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he world recently lost His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims living in more than 30 countries. He was renowned globally as a social reformer, humanitarian, philanthropist, peace advocate and champion of cultural preservation. Throughout his life, he kept preaching the importance of education, culture and heritage in sustaining peace.
He was committed to preserving culture and took measures to quell differences between communities belonging to different cultures. After taking charge as the 49th spiritual leader of the global Ismailia community, he established a network of organisations and institutions aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in different parts of the world, mainly those who had been denied access to basic amenities.
After succeeding his grandfather, he embarked on a journey to explore different cultures and traditions of the world. As a student of Muslim history, he keenly explored Muslim cultures and traditions across the world. Besides exploring culture, he was deeply concerned about the architectural brilliance projected during Muslim dynasties in various periods of history.
During his two-year journey, he was able to collect substantial data regarding Muslim culture and heritage. This helped him devise an effective strategy to preserve Islamic culture and work for its promotion. After the Silver Jubilee of his spiritual leadership in 1983, he started getting deeply involved in the cultural affairs of the world and went on to establish the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, a crucial addition to the galaxy of institutions working under the umbrella of the Aga Khan Development Network. The AKTC is a philanthropic foundation dedicated to promoting the revitalisation of communities in the Muslim world, with a focus on physical, social, cultural and economic development.
After the formation of AKTC and conducting a thorough inspection, Prince Karim Aga Khan started preserving historical sites associated mainly with Muslim history. Zuhara Shalwani, a historian and an exuberant traveller who has vast experience of working with AKDN institutes, says that the institution has been instrumental in reviving the lost glory of eminent cultural sites across the globe. She says that prior to the formation of AKTC, Aga Khan Award for Architecture was launched to encourage and acknowledge quality architectural work. The award seeks to recognise and reward outstanding architectural concepts that cater to the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies. The initiatives has so far facilitated 40,000 musicians, 50 million visitors and 4,550 artisans across the globe.
The award focuses on varied fields, including contemporary design, social housing, community development and improvement, restoration, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and environmental enhancement.
Dr Akber S Ahmed has noted that amid growing conflicts of the modern world, Muslim leadership was drifting away from cultural heritage. The Aga Khan was among the very few leaders of the Muslim world concerned about preserving Islamic culture and architecture. He mentioned that the Aga Khan was a passionate person, especially when it came to promoting and preserving Islamic culture. According to AKDN, five major schemes have been administered under the auspices of Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
The Agha Khan Award for Architecture
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, presented every three years, has announced its latest recipients, honouring outstanding projects that raise the bar in architecture, planning, historic preservation and landscape architecture. The esteemed awards seek to identify and promote innovative building concepts that effectively cater to the needs and aspirations of diverse societies worldwide, particularly those with significant Muslim populations. The selection process emphasises architecture that not only provides for people’s physical, social and economic needs, but also stimulates and responds to their cultural expectations. Particular attention is given to building schemes that use local resources and appropriate technology in innovative ways and to projects likely to inspire similar efforts elsewhere.
The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme
The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme undertakes urban regeneration initiatives in historic districts, aiming to catalyse social, economic and cultural growth. Its primary goal is to enhance the quality of life for residents in these historic areas, while developing sustainable models that ensure long-term improvements and preserve cultural heritage. During the past three decades around 350 heritage sites have been renovated through this initiative.
The Aga Khan Music Programme
The creation of AKMP was meant to preserve, promote and polish the living musical heritage. Since music has a pivotal association with human lives, it is essential to maintain its charm. This can only be done through persistent research, investment and, more importantly, the acknowledgement of artists. Two Pakistani Sufi singers Sain Zahoor and Zarsanga received this award at a ceremony held in Muscat Oman. Prince Amin Muhammad Aga Khan, the younger brother of Prince Karim Aga Khan, attended the event as a chief guest along with His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al-Said.
The Aga Khan Museum
Historic headway was made in 2014 when the Aga Khan Museum was inaugurated in Toronto, the capital of Canada, to apprise the Western world of the glorious past of Muslims and their contribution to the world and preservation of Islamic architecture. The museum, during the first decade of its creation, hosted several cultural events, exhibitions and conferences where notable leaders of the world, diplomats and researchers were in attendance. It has also originated sessions on cultural education and architecture.
Aga Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture
Based at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this is a premier institution dedicated to the study and promotion of Islamic art, architecture, urbanism and visual culture. Established to improve the teaching and research of Islamic architecture, the programme aims to enhance the understanding of Islamic cultural heritage, promote excellence in research and educate architects, planners and researchers to meet the building and design needs of Muslim communities. Since its inception, over 220 graduates and 100 post-doctoral fellows from 37 nationalities have benefited from the programme. It has also supported the development of extensive textual and visual collections at Harvard and MIT. Additionally, the programme publishes the annual journal Muqarnas and provides funding for lectures, conferences, and student research, with four Aga Khan Professors and two documentation centres currently in place.
Besides other countries, the AKTC has played a vital role in rehabilitating heritage sites in several parts of Pakistan.
In a video message, scholar Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari said that Prince Karim Aga Khan had an immense passion for preservation of Islamic art and culture. He said while most contemporary Muslim leaders had neglected the cultural legacy of Islam, the Aga Khan had rekindled the centuries-old Islamic culture.
In his 2016 speech at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremony, Prince Karim Aga Khan emphasised the significance of architecture in shaping the quality of human life. He highlighted the importance of integrating the past and the future; harmony between nature and humanity; adapting to unprecedented challenges; and promoting pluralistic ideals. He said, “I think of how architectural excellence can integrate the gifts of nature and the potential of the human mind. Natural blessings and human creativity are divine gifts. It is wrong to embrace one at the expense of the other. The best architecture teaches us to engage with nature respectfully, not by conquering or subduing it, nor by isolating ourselves from it. Our host country, the United Arab Emirates, itself offers impressive examples of integrating the natural and the human environments.”
The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme has successfully completed a range of restoration projects across Pakistan, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage. From the Walled City of Lahore to the historic Silk Road in the north, the AKHCP has meticulously restored iconic forts, traditional settlements, mosques and public spaces. Notable projects include the preservation of Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace in Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the restoration of Lahore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the 17th-Century Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore.
The author is a practicing lawyer and freelance journalist. His interests include cultural diversity and socio-political issues of Sindh. He holds a master’s degree in law. He tweets as ZaibSha1 on X