INDIA Didar dates, events and testimonies

[mkp786]

A most magnificent Darbar in Mumbai on 17th. May 2008 (Saturday) for the Mumbai and Pune Jamat.

MHI arrived at about 16:30 and was with the Jamat for around 2 hours.

He was very very happy. I have never ever seen him so happy. Throughout Mowla was smiling.

The Jamat was very emotional during the Intizari period. The ginans and the waez and the Tasbihs prepared the Jamat to receive the Noorani Deedar.

This time Hazar Imam walked the full Mandap and everybody got the best Deedar of their life.

He even went to the Infirmary and blessed the Senior Citizens who were on the bed.

The following is the gist of the Firman :

1) HI began by giving his most affectionate paternal maternal blessings to the jamat and for the eternal peace of ruhani members.
2) HI complimented the volunteers for the wonderful work and thanked the Govt of India and the States for the care and warmth with which he was welcomed.
3) HI said that as he thinks back – “How well I remember all those who served me – some known and some unknown and I have not forgotten them and my Best Blessings to them”.
4) HI further said that India is now different than what it was in 1957. India is making progress and is progressing economically with plenty of opportunities (H.I. did not mention the word prudent with spending money and about world economy as he did in Dubai and USA).
5) HI said it is his endeavour wherever the Jamat lives to see that the Jamat is secure and has opportunities for the future and can live with trust and confidence.
6) HI spoke about puralism and that no country can make progress unless they respect each others faith.
7) HI also quoted from the Quran that Allah created you from a single soul……..
HI spoke about the notion of knowledge – very important aspect of human life to acquire knowledge with purpose. Seeking knowledge and then use the knowledge for the benefit of the community. Knowledge is a changing picture. Take knowledge as a life long process and put it to good use for the community.
9) HI later spoke of 3 objectives namely to eliminate extreme poverty, to take care of the aged and Senior Citizens and to strengthen the Institutions.
10) HI also spoke on the core values – they remain the same whether in India, or in the western countries – the essential values in Islam is to balance between Din and Duniya. You do not abandon one for another. Do not forsake the practice of your faith. Attend Jamatkhana regularly and if you find difficulty in attending JK then use your Tasbih. It is the remembrance of Allah. Call on Ya-Allah, Ya Mohammed, Ya Ali, call on the Imams. Just few seconds – no fixed time (he repeated smilingly – no fixed time) and keep faith as a part of everyday life.
11) HI further said that as we move ahead - “knowledge society” is at the base of the quality of life and thanked the Jamat not only for the material support but for the time and knowledge nazrana. The best of knowledge we can give to the Jamat and he expressed his affection, blessing and respect to all gave this Nazrana.\
12) HI said that I am with you all the time and am placing my hand on the shoulder of each murid (same as on 11th. July). He gave blessings for Happiness, Good Health, Unity of Faith, Mushkil Asaan, Fulfilment of Wishes and Strength of Siratal Mustaqeem.
13) HI (when he came on the mike for the second time) thanked the Jamat for the material and for the Time and Knowledge Nazrana.
14) HI concluded by saying that today is a day of Happiness and the Jamat must enjoy the Dandia Raas and eat Biryani with few Samosas tucked in. While you are rejoicing and playing Dandiyaraas I will be with you.

This was my most wonderful experience in my life. The arrangements by the leaders were excellent. All the requirement of the Jamat was taken care of to the minutest detail and all the volunteers ensured that the Jamat was happy at all times.

An unforgettable event of my life. I will never forget his smiling face – throughout the Darbar.

Shukar Mowla for this Deedar.

[kmaherali]

--- In Batunimurid@yahoogroups.com, manisha vadiwala <manisha_vadiwala@...> wrote:
DEAR
MOIZ



ON DIDAR DAY HAZAR ALSO VISITED AHMEDABAD KRIMABAD JK NEAR ABOUT 12:30 PM

THAT JK IS MADE BY HAZAR IMAM PERMISSION

WHEN HAZAR IMAM VISIT THAT JK THERE WERE NO ONE WATCHMAN SHOWED THE JK AND HAZAR IMAM TOOK A VISIT OF JK AND HE WAS VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THE JK WAS MADE ACCORDING TO HIS DIRECTION


WHEN JAMAT CAME TO KNOW ABOUT HIS VISIT THEY WERE SUPRISED AND HAD TEAR IN THEIR EYES

DIDAR MUBARAK TO ALL MEMBERS OF BATUNIMURID AND SINGLE ISMAILIS GROUP

[noorjehan]

Does anyone have any more details on Hazar Imam's Visit to PAKH and Diamond Jubilee School?

