Coffee with the FT: His Highness the Aga Khan
‘What we do is high-risk’
By Rachel Morarjee
Published: September 26 2008 18:57 | Last updated: September 26 2008 18:57
In a deeply undignified start to my interview with one of the world’s most famous spiritual leaders, I am pressing my face against the glass of the Ismaili Centre in South Kensington, gesticulating wildly as I try to catch the eye of the dark-suited security man. It seems to me he is, perhaps reasonably, deliberately ignoring the madwoman outside.
As I’ve already tried pushing the locked door, I eventually stand on the street corner and rummage inelegantly in my bag to find my phone. After a long wait, I manage to get hold of a friend who works for His Highness the Aga Khan, who lets me in.
My requests for a lunch or breakfast meeting had been deflected by the Aga Khan’s aides, who gave me the unusual excuse that the leader of 20m Ismaili Muslims guards his privacy so zealously that he would be reluctant to reveal what he eats at mealtimes. So we settle on a coffee.
Complete at the source: FT.com
Ismailimail 
Can’t understand what she wanted more……An interview or food.
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FT must have taken this interview when Imam was visiting London for his Golden Jubilee (July 2, 2008)
http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=674
Nice, smiling caricature, projects exactly what Imam has emphasized lately, the value of happiness and smile.
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Not only happiness and smiling but also the idea that we should lighten up and not go ballistic when we see a caricature of a leader who is obviously so dear to us.
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imam tem muinta responsabilidade perante o mundo actual. IMAM que da boa liderança ecooperaçao com altos dignitarios do mundo. abdul sacoor de portugal lisboa
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Never seen Mike Wallace, Charlie Rose, Larry King or Amy Goodman doing breakfast, lunch or dinner interviews on their shows. The most one sees is a glass of water.
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Not much substance in the interview – wasteful I would say, in the manner the article has been composed.
I think the “aides” have to learnt to be less panicky! They freak out a lot.
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