In a year that had us questioning, above all else, our humanity, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s quite work continues to remain a beacon of compassion, inclusiveness and bridge-building – a never ending quest for a vision of our common and united humanity.

Recently, on two separate and successive occasions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has referred to His Highness as a dear friend and a mentor. We also draw upon the excerpts from the citations of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and French Minister Frédéric Mitterrand to further highlight the impact, relevance and reach of the Aga Khan’s work.

“I am honoured to call him a dear friend and a mentor.”

 

– The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau,

Prime Minister of Canada

In a video message congratulating His Highness the Aga Khan during the Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship ceremony

Canada – September 21, 2016

“The Danaker is a mark of honour awarded to individuals who unite people, nations and countries.”

 

– His Excellency Almazbek Atambayev,

President of the Kyrgyz Republic

during the investiture ceremony of the Order of Danaker

Kyrgyzstan – October 18, 2016

“… the planet is truly your home; openness, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue are your heritage. You have each made your mark on the contemporary world.”

 

– M. Frédéric Mitterrand,

French Minister of Culture and Communication,

during the presentation of decorations to His Highness the Aga Khan (Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters) and Prince Amyn Aga Khan (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters)

France – November 9, 2010

The three quotes above are further supplemented below by the matrix of the world wide honours of His Highness followed by a more detailed context of the three quotes expressed by the national leaders from Canada, Kyrgyzstan and France. (Additional sentiments from Canadian, US and German leaders).

Matrix of the Constellation of Honours

In recognition of His Highness’ exceptional efforts and contributions to human development world wide, the Aga Khan has, over the last six decades, received several awards, decorations, honourary degrees and tributes from numerous institutions and countries from around the globe. This sentiment was best expressed by Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada while presenting His Highness with his most recent award.

“… this prize for Global Citizenship is recognizing and celebrating His Highness the Aga Khan, whose entire life demonstrates steadfast unchanging commitment to the ideals of belonging and inclusion.

 

Through his words, through his actions, and through the results obtained by the institutions that he has founded and encouraged and nourished, he has become a light in much of the world’s conflicting darkness.”

 

– The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,

26th Governor General of Canada

at the onset of the Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship presentation ceremony,

Toronto, Canada (September 23, 2016)

It is in this spirit that the “Constellation of Honours” matrix is presented – a testament of His Highness’ continued service to humanity over the course of his Imamat, now approaching 60 years.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada

“Sophie and I offer our best wishes today to His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims – a community that includes tens of thousands in Canada and millions around the world.

 

“For more than fifty years, His Highness has worked tirelessly to reduce hunger, poverty, disease, and illiteracy in developing countries. He is a beacon of acceptance and compassion, and an inspiration to both his community and the world.

 

“Canada has come to share a close relationship with the Aga Khan and bestowed honorary citizenship on him in 2009. I am proud to call His Highness both a mentor and friend. He has shown time and time again that no matter our faith, where we were born, what colour is our skin, or what language we speak, we are equal members of this world.

 

“Today, we salute the tremendous efforts that the Aga Khan has undertaken over his lifetime to help those most vulnerable, and wish him health and happiness on this special day.”

 

– Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada

on the birthday of His Highness the Aga Khan

Ottawa, Canada (December 13, 2016)

“Over the years Canada has built a close relationship with His Highness the Aga Khan, one based on diversity, friendship, understanding and respect. Indeed, the values  promoted by the Aga Khan are deeply held in Canada for multiculturalism is our strength and synonymous with our country as the maple leaf.

 

I am honoured to call him a dear friend and a mentor and could not imagine a more deserving recipient of the Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship. He has shown time and time again

that no matter our faith where we were born what color are skin or what language we speak, we are equal members of this world.

 

I often say that Canada is stronger not in spite of its differences but because of them. Well, for half a century the Aga Khan has shown that about the world.

 

Thank you, Your Highness!

 

Canada and the world are stronger and richer because of your commitment to diversity and to finding common ground, to helping those most vulnerable and to believing in a better, closer, more inclusive world.

 

Merci mon ami!”

 

– The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

In a video message congratulating His Highness the Aga Khan during the Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship ceremony

Toronto, Canada (September 21, 2016)

President Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyz Republic

“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 80th birthday!

 

I have warm memories of our meeting in Bishkek during your recent visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

 

You belong to a number of eminent personalities, whose life and work is a manifestation of noble efforts in overcoming difficulties to address socio-economic problems, improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable layers of the population.

 

Undoubtedly, the projects implementing by the Aga Khan Development Network in the Kyrgyz Republic make a positive impetus to the ongoing development of our state.

 

Thanks to your personal contribution, recently University of Central Asia opened its first campus in Naryn. I express my firm conviction that the University will be a leading educational institution, not only in the Kyrgyz Republic, but also throughout the region.

 

On this special day, let me sincerely wish you good health, success in your noble work, family warmth and happiness.”

