenants of their old apartments to owners of their new ones.
The surplus from the sale of apartments will be allocated to further development of the complex, including the new state-of-the-art hospital, which will benefit thousands of local citizens regardless of their background.
