By Baron Henri Estramant
On 8 April 2015 His Highness The Aga Khan IV, Prince Karim Al Hussaini, received India’s second highest civilian honour from the hands of President Pranab Mukherjee.
The philanthropist Aga Khan IV also met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss to involvement of his development network in projects of sanitation in the State of Gujarat, including building toilets and provide potable water to villages, schools and hospitals.
His Highness The Aga Khan IV is 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. He heads the “Aga Khan Development Network” headquartered in Switzerland but active in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the USA, Canada, the UK, Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The award came just a few days before the birth of a new heir to the Ismaili Imamate. Namely the birth of His Highness Prince Irfan, first-born son of the Aga Khan’s heir apparent, HH Prince Rahim and his wife Princess Salwa. The baby was born in Genève, Switzerland, on 11 April 2015.
For more information:
President of India: www.presidentofindia. nic.in
India’s Prime Minister: http://pmindia.gov. in
Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN): www.akdn.org/about_ agakhan.asp
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Picture “Prime Minister’s Office” (http://pmindia.gov.in/ )