The world and especially Geneva still miss Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan – this was an important sentiment shared among many that were present at the book launch of his biography, some three weeks ago at the UN Library, Palais des Nations in Geneva.
May 12th marked 14 years of the passing of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. Reflecting on the legacy of the Prince, we note The Observer Review’s astute observation under the title “A Man For All Nations” where The Observer Review highlights: “Prince Sadruddin is a rare specimen, the truly international man … Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan lives in place an invaluable instrument for peace and relief in the years ahead,” – this in discussing about his work at the UN Refugee Agency or UNHCR.
And now fourteen years to this date, we share a statement from the White House that expressed President Bush’s sadness on hearing the news of Prince Sadruddin’s passing.
The May 14, 2003 Statement by the Press Secretary on the death of Prince Sadruddin read:
The President Was Saddened to Hear of the Death of Prince Sadruddin:
“Prince Sadruddin was a great humanitarian, philanthropist, and international civil servant.
As UN High Commissioner for Refugees for over a decade starting in the mid-1960s, Prince Sadruddin led international efforts to help refugees from Bangladesh and Burundi, assist Southeast Asians fleeing conflict, and find new homes for thousands of Asians expelled from Uganda by then-President Idi Amin. He served with great distinction in a number of other roles, including coordinator of UN humanitarian aid programs in Afghanistan and in the Gulf region during the 1990-91 Gulf War, and supported several important environmental causes.
The world will miss this man of great compassion and principled action. On behalf of the American people, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
– Press Secretary on behalf of
George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States: 2001-2009
Across the world message of condolences were shared with the Aga Khan’s family. The Guardian reported, “Sadruddin saw himself as a citizen of the world – a multilingual, highly cultured cosmopolitan, familiar with the upper echelons of international society, who nevertheless became passionately involved with the plight of successive and growing waves of refugees and the seemingly insoluble problems of resettlement.”
“He was preoccupied by the moral dimensions of effective intervention to promote peace and preserve global life.”
“Sadruddin was always an Ismaili … He was concerned with morals and ethics, and tolerance was an essential part of his credo. He was a good man who believed in the duty of elites to improve the lot of humanity.”
True to his name, which in Arabic means ‘defender of the faith’, Prince Sadruddin lived his life defending and giving voice to the voiceless – the refugees and displaced people; the fauna and flora, who though our indifference had become endangered; the health of our planet where our environment had become victim to pollution and the unbridled pursuit for material wealth; and his unabated faith in our youth for whose empowerment is spoke often and inspiring many.
As a resident of Switzerland, Prince Sadruddin was concerned about the impact of insensitive tourist development and deforestation on the European Alps. At the World Economic Forum in 1990, he launched Alp Action to protect the mountain ecosystem and preserve the Alps’ cultural diversity and vitality. The Bellerive Foundation program encouraged eco-tourism, aiming to reduce the impact of outdoor adventure sports on the fragile alpine habitat. During its years of operation, Alp Action successfully launched over 140 projects in seven countries.
Indeed, the world and especially Geneva still miss Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan!
Discover, Explore and Learn more via
- The Observer Review | A Man For All Nations
- The American Presidency Project | George W. Bush | Statement by the Press Secretary on Death of Prince Sadruddin: The President Was Saddened to Hear of the Death of Prince Sadruddin May 14, 2003
- The Guardian | Obituaries | Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan – He believed it was the duty of elites to improve the lot of humanity
- New World Encyclopedia | Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan
Learn more about Prince Sadruddin by reading other insights in addition to what is mentioned in the remarks above in his biography, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary by Diana Miserez.
Book Purchase Options:
- eBook version
- Hardback English version via The Book Guild
- Hardback French version via Editions Cabedita
Research, Insight & Perspective by A. Maherali
Selected Social Media
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s Book Launch |
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 World Refugee Day, World Music Day & Legacies of Prince Sadruddin - “The refugee is a product of our errors, his predicament an indictment of our conduct… Remembering Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan - By A. Maherali Recently, there has been renewed and growing interest to learn more about… President Dr. Arif Alvi of Pakistan receives Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s Biography - Recommended All related to the Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s Book Launch at the… UN Library’s book of the month: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary by Diana Miserez - Now the United Nations (UN) Library at Geneva features the biography - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary as the book of the month. Video: UNHCR: High Comissioner Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Career Highlights - “The awkward truth about human deprivation is that it demeans those who permit or ignore… Photo Gallery: “Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary” book launch at the UN Library Geneva - In wanting to write about someone who has the richest of personalities, whose immense erudition… Life Well Lived: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: A Man for all Nations & Statement from the White House - The world and especially Geneva still miss Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan – this was an… In Memoriam: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan – Message from Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General (2003) - May 12th marked 14 years of the passing of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and the… Cairo buildings and street named in honour of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan - During the book launch of Prince Sadruddin’s biography at the UN Library Geneva, Amal Ewida… Video: Remarks of Edward Girardet, journalist at the book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography - Remarks by Edward Girardet during the panel discussions at the book launch of Prince Sadruddin… Video: Remarks of Philippe Roch, Swiss WWF ex-Director at the book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography - Remarks by Dr. Philippe Roch during the panel discussions at the book launch of Prince… Diana & Claudia Miserez dedicate a trilingual children’s story book to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan - “We dedicated it to the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, who had won our admiration… Video: Remarks by Nicola Spafford Furey, Vice President of Earth Focus Foundation at the UN Library Geneva book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography - Thursday 20 April 2017, UN Library, Palais des Nations, Geneva Speech extracts & YouTube video… Video: Remarks by Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary at the UN Library Geneva book launch - Thursday 20 April 2017, UN Library, Palais des Nations, Geneva Speech extracts & YouTube video… Speech: Remarks by Nicola Spafford Furey, Vice President of Earth Focus Foundation at the book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography - “I first met the Prince in 1994 [in relation to] Earth Focus Magazine, … from… Speech: Remarks by Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary - “And how appropriate it is for this tribute to be taking place in the building… Video: Remarks of UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi at the book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography - “A true internationalist who transformed UNHCR … ” – Filippo Grandi UNHCR Refugee Chief… Social Media: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s Book Launch - Social Media Posts.
Live from UN Geneva - Book launch - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary By Diana Miserez Happening now! Book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary at the UN Library, Palais des Nations, Geneva – Opening remarks by Filippo Grandi United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Join us for this book launch and enjoy recollections of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s outstanding… What people are saying about the Prince Sadruddin biography by Diana Miserez - "This long needed biography seeks to do belated justice to a great humanitarian, who saw what was coming down the line and what would be needed..." Talking to Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin’s biography and Nicola Spafford Furey, VP of Earth Focus Foundation one day before the book launch event at the UN - Diana Miserez, author of Prince Sadruddin's biography and Nicola Spafford Furey, VP of Earth Focus Foundation reminiscing about Aga Khan and Ismailis ahead of Prince Sadruddin's book launch at the UN in Geneva. Prince Sadruddin’s Constellation of Honors: Decorations & Distinctions - While resources on the internet summarize world wide honors invested on Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan,… Contemplate: Prince Sadruddin’s inspiring 1975 address to the newly settled Ismaili community in Canada - Excerpts from Prince Sadruddin's address delivered to the Ismaili Muslim community on Wednesday, 22 January 1975 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Reflection: French Minister of Culture pays tribute to Prince Sadruddin as he decorates His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prince Amyn with honours - About 7 years ago, French Minister Frédéric Mitterrand paid an elaborate tribute to the Aga Khan family highlighting the contributions of Prince Sadruddin and the Noorani family. Retrospective: 1988 Interview with Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan - Following the historic agreement signed in Geneva on April 14, 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan, on May 11, the U.N. Secretary General appointed Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan to the position of Co-ordinator for United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan. eBook of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s biography now available worldwide - In parallel with English and French editions of the biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan made available in the UK and Switzerland, an eBook version is now available worldwide UN Library hosts book launch of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on April 20 - Join us for this book launch and enjoy stories about Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s outstanding personality told by his friends and colleagues. French edition of a new book- Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humaniste et Visionnaire – a Biography by Diana Miserez - The biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan has been published very recently, in January in Great Britain and in March in Switzerland. Both language versions are shortly to feature in a launch at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. University of Bristol’s Alumni and Friends feature biography of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan by Diana Miserez - In this biography, Diana Miserez traces the life of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1966 to 1977, a humanitarian, visionary and environmentalist. New Publication: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary – a Biography by Diana Miserez - Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan: Humanitarian and Visionary By Diana Miserez Publication Date: 28/01/2017 Format: Hardback… |
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