Hyderabad: The Ismaili community in Hyderabad is mourning the passing of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The network works across 30 countries. He passed away peacefully at the age of 88 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), Aga Khan IV played a key role in restoring Hyderabad’s historic Qutb Shahi Tombs. The conservation project, involving over 100 tombs, mosques, and stepwells, revived the grandeur of heritage sites while generating employment for local artisans.
“The Qutb Shahi Tombs restoration is the flagship project of AKTC in India. His passing is an immense loss,” said Ratish Nanda, CEO of AKTC India.
Another major conservation effort was the restoration of the Saidani Maa Tomb near Hussain Sagar, where intricate stucco work and fretwork screens were meticulously preserved. Currently, AKTC is engaged in restoring the Paigah Tombs, another significant heritage site in the city.
Aga Khan IV also established the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that provides education to students from diverse backgrounds, including those from underprivileged communities.
“The students not only received academic excellence but were also trained in ethics and leadership,” said Amin Ladha, president of the Ismaili Council for Southern India. “Additionally, the Diamond Jubilee High School in Hyderabad has been providing quality education for generations, while the Aga Khan Hostel in Yamjal supports students from different regions.”
With nearly 10,000 Ismaili community members in Hyderabad, spread across areas like Abids, Secunderabad, Kompally, and Mehdipatnam, the city is mourning the loss of their Imam. “We have lost not just our spiritual leader but a global humanitarian who dedicated his life to serving humanity,” said Iqbal Mandani, president of the Secunderabad Ismaili Council.
“The Ismaili community conducts various initiatives through the Ismaili Council. This includes health check-up camps for underprivileged communities, blood donation drives held frequently in partnership with hospitals, Ramzan food distributions, plantation drives, volunteering for traffic management, and assistance during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi,” said Mandani.
