Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:49 am Post subject: further Didar and Padramni programs
YAM to the world Jamat. Information about further Didar and Padramni programs.
My dear brothers and sisters,
I had a chance to be present in one of the recent meeting with our Imam at East Africa. MHI clearly mention to the jamati leaders that “I will be visiting my Jamat in the months ahead and there will be more visits in the years ahead”.
Next day while discussing this with one of the very important and well known Jamati leader; said to me that MHI has program that in next few years MHI will be visiting many different countries for Jamati work and Deedar, there will be several visits within next 3 to 4 years.
So I would like our world jamat to know that MHI will be visiting for Jamati work in most of the countries where His Jamat reside. East Africa was just the beginning of this world Jamati work and Didar program.
I am getting some unconfirmed news about from Sep Padramni to India, Canada, Bangladesh and so on. But we must wait for confirmation.
Mubaraki to the world Jamat
Kasim Ali
His Highness the Aga Khan
Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Foundation Ceremony for the AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications (Nairobi, Kenya)
27 July 2011
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Rt. Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
Minister for East African Community and Acting Minister for Higher Education,
Science and Technology, Hon. Professor Helen Jepkermoi Sambili
Honorable Ministers
Your Excellencies, Members of the Corps Diplomatique
Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees of the Aga Khan University
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
As Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, I am enormously pleased to welcome you all most warmly, not only as participants in this Foundation Ceremony - but also as continuing friends of our Graduate School of Media and Communications.
That name of the School signals its place as an institution of advanced, post-graduate and professional learning. It also signals the School’s focus - not only on traditional news media - but on a broadening range of communication challenges.
We dedicate today the physical site for this School - an ideal location for the cutting-edge facilities that will be constructed here. But, beyond the physical planning, there are other Foundation stones that we also celebrate today - plans for the programmes the School will launch - the faculty and staff that will work here - the curriculum they will offer and the research they will carry out.
Let me also mention two older Foundation stones - strong pillars that have been in place for some time - which also support the creation of this School.
One, of course, is the Aga Khan University - now 27 years old and growing steadily from its base in health sciences and teacher education into new fields of learning, including new campuses and programmes here in East Africa.
The other Foundation stone is even older - an enterprise I launched here in Nairobi more than fifty years ago. I am referring of course to the Nation Media Group - now majority-owned by public shareholders, with an expanding presence throughout East Africa.
The Aga Khan Development Network thus comes to this project with useful experience both in the field of education and the disciplines of the media. We look forward now to continuing this learning experience.
The most important thing we can learn - or teach - at any School - in a world of perpetual change - is the ability to go on learning. None of us have all the answers - quite often we don’t even know what questions to ask. Nor can we discern the road ahead by looking in a rear-view mirror. Past lessons must constantly be renewed and reapplied, as we adapt to new technologies and new expectations.
The years immediately ahead will be a time of breath-taking change for Africa - and for the field of media. I believe that Africa can emerge from this transformation as the home of some of the most capable, innovative, constructive and respected media enterprises in the world.
Helping to advance that vision is what our new Media and Communications School is all about.
Even as our School builds on strong existing Foundations - it will also break new ground. Let me mention just five of the most important ways in which the School, we hope, will be truly distinctive.
In the first place, the School will work on the newest frontiers of media technology - with state-of-the-art equipment and innovative pedagogies - producing professional graduates who can not only operate across today’s multiplying media platforms, but can also help develop the media platforms of tomorrow.
This does not mean that we will ignore old skills and values. Our core concern must always be the ability of our students to think critically and creatively, to pursue the truth ethically and responsibly, and to articulate ideas clearly and vividly. Even as communicators learn new ways to “get a story out - and get it heard” we must also remember that our first obligation is to present the story correctly. At the same time, however, we want all of our students to be at home and at ease with the newest media technologies.
The second distinctive emphasis of our School will be its sharp focus on the singular challenges facing media in the developing world. This will mean exploring local and regional realities in all of their complexity. And then, instead of relying heavily, for example, on the perspective of Western news agencies for information about developing societies, our students will be better able to share an indigenous sense of these realities with audiences all around the world.