[samir25]

I am glad to inform all the murids that The Govt Of India has honoured and Recognised MHI's efforts by naming postal tickets in the name of MHI of 5 and 15 Rs. each.Tickets will be available from next Friday in all Jamatkhanas of India.
The above announcement was made in yesterday's concluding darbar of India in Mumbai.
Mubarakis to all of you.........

[jeeshanali]

noorjehan,

You will get details of MHI to prince aly khan and Diamond Jubilee from www.ismaili.net.


Regards/Rahim

[samir25]

A GRAND AND MAJESTIC DARBAR OF INDIA (18TH MAY) CONCLUDED AT BOMBAY EXHIBITION CENTRE, GOREGAON (MUMBAI).

MHI ARRIVED AT THE VENUE OF DIDAR AT ABOUT 3:30 PM.
AS mkp786(FORUM MEMBER) SAID, MHI WAS VERY HAPPY AND CHEERFUL....

HE WALKED AROUND THE JAMAT AND BLESSED EACH AND EVERYONE.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL MOMENT OF MY LIFE AND HOPEFULLY, IN EVERYONE'S LIFE THOSE WHO WERE PRESENT THERE IN THE PRESENCE OF IMAM OF TIME AND PLACE.( WE WERE OVERWHELMED)

BESIDES THE POINTS MENTIONED BY mkp786,

MHI, IN HIS FARMAN, EMPHASIZED

TO HAVE UNITY WITHIN THE FAMILY

TO WORK IN UNITY AND COLLABORATE IN EVERY SPHERE OF
OUR LIFE - BE IT BUSSINESS OR ELSE........

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD NOT THINK THAT WORKING TOGETHER WILL HARM OUR FREEDOM AND FEEL LIKE THAT WE ARE IN JAIL ......
WE SHOULD HARNESS MAXIMUM BENEFIT OUT OF IT AND IT SHOULD NOT BECOME A LIABILITY.......

MHI ALSO EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN FOR POOR JAMATS IN THE DEVELOPING NATIONS......

MHI ALSO ENSURED TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY AND THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS IN THE AREAS WERE JAMAT LIVES IN ACUTE POVERTY VERY SOON.....

MHI WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THE STEADILY GROWING INDIAN ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.....


MHI SAID THAT HE REMEMBERS THE TIME HE SPENDS WITH JAMAT AND IT IS THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS FOR HIM........

MHI WILL BE VISITING JAMATS ALL OVER THE WORLD TILL 13TH DECEMBER.......

MHI SAID GJ IS THE TIME WHEN IMAM LOOKS BACK IN TIME AS WELL AS FORWARD IN TIME.....HE REMEMBERS ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY ALL THE VOLUNTEERS SINCE 1957.....

MHI SAID THAT EDUCATION IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS AND WE SHOULD KEEP ON READING SOMETHIME OR THE OTHER AND LEARN NEW THINGS TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE FUTURE CHALLEGES......
PREPARING FOR FUTURE IS AN PART OF LIFE.....

CONCLUDINGLY , MHI ESPECIALLY ASKED THE JAMAT TO KEEP A SMILE ON THEIR FACES ON THIS OCCASION OF GJ AND TO CELEBRATE WITH JOY .......



THE PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL FOR INDIA GAVE A LOYALTY ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF JAMAT.......

BEFORE LEAVING FOR HIS HOTEL IN ANDHERI, MHI MET THE LEADERS OF JAMAT AND ALSO SOME OF THE PEOPLE OF NON-ISMAILI COMMUNITY.........

ARRANGEMENT WAS ALSO MADE FOR DINNER AT THE VENUE OF DARBAR FOR ABOUT 50,000 JAMAT OF REST OF INDIA.....


THE MANAGEMENT AND THE MAGNITUDE OF VOLUNTEERS SERVING JAMAT WAS WORTH APPRECIATING...
(AND MHI TOO MENTIONED THE SAME IN HIS SPEECH AND SHOWERED HIS SPECIAL BLESSING ON ALL THE VOLUNTEERS )

IT WAS ONE OF MY BEST MOMENTS OF LIFE IN DARBAR .......

