What's New

In May 2013, Samina Baig made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest. In this week’s episode of Trailblazers, we sit down with Samina, to discuss her death-defying achievements, her goal to promote human rights and education for women in Pakistan, and her thoughts on climate change.

Find out how the Aga Khan Music Programme and the Aga Khan Music Awards originated, in a new interview with Fairouz Nishanova, the latest in our In Conversation series. The interview was recorded for The Ismaili TV during the Aga Khan Music Awards held in Muscat, Oman, late last year. In this wide-ranging conversation, Fairouz recalls the inception and impact of AKDN's work to revitalise musical traditions in Central Asia and beyond. 

In recognition of his contribution to the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Professor Dr Farouk Mohamedhusein Tharia Topan was recently awarded an Honorary Fellowship at SOAS, where he worked from 1993 until his retirement in 2006. In a wide-ranging interview with The Ismaili, Dr Topan reflects on his life in teaching, academia, and service to the Jamat.

When the first Aga Khan Schools were opened by Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah in 1905, they reflected an explicit understanding by the Imam, underscored by centuries of Ismaili history, that learning and intellectual pursuit were paramount obligations, both for individuals and for communities.

Prince Rahim attended a special event in London on 18 January to honour the contributions of Dr Farhad Daftary to The Institute of Ismaili Studies, and more broadly to the fields of Ismaili and Islamic studies, as he steps down from his management roles at The Institute.