 

– Message from the Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev

on the birthday of His Highness the Aga Khan

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (December 13, 2016)

“The Danaker is a mark of honour awarded to individuals who unite people, nations and countries.

 

On behalf of the people of Kyrgyzstan, and in my personal capacity, I would like to express sincere gratitude for the contributions and support Your Highness has been providing through AKDN in a variety of sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture and others.“

 

– His Excellency Almazbek Atambayev,

President of the Kyrgyz Republic

during the investiture ceremony of the Order of Danaker

Kyrgyzstan – October 18, 2016

Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication

“… the planet is truly your home; openness, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue are your heritage. You have each made your mark on the contemporary world.

 

In paying tribute to you this evening, we are reminded that the Ismaili faith, through its message of peace and bridge-building, is more than ever at the forefront of dialogue between the great monotheist religions.

 

Wherever Ismailis live, we find the particular combination of meditation, tolerance and solidarity that characterises your community.

 

Since the nineteenth century the Ismaili faith has masterfully demonstrated, through its international network of charitable organisations, that its spiritual beliefs are anchored in the secular world.

 

Your Highness the Aga Khan,

 

I should like today to salute your exceptional cultural work, in all its richness and diversity, and in so doing I hope not to offend your modesty, as I know that, as a man of great worth, you are extraordinarily modest, often distancing yourself from your actions, working silently, far preferring influence to power, and discretion to the spotlight.

 

You are at once the illustrious descendant of a dynasty entrusted with a faith and a history, and a man resolutely grounded in your own time. A committed humanist, pragmatic idealist and businessman bursting with ideas, you have a thousand and one lives and projects, which you pursue always with the same ardour, convinced of the importance of vitality and creativity. You place your talents primarily at the service of others, and in particular your own people, the Ismailis. More than a passion, this is for you a vocation.

 

Many countries have benefited from your dynamism … Experts from the World Bank have made several trips to the aptly-named Karimabad to take note of the prodigious transformation of a difficult, isolated region into a land of plenty, where you have prioritised health, rural development and the education of women, in the shadow of the apricot trees and the soaring peaks of the Karakorams.

 

All these initiatives are carried out in line with the attention to perfection that is your hallmark; you apply the criteria of excellence to philanthropy. Your demanding standards are admired. Your hospitals, schools and banks are exemplary models, and organisations bearing the name Aga Khan offer a guarantee of quality to all.

 

The ambition of the great French princes has now been taken up by Your Highness; you have become the architect of a spectacular renaissance, which you mention with great modesty.

 

Your Highness, in the name of the French Republic, we present you with the insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.”

 

– M. Frédéric Mitterrand,

French Minister of Culture and Communication,

during the presentation of decorations to:

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan

 insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters

(Commandant de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres)

and

Prince Amyn Aga Khan

 insignia of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters

(Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres)

Paris, France

November 9, 2010

Research, Insight & Perspective by A. Maherali

Road to Diamond Jubilee Series
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada calls His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan “a dear friend and a mentor,” an inspiring global citizen of an inclusive world - In a year that had us questioning, above all else, our humanity, His Highness Prince… His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan at 80: A portrait of service to humanity – a man who is perhaps the only person in the world to whom everyone listens - “… a man who is perhaps the only person in the world to whom everyone… Over 50 countries invest 250+ honours to an individual that Canada’s 26th Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, refers to as “the most magnificent human being – His Highness the Aga Khan” - Over the past several months and at the recent Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship, Canadian leaders from across a broad spectrum of fields World Wide Honors & Global Impact of the Ismaili Imamat: His Highness Aga Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III & His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV - Ahead of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan's 59 years of Imamat, we celebrate with this collection below, highlighting the world wide impact of our two beloved Imams and the honors the world has bestowed on them for service to humanity.

Countdown to Diamond Jubilee Series
Mawlana Hazar Imam: “When I assumed the responsibilities of the Imamat … I too became involved, as leader of the Ismaili community, in that most vital business, the well-being of ordinary people.” Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 2014 to June 2017 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 2009 to 2013 Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee Journey Legacy of Jubilees – Legacy of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee – July 11, 2007 to December 13, 2008 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 2003 to 2007 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1998 to 2002 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1993 to 1997 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1988 to 1992 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1983 to 1987 Legacy of Jubilees – Silver Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam: “…the issue of improving the living conditions of the poor has long been of the deepest concern to me.” Legacy of Jubilees – Silver Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam: “We will not let bigotry, communalism or sectarianism make our lives inward-looking and increasingly meaningless…” Mawlana Hazar Imam: “…this Silver Jubilee is a symbolic affirmation of the ties between myself as Imam and the Ismaili community…” Legacy of Jubilees – Silver Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1978 to 1982 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee – Snapshots of Imamat – 1973 to 1977 Legacy of Jubilees of Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah Countdown to Diamond Jubilee: Snapshots of Imamat – 1968 to 1972 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee: Snapshots of Imamat – 1963 to 1967 Countdown to Diamond Jubilee: Snapshots of Imamat – 1957 to 1962