MUBARAKIS TO ALL OF YOU ON THIS OCCASION OF GJ


YA ALI MADAD

[noorjehan]

Thanks Rahim. <BR>Mubaraki to all Indian Jamat and all the Volunteers for the Magnificent Services.

[kmaherali]

Updates from theismaili.org

Monday, 19 May 2008

The leadership of the Jamat of India gathered at Mumbai International Airport to bid an emotional farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam this morning at the end of his seven-day Golden Jubilee visit to India.

On departing India, Mawlana Hazar Imam proceeded to Dhaka to commence his Golden Jubilee visit to Bangladesh.

Additional photographs are available in the Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra / Gujarat galleries, and on the AKDN website.



Sunday, 18 May 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam together with performers who had danced earlier in the evening at the Jamati institutional dinner. Photo: Gary Otte

This afternoon, the Jamats of South, Central, North and East India gathered in Mumbai for the third Golden Jubilee Darbar of Mawlana Hazar Imam's visit to India.

In the evening, the Jamati Institutions of India hosted a dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam. Children from the Jamat presented a series of dances representing the various Indian traditions. A gift was also presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of the leadership of Indian Jamati Institutions.



Saturday, 17 May 2008

This afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam granted a Golden Jubilee Darbar to the Jamats of Western India which had gathered at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/321/India-visit

[armanbz]

Postage Stamps issued by India Post on Aga Khan Foundation on 17 May





http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Netscape/Stamps2008.html

[Admin]

Sidhpur Didar Testimony

AS RECEIVED

Ya Ali Madad,

First of all Lots of Mubaraki of Deedar to all of you!!!

Let me share the deedar experiance we had at Sidhpur on 16th May, 2008.

MHI's Deedar was held at Sidhpur town of Gujarat on 16th May, Friday afternoon. In the Morning at 4:30 am our family reached to Lodhpur Refreshment Center where we could take bath and breakfast. The services provided by the volunteer was amazingly appreciating. Having some rest, we headed to Sidhpur which was about 20 Kms far from Lodhpur. We reached there earlier. We came to notice that the facilities availed by the management team and the volunteer was truely amazing. We'd been waiting for pandol gates to be opened. The pandol gates were opened at around 10:00 am.Special buses were provided for senior citizens and for the people with special needs to reach at the pandol gates. And they were provided wheel chairs to each senior citizens and for the people with special needs comfortably. The volunteers helped amazingly to reach these people to their seats into the pandol. The food packets and water bottles were provided to everyone before entering the gates.

We entered in the pandol at around 10:30 am, and adjusted ourselves with the environment. The pandol was divided into many blocks. They were given names to each block. and there were 5-6 volunteers were provided to each blocks with their leaders. There was a special blocks for senior citizens and people with special needs where plenty of wheel chair service was provided by dear volunteers. Also there was a special child care block where special items & toys were provided to children. The intezaar program commenced at around 1:00 pm ... We had recited lots Salwaats during the time. Ginans have been recited by many talented murids. A friend of mine and a respected jamati member named Nilofer Dhamani from Morbi Jamat has also recited four ginans before the arrival of Hazar Imam. Morbi's Mukhi Saheb had got a very good chance to recite Giriyazari's Tasbih before the arrival of Hazar Imam. We have had lots of tasbih and salwaat in the mean time. We had been waiting for maula so enormously. Finally, We could see a helicopter in the screen at about 2:00 pm, from which Hazar Imam arrived to Sidhpur from Ahmedabad. And then, Hazar Imam arrived at 3:30 pm in the pandol.... It was so good to see maula finally. He walked around the hall once and then taken his seat. He spent about two hours or more with jamat and jamati leaders inside the hall. Maula was very very very happy. He said Golden Jubilee is the time of Joy, Hapiness, Smiles, Laughs etc. Before departing the hall he walked around all areas of the hall again and again. He walked around Half hour. He was amazingly happy with the jamat.

During Deedar, he was very happy, and he asked that we all be happy today and wear a big smile no matter what our troubles be. Hazar Imam gave blessings to and for all the jamats. he reminded us that we are always in his heart, thoughts and prayers...

Brief summary of farman - He spoke about important of our education in our life. And he reminded jamat that Education is a life long excercise. Also he spoke about the importance of having dignity in ones life as we age, and he expressed great unhappiness in knowing that some of our jamat is in the ultra poor category- we must focus our attention to these areas, within the ethics of Islam, kindness, generosity... He said, we want to see some effective results of the poverty elimination plan at the end of this year.

