The Aga Khan Museum, Toronto
Many of my friends have been to the Aga Khan Museum for concerts, lectures, and other events. They have also visited the collection there. All the reports I heard were good so I decided it was time for me to make the trek to Don Mills. I was curious to see what they were talking about. The location is out of Toronto’s city core but there would have been no space in the City for the concept to have been realized architecturally. It’s very impressive and I particularly like the Ismaili Centre which has the glass pyramid and I also like the beautiful, peaceful gardens around the site. The Ismaili Centre was not open for viewing the day I was there.
The monetary cost of building this was to the tune of about $300 million. Since I knew very little about The Aga Khan, I decided to find out who he is. His biography is very impressive. His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. For His Highness the Aga Khan, one manifestation of his hereditary responsibilities has been a deep engagement with development for over 50 years. Son of Prince Aly Khan and Princess Tajuddawlah Aly Khan, the Aga Khan was born on 13 December 1936, in Geneva. He spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and then attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland. He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a BA Honors Degree in Islamic history. He became Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on 11 July 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan. As spiritual leader, the Aga Khan has emphasised the view of Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith: one that teaches compassion and tolerance and that upholds the dignity of man, Allah’s noblest creation. (www.akdn.org) The Aga Khan was in Toronto last May for the opening of the park.
Just a few more photos below and information about the key people on the project. The information right below is about the interior of the Ismaili Centre. I would love to go back for a tour of the interior.
I hope you’re really getting a sense of what this place is all about from the photos and the information I found. It would have been fine to have just visited and then forgotten about the place. However, as my interest was peaked to find out more about the Aga Khan and the Museum, there’s a lot I am learning through this process.
The Aga Khan Museum is a wonderful addition to Toronto’s fine museums and one that highlights the Muslim culture and civilization. Since 911, there has been a culture of disdain and hate towards Muslims throughout the world. Perhaps, this Museum will serve to cast a different light on Muslims and to bring about a better understanding and awareness of the richness of this civilization. Islamic civilization has been around since A.D. 610. Harroon Siddiqui, a well-known columnist wrote in the Toronto Star at the time of the Museum’s opening (Sept. 12/2014): “It represents a historic turning point for Canada — sending a bold political and social message of peace and pluralism to the world at a time of fraught relations between the West and Islam/Muslims.”
The Aga Khan Museum is worth a visit for those who are interested in finding out more about the Islamic/Muslim World. I enjoyed my visit there.
NOTE
The interior of the Ismaili Centre was designed mainly by Toronto’s Arriz & Co. Designer Arriz Hassam, an Ismaili whose family arrived in Canada as refugees from Uganda in 1974. He fused Islamic tradition (ornate floors, inset with Turkish and Italian marble) and Canadian maple to craft a serene, spare setting. It reflects, in its details, the Ismaili experience in Canada. (Internet)
Originally published at www.ronaldjanki.com on June 9, 2016.
