Ismaili and Aga Khan in History: Today 1217

Today in History: December 17

1911, 17 December: Mowlana Sultan Mohamed Shah made a statement on the Repeal of the Partition of Bengal. "Transfer of the Capital to Delhi" was printed in "The Times", London, 18 December 1911

1948, December 17: Autographed portrait of Mata Salamat and Mowlana Sultan Mohamed Shah, taken on the Completion of His 65th year as Imam on December 17,1948. Message reads: My loving paternal blessings to Asia beloved spiritual children, Aga Khan. 2nd Message reads: With my very best wishes to all the spiritual children of Hazar Imam, Om Habibeh Mata Salamat [Photo]

1964, December 17: Mowlana Shah Karim attended Garden and Kharadhar Education Board prize distribution functions. He performed opening ceremony of Al-Ilmu Reading Room building sponsored by Aga Khan Students' Union. He Presided over the concluding sessions of First World Ismailia Socio-Economic Conference.

1996, December 17: Mowlana Shah Karim received the Key to the City of Lisbon and said in his speech: "I find myself contemplating whether this serenity will still reign in the Lisbon which will emerge in the twenty-first century. As the city expands, this nation's economic epicentre will radiate within the European Union and like its ancient voyages of discovery, Lisbon will continue to strive to link Europe with Africa, Asia and South America." [Photos and speech here]

2002, December 17: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 1135 gmt - Kazakh leader hails Prince Aga Khan's efforts, urges aid in Aral Sea region. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has praised Prince Aga Khan's peace and friendship efforts and the activities of the Aga Khan Organization for Development in Kazakhstan, especially the founding of a Central Asian university. Speaking at a ceremony at which he awarded the prince the Peace and Progress prize which Nazarbayev himself founded, the president also suggested the Agha Khan organization might contribute to work to restoring people's health in the Aral Sea region. [Interfax] [Eurasia Net] [Dawn]

2002, December 17: Prince Karim Aga Han is given the State Reward of Peace and Progress of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan /ASTANA.KAZINFORM The head of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev December 17, handed the State Reward of Peace and Progress of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the leader of Aga Han Organisation of Development, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Han who arrived in Astana. President said “Kazakhstan was highly appraising your efforts meant for the strengthening of peace and friendship, mutual confidence between nations, your contribution in preservation of historical and cultural valuables, development of social progress.” Aga Han Organisation of Development is one of largest world-wide known private institutions. In Kazakhstan it backs implementation of national programs. Kazakhstan supported Aga Han’s idea to establish a Central-Asian regional university on study of life conditions of population living in mountainous areas, its social and economic issues. In 2000 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Imamat of Ismailits signed a Treaty on Central-Asian university. Within last year the paper was ratified by the three parliaments. Prince Aga Han reported that the financial incentive of State Reward (nearly US$ 33 thousand) will be forwarded to the special fund to pay for the study of kazakhstani students from the needy families in the Central Asian university.