He spoke about important of having presence of faith in ourselves. He said that reciting dua is not only important but also it is important to carry a tasbih, and when we have a few seconds in the day or night to take the tasbih and to call Allah or Hazrat Ali...

He also focused on the youth and their education - use education to help the jamat. And also told students to take opportunities which India will be offering to its people in the future. He also spoke about 'Knowledge Management (KM)'.

Hazar Imam also expressed concern that the world situation is delicate right now, We need to keep unity amongst family and amongst the people of the country. And need to contribute to peace when there were conflicts. He said, India is blessed that it is a pluralist society and keeping peace and friendship with every community and people. So, maula suggested jamat to work together. Doctors with Doctors, Teachers with Teachers, Engineers with Engineers. Work together. And gave an example of Quran that its mention clearly in Quran that Allah made men and women from a single soul no matter which gender, tribe or community they belong to. So, people around us are made from one soul, so we need to keep brotherhood and sisterhood with people around us. He also advised jamat to keep balance between din and dunia.

He shared a sentence which is used to be spoken by Sultan Mohd. Shah, that 'You can take the horse to the water, but you cannot make the horse drink'. Means, we can avail the knowledge, but it is up to each murid or individual how to pick knowledge.

Hazar Imam reminded us that this Darbar is a celebration, and again he expressed his joy...

He also expressed his immense happiness with the time and knowledge Nazrana, and material Nazrana. He liked very much one of the gifts given to him. He said to jamat that, there was a gift, it was a horse handle looking like a dagger, but it wasn't a dagger. He said, horse is having a very much importance in Islam and in his family as well. Maula was very very happy with Indian Jamat.

Maula had a special meeting with Mukhi Sahebs and the other leaders of the Jamat. Meeting's duration was about 45 Min. We all were reciting salwaat and shukrana tasbih during the time. Maula left the pandol at around 6:00 PM. Then the jamat had recited dua at 6:30 PM, and then we had niyaz and jhuro after that. It was the most pleasant deedar We've ever had!!!

Once again, Mubaraki to all of you, the Sidhpur Jamat did a wonderful job of
making us all feel welcome. All the volunteers have done amazingly great job to make this magnificent deedar possible...!!! God bless them all...

Best Regards,
Hussain Savani

[xaf]

It was pure magic! Hats off to our Indian Brothers and Sisters for the awesome Golden Jubilee Celebrations in India held from May 12th to 18th.
10000 people lined up the streets outside Hyderabad airport and 15000 people outside Mumbai Sahar airport to welcome our Beloved Mowla. The Indian jamat showed full generosity and big hearts during the entire jubilee week. The celebrations in jamatkhana were festive and I was very much impressed with the spectacular fireworks displays on the day of Mowla's arrival in Mumbai.
The registration process was smooth and courteous. I was amazed to learn that entire trains had been chartered to transport jamat from various towns and villages to Mumbai. These trains were dubbed Jubilee Expresses. Hundreds of coaches had also been arranged to bring the jamat from the train station to the darbar complex. This excellent organisation amidst such a huge jamat is awesome and humbling to witness. The darbars themselves were grandiose.
It was another humbling experience to see so many murids in the darbar hall, waiting patiently and calmly for the entire day, squeezed tightly together without complaint and with smiles on their faces. Even the snack packs were so generous and all volunteers were friendly, generous and helpful. It was no wonder then that throughout the darbar, from entry to exit, our Beloved Mowla was very very very happy. He was twinkling away, even cracking jokes with the Mukhisaheb on the stage. My soul cried with joy to see my Mowla so very happy. This was indeed a darbar to be witnessed and to all those who kept away, scared of being uncomfortable in such huge crowds and hot weather - what a loss!
Even after Mowla's exit from the darbar, loud announcements were made on the megaphone imploring the jamat that this was Golden Jubilee Day and no one should leave without eating. Dinner for such a huge crowd was served within 15 minutes after Mowla's departure. Truly Jubilee in the Jampudeep was a memorable, outstanding, exhilerating and grand ocassion.
Hats off, India jamat!!!

As for Bangladesh, it was a beautiful celebration as well, small, intimate and very fulfilling. The best thing I liked about Dhaka were the arches set up on the roads with proclamations of "Long live His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan". Also the entire road from the airport to Mowla's hotel to the darbar shamiana was dotted with the My Flags and with huge, congratulatory billboards. The arches mentioned above were even acknowleged by our Beloved Mowla in his Farman. The fact that the arches were worded, Long live His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, shows how much love and respect the Bangladeshi people have for our Imam. Congratulations and well done, Bangladesh!