One place where this emphasis will be the most evident will be our use of the case study method - a technique that is often employed at law schools and business schools. Case studies can be wonderful teaching tools. But the key for our new School will be to prepare case studies that relate specifically to the developing world, and indeed to Africa. It occurs to me, for example, that a case study on how media cover African election processes might be of particular value. As part of the new school, we have already set up an African Case Development Centre working in close alliance with Columbia University. We look forward to cooperating with other academic institutions as our work moves forward.
A third special element of the School will be one of the first programmes in this region in the field of Media Management. In my view, the quality of media depends not only on those who produce the content - writers and artists and editors. It also depends on those who manage media enterprises - and on the proprietors who own them. Media institutions cannot play their role as responsible and independent information sources if they are economically insecure and thus vulnerable to a variety of distorting influences. And yet relatively few proprietors and managers are sufficiently prepared for their increasingly demanding roles.
Let me put this challenge into historical perspective. One of the inheritances of the African colonial period was an absence of indigenous, independent media enterprises - and, thus, of effective media entrepreneurs.
A half century later, healthy, African media companies are no longer such a rarity, but they are still in short supply. And the remedy to this situation will lie not just in more and better content producers, but in stronger media management.
The role of media owners and managers has been prominently exposed in the news this month as result of the so-called hacking controversy in the British press. It is impossible to judge the specifics of that situation from a distance. But one lesson that I would commend to you is the importance of establishing an on-going culture of responsibility within any media enterprise.
The Nation Media Group decided to address this matter, proactively, at an early date, by creating a detailed set of editorial conduct guidelines - a code that has been adopted by our shareholders, enforced by our directors, and incorporated in our training programmes. No such code – and I want to be absolutely clear on this - no such code can eliminate errors. Errors are part of every human profession. Butwe feel that such guidelines can help to build responsible media cultures. That objective will be an important area of emphasis for our programme in Media Management.
And here I would just divert for a moment. It was a source I think of great satisfaction in the media field when not so long ago, elections were organised in the Republic Democratic du Congo, and the UN guidelines for media behaviour during those elections were read as if they had been copied from our own guidelines. So that was a demonstration I think that we are trying to bring to Africa the best of the industry.
A fourth distinctive dimension of the Graduate School of Media and Communications will be interdisciplinary study. The new School will work closely with other faculties of the Aga Khan University so that media students can deepen their knowledge in fields such as health, economics, political science, religion, and environmental studies. Our students will learn to combine their command of effective communication skills with a more sophisticated understanding of the subjects about which they are communicating.
The pursuit of this goal is particularly important at a time when information is flooding over all of us in ever-greater quantities. Someone has said that plugging into the media today can sometimes be like trying to drink water from a high-pressure fire hose!
In such a world, effective communicators must truly be effective educators - providing background as well as foreground, the big picture as well as the close-up detail. And this will be true not only for journalists, but also for communication professionals in government, at NGO’s, in the business sector, at entertainment and cultural organisations -and with a host of civil society institutions. In brief, the School of Media and Communications is designed to serve a very wide range of constituencies - engaging a broad array of disciplines.
Fifth and finally, we like to say that our School will be demand-driven - which means that it will be flexible, evolving with the changing needs of both our students and their eventual employers. Masters degrees offerings will be central, but professional and continuing education courses will also be important. We believe this approach will attract outstanding students - and produce outstanding graduates.
We hope to enlist talented students of various ages and from many countries - helping to motivate the best and the brightest young people to enter the media professions. We also hope to involve people who are already in a mid-career situation - as well as those who would like to change careers and move into the communications arena.
These, then, are five ways in which the Graduate School of Media and Communications will seek to embrace the future. We might think of them as five new foundation stones that we will now put in place: an emphasis on new technologies, a focus on the developing world, a new programme in media management, an inter-disciplinary emphasis, and a governing perspective which is demand-driven and broadly responsive.
Allow me to conclude by mentioning one other word that I trust will permeate everything we undertake at this School - and that is the word “quality.” Above all else, when people think in years to come about the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications, I would like them to think of its dedication to uncompromising quality.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I thank you again for joining us at this moment of foundation and dedication. With your support – and management reminds me I should add the word financial - intellectual and moral - this ambitious endeavour will surely thrive - making a major impact on the quality of media - and thus the quality of life - throughout this region - and across the world.
