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This is Prince Rahim’s first visit to India after his ascension to the Imamat (office of the Imam) after the passing of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, on February 4, 2025.
Apart from the celebrations, the Imam’s visit also serves “as a reminder of the responsibility of the community to be good citizens, embrace pluralism and build bridges across communities,” says Sophia Premjee, member, Aga Khan Council for India. “The chance to contribute to the wider community through the AKDN institutions is a wonderful opportunity to express our love for our country and the ethics of our faith,” explains Riyaaz Makaney, a former chairman of the Aga Khan Education Service India. His visit, says senior community member and MLA Amin Patel, has greatly excited the community. He is meeting community members twice over the next two days, besides meeting the governor and CM,” says Patel. We discussed the shared paths our communities have taken in serving humanity—particularly through education, healthcare and welfare, and look forward to keeping that spirit alive,” says a Dawoodi Bohra community spokesperson.
The wait is over. The Shia Ismaili Muslim community in Mumbai is celebrating the visit of Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam or spiritual leader of the global Shia Ismailis. On his trip, Prince Rahim will meet governor Jishnu Dev Varma , CM Devendra Fadnavis and community members. The community is marking the occasion of their Imam’s maiden visit with a series of events—including Sufi qawwali nights, food distribution drives and community outreach. “We are guided to live ethically, live responsibly, and be of service to others. These are values that our Imam has encouraged us to live by, not merely speak about. Since the Imam is also Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which is engaged in initiatives such as early childhood development, education, climate resilience, rural development and livelihood enhancement for farmers and youth, the leader’s visit is being used to motivate members to engage in social work. “He is our Imam-e-Zamana (Imam of the time). The community is excited. “The meeting reflected the warmth and mutual respect that have long defined the relationship between our two communities.