Birth anniversary of Aga Khan III today

KARACHI: His Royal Highness Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III was born in Karachi on November 2, 1877 and became the 48th Imam and Spiritual Leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Community at the young age of 8 years in 1885, after the sad demise of his father, Aga Ali Shah.

The Ismaili community celebrates his birth anniversary with due respect and fervour. The title of His Highness was bestowed upon him at the age of 9 years. Though politics was one of the fields of action of His Highness Sir Aga Khan but his thoughts were basically devoted to the educational advancement of the Muslims.

He had established network of educational institutions throughout the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. Even in small villages and far-flung areas of the sub-continent he had established schools.

In 1905 he had opened a school in Gwadar which in those days was a small village of fishermen. Health was also one of the subjects which received his attention and he had opened health institutions like Maternity Homes, Dispensaries etc. in the sub-continent, Africa and other countries wherever he had influence. In 1902, at the age of 25, to commemorate his devoted services to Muslims education, the Viceroy Lord Curzon nominated him as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and His Highness thus became the youngest member of the Council.
The News International – Pakistan