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:00 am Post subject: Milestone Visit
Our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam concluded His 25 day visit to East Africa yesterday, leaving Nairobi in the morning at approximately 9:30am. The Imam, accompanied by Princess Zahra, arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport at approximately 10:10am and from there went by helicopter to the site allocated for the Aga Khan University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He left KIA at approximately 4:30pm.
Mashallah! This was indeed a very unique visit and surely blessed is the entire East African community. It is indeed very rare in this age and time for the Imam to spend so many days in one particular region of the world, and for this extremely generous and merciful visit, we bow down and offer our deepest and most heartfelt shukranas to our beloved Imam.
I was very very happy that the Imam took the time during this visit to take a break from His heavy schedule of jamati visits and official functions and meetings and spend time in lodges, both in Tanzania and Kenya, to rest and have personal time. For this, I offer shukranas and consider it a very great blessing that our beloved Imam remained within our midst and took a holiday.
The jamati visits were outstanding. All the jamati ceremonies took place in very intimate gatherings and everyone got the chance to obtain a close up view of the Imam. Also after a very long time, the Imam came to jamatkhanas and to add to the splendour of this unique occasion was the Imam's radiant joy and happiness. He was literally glowing with love, affection and happiness, and the crowning jewel were the three darbars in which the Imam looked so very majestic and dazzling in a brand new white sherwani. The most beautiful and awesome sight that I have seen to date!
Our leaders too were very blessed during this visit with the Imam accepting to attend banquets in all three cities, during which He was very happy with the contribution made by the leadership.
Mowla's visit was also a blessing to the indigenous communities of Kenya and East Africa in general with the opening of the new Heart and Cancer Unit and the groundbreaking of the AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi. The Imam also visited the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa and the Bujagali Power Project in Jinja, all of which will benefit the entire community at large.
All in all, it was the most milestone occasion in East Africa! Mowla came and showered His love and noor and affection over all, giving everyone a chance to make a fresh new beginning with all the misdeeds of the past washed away. I appeal to all my brothers and sisters in East Africa to take maximum benefit of this immense blessing and try our best to honour the Imam by becoming good and praiseworthy momins. A special appeal to the NRM of Nairobi: I appeal to them to soften their attitudes towards the jamat, allow jamati members to catch glimpses of their beloved Imam wherever possible and to carry out their duties with respect, humility and dignity. The demeanour of the NRM in Nairobi was the only negative factor during this entire visit, especially so during the opening of the Heart and Cancer Unit at the Hospital, afterwhich the Imam attended His next function in a very sombre mood (Please see photographs of the Imam at the groundbreaking ceremony of the School of Media and you will see what I mean). Security should understand that the Imam loves to see His jamat as evidenced by the change of cars in Mombasa from tinted to untinted, and the Imam does not like His jamat to be upset and unhappy for having missed to see Him due to unnecessary toughness by the young boys in security who have as yet a lot to learn about how to respect the emotional attachment jamat have with their Imam which is a mutual attachment; the Imam too loves to see His jamat.
Otherwise, as I have said over and over again, this was a unique, special, most blessed, most happy, milestone once-in-a-lifetime occasion...forever imprinted in our hearts and memories. Allahu akbar, subhanallah, Shukranlilah alhamdulillah. Mubaraki to one and all!
Mawlana Hazar Imam is greeted by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman of the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees at the site of the University’s Arusha campus. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Nairobi, 28 July 2011 — As Mawlana Hazar Imam prepared to depart Nairobi, senior Jamati leaders bid him farewell at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday. Hazar Imam’s departure marked the end of his 24-day visit to the Jamats of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
Prior to leaving East Africa, Mawlana Hazar Imam stopped over in Arusha, where he travelled by helicopter to the site of the planned Aga Khan University campus. When developed, the campus will house the University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa.
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the Arusha International Conference Centre. Photo: Zahur Ramji
In the afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Secretary General of the East African Community at the organisation’s headquarters in the Arusha International Conference Centre. Hazar Imam briefed the Secretary General on the progress of various Aga Khan Development Network projects in East Africa, and discussed the contribution that the Arusha campus of the Aga Khan University will make to the region.
