![]() ![]() Asif Bhaleshaĭuring their journey, the delegates had an opportunity to visit some of the Imamat initiatives undertaken through the Aga Khan Development Network. Ethics and inspirationĪ view of Al-Azhar Park in Cairo. They learnt about the services of Ismaili dais, who had contributed to realising the vision of the Imams of their time, and the work of the Imamat. We were excited to talk in these languages – it created a closer bond with our friends.”Īlong the journey, the delegates also immersed themselves in the history of the Ismaili Imams. Moreover, I learned different words and expressions in Tajik, Farsi and Hindi with its various dialects. “It was a strange and unique experience for me – I felt that Jamatkhanas were places where all Ismailis spoke Arabic, but this was not so in India or in London, where devotional literature were ginans sung not in Arabic but in Urdu or Gujarati. Fattoum observed that “some delegates interacted and tried to learn to sing qasidas in Arabic and ghazals in Farsi, whereas those of Iranian, Arabic and Afghani origins discovered the ginan, which was new for me as a Syrian.” ![]() The diversity of language, culture and traditions within the Jamat was a tangible aspect of the delegates' experience. As we were pulling away in our convoy, an old lady came to my window and insisted that I take her traditional hat as a keepsake – with so little, they are so generous – indeed, a reminder for me as I give and take in this world.” Tradition and history After an Afghan meal, we all gathered in a traditional Pamiri house. several people had walked two days to attend this annual celebration. In Shugnan, the day before Navroz, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much! Many Tajiks had been invited by the Government and the AKDN for an outdoor concert. An intimate candlelight meal was followed by deep discussions atop a mountain as we witnessed the awakening of the new day. “We danced on the street to traditional music, sampled local cuisine and enjoyed meeting one another. Nagji recollected that in Tajikistan, an entire village had dressed in their finest clothing and lined up for two hours to receive the delegates: In other words, it is our faith, and not culture, which became the primary mode of identification.”Īs they visited places of historical significance to Ismailis, the delegates experienced a warm welcome from their brothers and sisters, who generously shared their hospitality. As Ismaili Muslims, our faith provides a common vision that allows us to look beyond our individual cultures. Reflecting on having met the other delegates for the first time, Fattoum noted: “Each one of us had achieved a kind of balance between ethno-cultural identity and religious identity. “We all chose to define ourselves in terms of multiple identities including ethno-cultural and religious identities.” Moez Visramįrom its outset, the HDP challenged the delegates' notion of identity: “I found that it was very difficult for us to define ourselves,” commented Iman Fattoum in London as she began her 18-day journey. Exploring identitiesĬhildren gather to celebrate Navroz in Tajikistan. The trips also fostered personal and intellectual growth of all the delegates. The journey provided a springboard for experiential learning and individual reflection: “Throughout the trip, it was in these collisions of souls where our stories were shared and our thoughts transformed,” said Ashnoor Nagji, a delegate on the Tajikistan – Afghanistan route. All of the routes culminated in London, where delegates shared their experiences with participants who had travelled along other routes. Setting off from the United Kingdom in March 2008, they each travelled along one of five routes: Egypt – India, India – Egypt, Syria – East Africa, East Africa – Syria, or Tajikistan – Afghanistan. The highlight of the HDP was the travel component, where delegates visited specific historic monuments, heritage sites and AKDN projects. One-hundred fourteen delegates from 19 countries were selected from among 450 applicants aged 25 – 35 to participate in the inaugural cycle of the programme. Through the Heritage Discovery Programme (HDP) – an international programme established as part of the commemoration of Mawlana Hazar Imam's Golden Jubilee – they explored the physical, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of centuries of Ismaili legacy. Last year, a group of young Ismailis from around the world undertook a unique expedition. Delegates visited the Citadel of Aleppo in Syria. ![]()
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