Time Magazine: It is very likely that this youthful portrait of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was commissioned to mark his becoming the 49th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, while still a student at Harvard University.
Adrienne Clarkson was Canada’s 26th Governor-General and co-Founder of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
In 1957, I was a third-year university student when I saw young Prince Karim on the cover of Time magazine. He had just become Aga Khan IV. I could not imagine then what it was like to be our age and to bear that enormous responsibility of spiritual and temporal leadership.
Years later, when I was governor-general, I had the privilege of meeting this remarkable man when he came to Ottawa to turn the sod for the building of the Ismaili Centre [Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat]. We did it together on a wonderful day with speeches and flowers.
Ottawa, Canada. 2008: Artist’s model of the Delegation of Ismaili Imamat. Image credit: Imara
We became friends.
I consider this friendship to be one of the most meaningful in my life.
And I will miss my dear friend, who died on Tuesday at the age of 88.
Moriyama Teshima Architects – architects of record for the award winning buildings: Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre in Toronto, and the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada. (Image from the Ismailimail Archives)
We were of the same generation and shared the same values. We found common ground in our belief in the public good and in the values of Canada. Right from our first meeting, I admired this extraordinarily generous, acutely intelligent and sensitive human being.
The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada and Highness the Aga Khan after the investiture of the Order of Canada Image credit: AKDN / Zahur Ramji
In 2005, when I was Governor-General, I appointed him an Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, our highest civilian honour.
At the time, I said that he brings to everything he does “a generosity, curiosity, intelligence, and deep compassion for human beings.”
The Government of Canada has always recognized the importance of the Aga Khan as a world leader.
HisHighness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV receives a certificate of Honorary Canadian Citizenship from Prime Minister Harper. Image credit: The Ismaili / Moez Visram
In 2006, the Conservative government partnered with the Aga Khan Development Network to establish the Global Centre for Pluralism, headquartered in the refurbished War Museum, which recognizes that pluralism is as important as human rights to ensure peace, democracy and a better quality of life for all.
In 2010, during Stephen Harper’s government, His Highness accepted honorary Canadian citizenship.
When we became friends, he was the spiritual leader of more than 14 million people, he was the man who persuaded Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau to take 10,000 threatened Ismailis out of East Africa as refugees to our country more than 40 years ago.
His high intelligence was matched only by his charm and openness as a person. As the Imam of the Ismailis, he had great spiritual responsibilities, yet we could enjoy delightful conversations about books and art.
I always found him warm, witty and humourous, but above all, I will remember him for his generosity and kindness. The kindness was without condescension and the wit without cruelty. In every conversation with him, I knew I had his full attention, everyone who has ever spent time with him has been touched by his gift for listening. And I learned so much from him, particularly about what he called the cosmopolitan ethic, which embraces pluralism, welcomes diversity and believes in compassion.
Toronto, Canada. September 12, 2014: Artist’s model of the Aga Khan Toronto Campus: (L-R) Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum embedded in the formal Islamic-inspired garden unified in the Aga Khan Park, occupy a site adjacent to the Don Valley Parkway. Image credit: Imara Wynford Drive
I think that architecture was his greatest love, and indeed there is a much sought-after prize for architecture in his name which is presented every two years. I believe he could have become a great architect if he had not been called to become his people’s spiritual leader. He loved everything to do with the building of the Jamatkhana [Ismaili Centre Toronto] and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. He examined every detail of the stones and the trees. His pleasure in dealing with the landscape architecture and the detailed finishings was palpable.
Toronto, Canada. Spring 2016: Images of Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum in their unifying Aga Khan Park. Image credit: Salim Nensi Photography
Château de Chantilly transformed to it princely glory over a course of 15 years with with intellectual and material support of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. (Image from the Ismailimail Archives)
He also transformed the Château de Chantilly near Paris, bringing it back to magnificence after decades of neglect. His observations of human failings were perceptive, but he was always unfailingly compassionate. He was never impatient. He always approached things with his delicious sense of humour.
We didn’t always talk about profound things, but everything he said was measured, calm and meaningful. He thought very highly of Canada and had a great belief in our values. He wrote that he wanted his people to live here, “where the threat to democracy is minimal and seeks to draw on the experience of established democracy to make a vibrant and civil society and is sensitive to cultural difference. In this way, they can be effective in improving the quality of life of all their citizens. Canada is a prime example of such a country.”
Ottawa, Canada: 2013: Historic former War Museum in Canada has been transformed into the International Headquarters of the Global Centre for Pluralism, Anchoring Canada as Global Hub for Dialogue. Image credit: GCP
He had such a belief in us. And that is why he established the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa, which works to examine the experience of pluralism in practice.
At a time when we are being faced with manic pronouncements and threats to our sovereignty from our nearest neighbour, we must remember that the Aga Khan, the greatest spiritual leader of our time, believed in Canada.
We must always remember how much he believed in us.
Research, Translation, Insight & Perspective by A. Maherali
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