[kmaherali]

Sunday may 18th 2008

Place: Saturday exhibition grounds ,goregaon , MUMBAI, India.

Event: Golden jubilee Darbar of Mowlana Shah Karim Hazar Imam.

Each one of golden jubilee Darbar has its own uniqueness.

There were 2 Darbars in Mumbai India

There was one on the 17th may, Saturday, which was for western INDIA
Jamats which included all of Bombay and all the Maharashtra Jamats.

The one on 18th was for south India and east India and north India
Jamats with some Gujarat provinces. And international Jamats

Each day there were approximately 30 to 35 thousand murids who
congregated for the auspicious darbars.

In Hazar Imam's firmans the main theme has remained to be mostly
same at
every golden jubilee DARBAR, which is as follows:

Hazar Imam is concerned about the poverty of the jamat in third world
and eliminating poverty a prime golden jubilee goal.

Care for the elderly and restoring their dignity and honor.

Life long Education.

..

Become part of the knowledge society, very important.

Always acquire more and more knowledge.

The concept of "Best practices" meaning Harnessing the knowledge to
achieve our goal of poverty elimination world wide

He wants jamati members to come to gather in business and
professional
ventures.

Group ventures not necessarily means loss of independence.

Mawla smiled when he said Indians do not like to lose their
independence.

He gave blessings to families and jamats of all the present murids
where
ever they may be.

He also acknowledged the services of all volunteers since 1957,
including ruhani members.

On the May,17,2008,h darbar

He said "I place my hand on the shoulder of each and every murid and
give blessings for muskil asan and happiness in both worldly and
spiritual life"

Balance between din and duniya and importance of reciting tasbih and
names of "Allah", "Mohammad" " Ali" and the Imams at any time , no
fixed time.great emphasis on prayers and practice of faith.

Hazar IMAM is big on "Dandiya raas" this time everywhere he goes!
Amazingly enthusiastic about it and is not forgetting to mention in
each
firman!

Also he is big on BIRIYANI. Every function invariably had biriyani
but
now this time he also mentioned to eat SAMOSAS "here and there" for
celebration.

After the May 17th darbar,

The BOMBAY jamat went crazy to find samosas for thousands of murids
soon
after Mawla mentioned samosas here and there in his firman!

And indeed everone got one small samosa here and there of different
kind
and make since it was not on original menu for after darbar dinner.
And
some great firman birdari volunteers made instant arrangements for
samosas by calling all over Mumbai.

It was great!

We went to Yuvan apts Mumbai for celebration dinner and dandiya.

The jamat khana and surroundings were beautifully decorated with
lights.

All the girls and women wearing gorgeous colorful bandhanis and
bandhani
salvar kameez signifying auspicious occasion .

It was a great experience.

Our darbar pass was for the 18th

We could have requested to go on 17th because I have family in
Bombay
but we decided to stay with council guidelines to go on 18th for the
darbar which was next day for international jamats.

We went there fairly early to observe everything.

We sat near families who had traveled all night in bus from small
villages of eastern India and some remote Gujarat some had traveled
by
'JUBILEE EXPRESS' special trains carrying jamat of the entire town.
About 250 people.

The family sitting next to us had a baby 5 months old and a son 3
years
old.

They were in bus all night, reached Varsova in early morning after 9
hours of drive. They were served breakfast there and then came to the
darbar site after a little break!

I remembered the description of Imam Sultan Mohammad Shah's diamond
jubilee in a book "jampu deepna Sultan" where murids had jubilee
express
special trains to travel to Mumbai for Diamond jubilee in 1946.

They had great fun on the train singing ginans and geets etc.

Most of the out of Bombay murids were scheduled to return the same
night
after Darbar.some stayed in the temporary tents build in Hasanabad
and
varsova.

It was not sure weather they could stay for dinner or not after
darbar
on the 18th may.

Here Mawla was trapped!

He wanted to have all his murids to have the similar opportunities
and
after Darbar celebrations!

So here came the unusual blessings for all these murids from far
away.

He said " it is not sure whether you will have dinner and dandiya
raas
tonight, therefore you will have a what is called the SECOND BITE AT
THE CHERRY PIE, that is one more round of blessings for your
happiness
and suceess and muskil asan for you ,your families and happiness for
your GENERATIONS!!

