In this final episode of Gems of Wisdom, we will hear two very short but impactful speeches in which the Aga Khan spoke passionately about his aspirations for the future. First, he reflected on his work towards building peace in the world in this speech on receiving the Asia Society’s Game Changer Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City, USA on 1 November 2017. The Aga Khan also discussed his hopes and aspirations for the future of the Ismaili Jamat, or community, in this speech from his 80th birthday celebration held at his residence at Aiglemont in France on 16 December 2016.

This penultimate episode of Gems of Wisdom will feature a different kind of address from the public speeches heard in previous episodes. As a faith leader, the Aga Khan provided Ismaili communities around the world with spiritual and worldly guidance for almost seven decades. While these religious gatherings were usually private for Ismailis only, occasionally he spoke to large outdoor public gatherings, including this address, known as an Irshad, made on 10 November 2001 in Salamiyya, Syria.

Gems of Wisdom will be drawing to a close with three special episodes. In this third last episode, we will hear the Aga Khan’s final public speech made during his lifetime, which also marked an important milestone event. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Aga Khan gave a virtual address in this speech to the first Convocation ceremony of the University of Central Asia in Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic on 19 June 2021.    Click here to read the speech.

After Uganda’s President Idi Amin expelled all South Asians from the country in 1972, thousands of Ugandan Ismaili refugees ended up rebuilding their lives and community institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom. The Aga Khan discussed the spirit of resilience that inspired the architecture of the Ismaili Centres and other buildings in this speech to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada on 27 November 2013 in Ottawa, Canada. Please note that although the majority of this speech is in English, it does begin in French. A translation is available in the podcast’s transcript and on the Aga Khan Development Network website.   Click here to read the speech.

In a merit-based world, one important factor in helping children progress in developing societies is the quality of teaching they receive. The Aga Khan spoke about the need to strengthen teaching capacity in this speech at the inauguration of the Professional Development Centre in the Northern Areas of Pakistan on 19 October 2000.

In recent years, a number of democracies have been failing around the world, contributing to global instability and conflict. The Aga Khan discussed the ways in which democracy can be strengthened in this speech at the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference on 19 May 2004 in Gatineau, Canada.

The island of Zanzibar on East Africa’s Swahili coast has been a cultural and economic crossroad for centuries. The Aga Khan discussed the history and future of Zanzibar as a place of pluralistic exchange in this speech at the inauguration of the revitalised Forodhani Park on 30 July 2009 in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

One of the great challenges in the world today is addressing the problem of global poverty, especially in the developing world. The Aga Khan discussed the need for developed and developing societies to work together in tackling the challenges of poverty in this speech at the Global Philanthropy Forum on 22 April 2009 in Washington, D.C., USA.

We have heard in previous episodes about the effort to educate people in Western societies about the contributions that diverse Muslim civilisations have made to the world. The Aga Khan discussed three institutions located together that he hoped would contribute to this educational endeavour in this speech at the foundation ceremony of the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre Toronto, and the Aga Khan Park made on 28 May 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Please note that although the majority of this speech is in English, it does contain a short section in French. A translation is available in the podcast’s transcript and on the Aga Khan Development Network website.

In recent decades, Ismaili Muslim communities in North America and Europe have grown significantly, often caused by people fleeing political instability and conflict. As a symbol of the community’s growing presence in the United States, the Aga Khan opened a new Jamatkhana, the place of worship used by Ismailis, during a visit to Texas in 2002. This was also his first visit to America after the 9/11 attacks. He spoke about his aspirations for the new building in this speech at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Houston, USA on 23 June 2002.

Respecting diverse cultural identities is essential to building peaceful societies, especially in the developing world. The Aga Khan discussed the relationship between cultural identity and pluralism in the context of development in this speech at the Prince Claus Fund’s Conference on culture and development in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 7 September 2002.

Strengthening democracy and governance is critical to improving quality of life and offering hope to people living in developing societies. The Aga Khan offered four suggestions to build more stable democracies in this speech at the graduation ceremony at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs on 15 May 2006 in New York, USA.

In recent decades, new technologies have caused agricultural and industrial societies to be replaced by what has been called the knowledge society. The Aga Khan discussed how Muslim societies can reclaim their position as knowledge societies of the future in this speech at the American University in Cairo on 15 June 2006 in Cairo, Egypt.

In an effort to research and raise awareness about the rich diversity and intellectual contributions of Muslim civilisations, including Ismailis, two academic institutions were established by the Ismaili Imamat in the United Kingdom, namely The Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations. The Aga Khan discussed these educational endeavours in this speech at the opening of the Aga Khan Centre in London, UK on 26 June 2018.

The Global Centre for Pluralism was established as a partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Canada, working to influence perspectives, inform policies and inspire actions to advance pluralism. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV discussed his aspirations for the Centre in this speech at the opening of the headquarters of the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa, Canada on 16 May 2017. Please note that although the majority of this speech is in English, it does contain a short section in French. A translation is available in the podcast’s transcript and on the Aga Khan Development Network website.   Click here to read the speech.

Investing in cultural heritage can have a positive impact on the quality of life in developing societies, offering hope to poor and vulnerable communities. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV spoke about the AKDN’s work in cultural preservation in this speech at the Royal Toledo Foundation award ceremony on 2 March 2006 in Toledo, Spain.    Click here to read the speech.

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, or AKFED, is a for-profit agency that reinvests all of its profits into future development activities. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV discussed the work and impact that AKFED companies seek to make in this speech at the opening of Alltex EPZ Ltd in Athi River, Kenya on 19 December 2003.    Click here to read the speech

Prior to the opening of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, objects from its collection were exhibited in various museums and galleries around the world. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV spoke about the educational role that the arts can play in addressing knowledge gaps about the Muslim world in this speech at the Spirit and Life exhibition in London, UK on 12 July 2007.

While many of the AKDN’s park and garden projects have been part of development efforts in Asia and Africa, several garden projects have also been built in North America and Europe with a purpose to educate Western societies about Muslim cultures and values. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV spoke about the inspiring power of Islamic gardens in this speech at the opening of the Aga Khan Garden in Edmonton, Canada on 16 October 2018.

The North-South Prize is awarded each year to two candidates who promote solidarity between the North and South, and have distinguished themselves in the protection of human rights, defence of pluralist democracy, and raising public awareness on issues of global interdependence and solidarity. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV discussed the importance of pluralism and hope in this speech at the North-South Prize Ceremony on 12 June 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal.