Content Tagged with Pluralism
Mawlana Hazar Imam was at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa on 28 May for the inauguration of the Global Centre for Pluralism’s Annual Pluralism Lecture series. As Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Directors, Hazar Imam introduced the speaker, Her Excellency Roza Otunbayeva, former President of the Kyrgyz Republic, whom he had invited to launch the lecture series.
Dedicated to promoting harmony among people of all faiths, World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed around the world each year during the first week of February. In Portugal, the UN Alliance of Civilizations sought to present a unique multicultural perspective on the week. The Ismaili Muslim community was among 15 religious traditions represented at the event.
Music has the power to transcend difference. Drawing upon heritage and tradition, it can inspire people to better appreciate and come to know one another. Speaking with Ambreen Delawalla and Sameera Gokal, Ismaili musicians shared stories from their own life journeys, and their encounters with faith and music.
Speaking at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, Professor Stephen J. Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia said that creating an environment that fosters “global citizens” is crucial to seeing pluralism in action. His address marked the inauguration of The Ismaili Centre Lectures, a series of intellectually stimulating speaker-based events held at the Centre.
As it prepares for its January 2012 concert, the UK Ismaili Community Ensemble has found resonance with the values of the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games. The celebration of cultural diversity, finding ways to inspire and involve young people, and leaving a positive legacy in London through social cohesion and cultural participation are notions that are shared by the Ensemble and have influenced the music it has created.
The photography book Ismailis, A Celebration of Diversity portrays the rich plurality of the global Ismaili community and the sentiments expressed by talented photographers through their visually stirring images. It is the result of one photographer’s love of art and the community.
In February 2011, a group of seven 10-foot high installations called Tolerance was unveiled at Harmony Walk in Houston near the site of the planned Ismaili Center, Houston. The statues were created by Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa and funded by City of Houston together with Mawlana Hazar Imam and a few private donors.
In February 2011, a group of seven 10-foot high installations called Tolerance was unveiled at Harmony Walk in Houston near the site of the planned Ismaili Center, Houston. The statues were created by Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa and funded by City of Houston together with Mawlana Hazar Imam and a few private donors.
In February 2011, an installation of seven statues titled Tolerance was unveiled at Harmony Walk in Houston, near the site of the planned Ismaili Center, Houston. Sculptor Jaume Plensa describes his vision, inspiration and technique in creating this work of art.
The Ismaili Community Ensemble in the United Kingdom recently collaborated with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pandemonium and Morley Chamber Choir to present a cornucopia of beautiful music evoking the heritage of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions.
Several Ismaili students and speakers participated in the fourth Annual Youth Summit and Diversity Dialogue, titled Getting to the Core of Diversity at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The annual event promotes pluralism and leadership development in high school students.
Following Mawlana Hazar Imam’s lecture at the LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium in October, Sheherazade Hirji of The Ismaili Canada magazine met with the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and Mr John Ralston Saul to discuss the lecture series, and the work of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
Rizwan Manji, an Ismaili Muslim actor from Toronto, plays the part of Rajiv in the hit comedy TV series Outsourced. The show, which features a cast of South Asian actors premiered this fall on NBC to critical acclaim, and has garnered worldwide attention and publicity.
As the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 2010”, Doha was a fitting venue for the Award Ceremony of the 11th cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which was held in November. The event was particularly special for members of the Qatar Jamat, who were jubilant over Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to their peninsular country.
As the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 2010”, Doha was a fitting venue for the Award Ceremony of the 11th cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which was held in November. The event was particularly special for members of the Qatar Jamat, who were jubilant over Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to their peninsular country.
Toronto, 15 October 2010 – “What the Canadian experience suggests to me is that identity itself can be pluralistic,” said Mawlana Hazar Imam before a packed audience at the Royal Conservatory’s Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. Speaking at the invitation of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Hazar Imam received a warm welcome from the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul.
Ottawa, 8 October 2010 – Mawlana Hazar Imam completed a two-day visit to Ottawa for the inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors of the Global Centre for Pluralism. Thursday evening, Hazar Imam also met with His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall.
Ottawa, 6 October 2010 – Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Ottawa today to chair the inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors of the Global Centre for Pluralism. The Centre, a new international research and education institution dedicated to the study and practice of pluralism worldwide, is an initiative of the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network in partnership with the Government of Canada.
Also see:
» Press Release: Global Centre for Pluralism holds Inaugural Board Meeting (7 October 2010)
» Global Centre for Pluralism Board of Directors
» Global Centre for Pluralism website at www.pluralism.ca.
In the spring of 2010, Harvard University, for the first time in its history, offered a course on Ismaili History and Thought. Harvard student Shenila S. Khoja-Moolji spoke with Professor Ali Asani about his experience designing and teaching it.
Toronto, 28 May 2010 – Mawlana Hazar Imam and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were in Toronto today to mark the Foundation of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park situated in the city’s Don Mills area. The Prime Minister used the occasion to formally announce the Canadian Parliament’s unanimous decision to make Mawlana Hazar Imam an Honorary Canadian Citizen.