Wow!!

I have never heard this in any of the blessings by Hazar imam in any
deedar!

Many of the people sitting next to me did not understand this English
phrase of second bite at the cherry pie.

It was so subtle!

But I weeped with tears of happiness for all the present!

They were all blessed with something so remarkable!

For not having the opportunity to dinner and dandiya raas with Mawla
after Darbar! He understood they had traveled far and wide in extreme
heat to see him!

They were the deserving murids!

Hazar imam as in other places met with non ismaili spouses outside
where
they were present in moderate sized multiple groups.

I heard from one of my nephew who was a baitul khayal Mukhi once at
darkhana
jk, whose daughter is married to a non Ismaili hazar imam talked to
the
spouse, and said,

"It is ok you practice your faith and she hers; you will have some
worries in future but Remember to think of me at that time and I
will be
with you!" also he encouraged the spouse for time and knowledge
nazrana.

So reassuring!

Hazar imam stayed for more than 2 hours at the deedar hall

He was immensely happy with the India JAMAT! He was smiling all the
time. and was at unusual ease and very comfortable!

After the Darbar the announcement about the Indian government
releasing
the postal stamps of 5 and 15 ruppes was made.

Also they announced the dinner and dandiya for all at the darbar
site.

But soon after, I heard the announcements of buses of different towns
and villages leaving being made. And people had not completely
forgotten
the Hyderabad episode, wanted to get out ASAP for fear of getting
delayed beyond control and stranded overnight!

I and my husband also tried to leave ASAP!

No idea how many stayed behind for dinner and dandiya!

We were exhausted of heat but were feeling great after this
remarkable
deedar!

I heard later on that in Sidhhpur on May 16th, Hazar imam left the
deedar hall in the car after the conclusion of the Darbar, he went a
short distance decided to return to the deedar hall and ate some
biriyani which was cooked for the jamat!

He wanted to have dinner with them? or there was some hidden meaning!
fortunate for Sidhhpur jamat!

I went next day to darkhana jk and met a very interesting old man!

He was 82 years in old great spiritual and physical health.

His name was Lakhpati, son of famous Major Lakhpati of IMAM SULTAN
MOHAMMAD SHAH 'S TIME. A very well known close companion of ISMS.

He invited me and my sister to his place, and for 2 hours he shared
his
father's experiences and memories with the Imam

He shared valuable photos and written works and art works and poems
of
Major Lakhpati who wrote under the name "abad" as a poet.

Also met his 78 year old sister who was not keeping good health
recently. she had injured her hip joint .

Both old murids of Imam, children of one of his closest volunteer,
suffering in extreme poverty. Yet no complains but sukhar!

Whose duty it is to take care of these individuals?

I sobbed as the old lady happily got out of the bed slowly and with
support of a broken walker went near the bathroom.

To my surprise actually she had gone to get me some water for me.

She gave me the old steel glass with some water. I was so touched by
the
kindness in her eyes. I normally do not drink water from the tap in
India Pakistan trips for fear of getting amoebas and worms.

But I drank this water because if I did not I would have hurt her
feelings. I would feel I am vain. So I decided I will deal with the
health later if it happens. it was gesture of hospitality on her part
which I could not deny.

I was delighted to hear his stories and experiences from ISMS TIME
and
all
the great memories he had from the golden times. I understood why
hazar
imam wants us to work for elderly and poor!

A big living proof! Of Imam's worry!

My eyes were full of tears as I parted from them.

May be I am suppose to write this message to all of you.

Next day my husband met Mukhi sahib of Andheri jk considered a second
darkana.A great individual awespiring!

I was wondering you meet certain people in your life at certain place
and time for a reason!

Mawla knows best!

But I was deeply touched! Very humbled by the experience!

Living in a very materialistic society of u.s.a, you forget about
your
roots you come from where multitudes of our brothers and sisters are
living in extreme poverty yet their hearts and souls are full of a
sense
of sukhar and gratitude.

They live in extreme shortage of everything. Yet do not complain!

LEADERSHIP has same attitudes everywhere!

Power gets into the heads and they forget their duties. Self comes
first
everyone else is later.

But what choice do we have but bear them.

Good workers runway from frustration of dealing with community
politics
and others not so competent rule the scene and control everything

Same plight everywhere!

Whether India or America!

Yet we are better than most

But we could be so much better!