The Secretary General hailed the establishment of the new campus, saying that it would contribute to the creation of an East African identity.
“Your Highness, your vision is very exciting and compelling, and we [the East African Community] support these noble objectives meant to develop the region as a unit,” said the Secretary General. He called on the Community to work closely with AKDN in the areas of education, research and healthcare.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Arusha in the evening, drawing his East Africa visit to a close.
Mawlana Hazar Imam waives as he prepares to depart Nairobi at the conclusion of his Jamati visit to Kenya. Photo: Aziz Islamshah
Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 1144 Location: AUSTIN, TEXAS. U.S.A.
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:05 am Post subject: Admin, What do you thing?
Brother Admin and readers,
Is it ok to forward any farmans via e-mail?, How can we know that requesting person is Ismaili or not? I heard from a reliable sources that USA councils already made announcement in JK for not circulate any farmans via e-mail.
and I think Mowla bapa also want same way, I need more clarification in this matter.
There was a time people were sending farman via post office. Then came the fax, they were sending the Farmans to their Ismaili brothers and family by Fax machine. This is the time of email. Ismailis have never shy away from new means of communication.
There is no conflict between science and faith. If someone wants to tell you not to use the email to send Farmans to people you know that they are Ismailis then the farman of Mowlana Sultan Muhammad shah who said that people who stop you from reading farmans are themselves evil.
Please do not follow people who try to stop you from getting farmans of your Imam. Without Farmans, there is no ismailism. If you come accross people who want to restrict you from reading the farmans of your Imam, send them to hell
Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 1144 Location: AUSTIN, TEXAS. U.S.A.
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:19 am Post subject:
Quote:
If you come accross people who want to restrict you from reading the farmans of your Imam, send them to hell
I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT READING FARMANS OF OUR HAZAR IMAM I READ ON AND OFF AND EVERY ISMAILI SHOULD READ FARMANS MORE OFTEN MATTER OF FACT EVERYDAY, but my question was is it ok to forward recent farmans of Hazar Imam which I received few days ago (many thanks to the sender) but I choose to follow my council's instruction so this chapter is close for now.
Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 1144 Location: AUSTIN, TEXAS. U.S.A.
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 4:55 am Post subject:
That is correct jdessa15, we should respect our council's instruction as well because it comes from Mowla bapa.
Quote:
It is always better to follow the Imam's instructions.
Admin, Of course you are 100% right bro, but how do we know what Imam want regarding his farmans, whether he like to send his farman via internet or not? Mowla bapa doesn't come in our contact or in our touch, so we can't ask himabout his wish, therefore we have to rely on what our council say, I think council receives all instructions from Imam and after that they make annoucement in jk.
The recent announcement I heard about not sending any farmaan via internet was last year, I think it was during that lawsuit filled by Mr. Jiwa in Canada, in that announcement it was clearly stated and prohibited to print, send or distribute any farmans.
but question arise here and bro Admin is absolutely right if we can not print, fax, mail or e-mail any farmans then how can we spread Ismailism? is this fair? I haven't seen any new farman books in last 10 years, so how can we read these new farmans during this period?
Mr Jiwa has NEVER filed any suit against Hazar Imam. he has never even participated remotely to publish one page of Farman. He was falsely accused because our leaders thought he was involved in publishing Farmans. Hazar Imam will never do such a blunder to accuse an innocent Murid who is one of his loyal follower.
This showed that many times some people from Council mislead the jamat into believing that whatever they say under the name of the Imam comes from the Imam. Here they have made the Jamat believe that Imam is suing his Murid, even worse, they made the Jamat think that these Murids are suing the Imam.
Why not look into the farmans on what they say about distributing Farmans to Ismailis. Why not stick to these instructions?
The Aga Khan has followed up on his lawsuit for copyright infringement of his writings by serving a writ to Toronto lawyer Alnaz Jiwa.
THE RESPONSE BY JIWA AND TAJDIN – SEE THIS STORY
The Aga Khan, one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists and spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, is suing for copyright in the Canadian Federal Court over a book produced by Jiwa and Nagib Tajdin. The 1,500-page volume is a compilation of the Aga Khan’s written instructions and advice to his community.
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