The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has a long history in India, dating back to the establishment of the first Aga Khan school in Mundra, Gujarat, in 1905. Eight of AKDN’s 11 agencies are operational in the country, implementing a range of programmes, in diverse fields from water and sanitation to maternal health and family nutrition, sustainable agriculture to disaster risk reduction and response, cultural restoration to school improvement.
You can learn more about AKDN's work in India on the AKDN website »
Enjoy this performance from the Jubilee Arts International Showcase by Shazia Samji from India.
Sunder Nursery, a new 90-acre (36 hectare) city park in New Delhi, was officially inaugurated on 21 February 2018 by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, and His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Learn more about this event on The.Ismaili website »
The restoration of the Mughal Emperor Humayun’s 16th century garden tomb, the jewel of Mughal architecture that predates the Taj Mahal, was inaugurated on 18 September 2013 by India’s Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Minister of Culture Mrs Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Mr Ratan Tata, and His Highness the Aga Khan.
On 11 July 2007, Mawlana Hazar Imam completed 50 years as Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismailis. Fifty years ago, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. As part of the commemoration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee, Hazar Imam made official visits to countries around the world. In addition to recognising the friendship and longstanding support of leaders of state, government and other partners in the work of the Ismaili Imamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam granted some 26 Golden Jubilee Darbars to the worldwide Jamat. This film, Golden Jubilee Memories, provides an opportunity to relive the memories of those Golden Jubilee visits.
Jubilees have traditionally been occasions for the Aga Khan to launch new projects and programmes. In 1983, he launched the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in India. Decades later, the programme continues to support rural communities across India. This film describes a solar irrigation programme developed to help farmers increase their yields.
The short documentary, Islamic Gardens: Catalysts for Change, is about the vast network of parks and gardens around the world developed by the Ismaili Imamat, under the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan. Gardens bring people of different backgrounds together to enjoy and appreciate nature. They also seek to improve people’s quality of life by providing spaces for reflection, spirituality, education and leisure. The creation of parks and gardens has been an important part of the AKDN's work, with the objective of using green spaces to catalyse positive economic, social and cultural change. This short documentary "Islamic Gardens: Catalysts for Change" is about the Network’s vast network of parks and gardens. It explores their significance and the reasons for creating and revitalising parks and gardens, including their role as spiritual and communal spaces, in environmental stewardship, their capacity to act as springboards for economic development, and their role as educational spaces to teach about the rich diversity and heritage of Muslim cultures and civilisations. The film looks at the numerous park and garden projects undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, as well as those found in the Ismaili Centres and many other spaces globally, with special focus on the three projects opened during the Diamond Jubilee year of the Aga Khan: the Sunder Nursery in India, the Islamic Gardens at Kings Cross found in the Aga Khan Centre in London, and the Aga Khan Garden in Edmonton.
You can read more about AKDN's Parks and Gardens projects on the AKDN website »
Mawlana Hazar Imam's Golden Jubilee visit to India between 12 – 19 May 2008 included stops in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In addition to granting Darbars to the Jamat, Hazar Imam met with government leaders and visited AKDN institutions and projects in various parts of the country.

Mawlana Hazar Imam travelled to India in February 2018 for his Diamond Jubilee visit. This 50-minute film recounts the history of the Ismaili Imamat in India, preparations by the Jamat, and the programme undertaken by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his 10-day visit to the country.

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