Diamond jubilee girls school, where I had my primary and secondary
school education, now a brand new facility near Agahall, Hazar Imam
visited there.

I heard Some grievances of the Ismaili teachers who worked day and
night
in preparation for the visit , were not allowed to be present
because
CEO of the school thought it will be too many{they were 12 only in
number} people. only the trustees etc and CEO and principal and some
non Ismaili maid and servants were present,who got opportunity to
have
hand shake with Imam.

The teachers were literally crying.one teacher has served for 17
years
for only symbolic wages, she was hurt emotionally.

But miraculously Mawla mentioned in his firman next day of the visit
on
the 17th May that HE IS ACCEPTING THE SERVICE OF ALL HIS MURIDS
whether
seen or not seen ,some having appointments and some never
appointed.he
gave special blessings to all of them

The teacher started weeping when Imam acknowledged all the murids not
only visible volunteers

I am here for some more time wish to meet some more interesting
people

I am also looking for books

I hope I get them

mubarakis to all for the remarkable golden jubilee year and Mawla's
infinite mercy and Rahemat.

Love and YA ALI MADAD.

Dolly. Chandani M.D.

[asifmomin1]

Thank you sister Dolly Chandani for the detailed description of the deedars and your experiences in India and thanks a lot brother Karim Maherali for posting the same.

Ya Ali Madad.

[Admin]

SPEECH BY HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN
INSTITUTIONAL DINNER
MUMBAI, INDIA
MAY 18, 2008

(His Highness was presented with a gift. Then He said the following)

I would like you to know how deeply touched I am by this wonderful evening and by the celebration of My Golden Jubilee here in India. It has been a time of enormous happiness, but also a time of thinking back to the status of the Jamat in 1957 in India, Pakistan, East Africa, Central Asia, and I say to myself, Alhamdullilah, the Jamat has made progress. It lives in greater security, it lives in countries where there is greater hope, greater stability. And there will always be problems. That we all know. But the fact that this can be said by the Imam of the time today is due to the leadership of the Jamat, to the unity of the Jamat, to the efforts, decade after decade, to move forwards, to build capacity, to build institutions, to follow a sense of direction in life. And this I want to say this evening because I see amongst the Jamat here this evening many leaders of the past, the leaders of today and I think back to what was the time that they lived and what were the problems that they had to deal with and how leadership is built from generation to generation in continuity towards the sorts of results we have all hoped and prayed for.

I would also say that this has to be an occasion of joy, an occasion of happiness and I want again to repeat my gratitude to the Government, the Central Government, the Governments of the states, all the authorities, the state organizations, for the extremely warm and generous way in which they have received me here in India and to tell you that this friendship, because it is a genuine, sincere friendship, will carry outside India, will not remain in India, it will carry outside India and we will work together to try to establish places in the world where people can live in plurality, in happiness and in security.

I would also like to say how very happy I am to see the magnificent progress that you have made since I was last in India. And we will continue to build, to try to expand activities where they need to be expanded, I am still concerned about the quality of education, the access to education of our younger generations, particularly in the rural environments. I am concerned about economic support for people who are not yet independent in their economic destinies. There is much to be done. But I have a sense of confidence, a sense of great confidence because India is moving forwards, because the Jamat is moving forwards. And it has built and will continue to build strong institutions. And ultimately it is strong institutions which enable countries, communities, families to establish a permanency of progress. Ultimately that is what we are talking about - the permanency of progress.

There are so many leaders here this evening that I would be unable to mention all of them, but I simply want to tell you how grateful I am as the Imam for the magnificent work that you have done. I congratulate you, I send to you and your families my affection, my love and, above all, my gratitude for what you have done for the Jamat and for the Imamat.

I have enjoyed the evening enormously, I have enjoyed the dances. I congratulate the youth and I hope that they will carry forward the humour and the joy of this evening.

Thank you.

[kmaherali]

SPEECH BY HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN
INSTITUTIONAL DINNER
MUMBAI, INDIA
MAY 18, 2008

This speech is also included in the official DVD of GJ India Mulaqat...

[From_Alamut]

I have found a Video Clip of India Deedar on Youtube, it is not showing the actual Deedar but Celebration on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Darbar India in Sidhpur (Gujarat) on May, 16th 2008. " North & South Gujarat Jamat celebration ". It is the instrument Music Pipe Band... Mashallah, it is very beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqV4d0va ... re=related