Posted by Mawlana Hazar Imam succeeded his grandfather to the Imamate on 11 July 1957. To mark his accession, several Takht Nashini (Masnadnashini) ceremonies were held, including one at Bombay (now Mumbai), India, on March 11, 1958.
In his address, Mawlana Hazar Imam said:
“Bombay… has very close associations with my family. It was here, and here alone, that my grandfather was acclaimed as the 48th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismailis. That was 73 years ago and at the time he was only eight years old. What tremendous changes have come about since those days! The Ismaili community has grown and prospered almost beyond recognition. Thanks to my grandfather’s guidance and wisdom, Ismaili families are to be found today all over the world, living peaceably beneath the flags of many nations, owing allegiance to a wide variety of governments. In some ways, therefore, it could be said that Bombay is the birthplace of our modern world-wide community. I hope that the Ismailis who live here will remember this fact and their duty to set an example which other communities abroad will be proud to follow….
The Ismailis have always prided themselves on their highly developed social conscience. Our faith teaches us that we have obligations far beyond our own or even our family’s interests … As part of the nation of India, you must contribute your share to her advancement.
With humility tolerance and respect for each other, by honest work and straight dealings, you will earn the true friendship of your fellows. It does not matter whether you are wealthy or poor, whether you work with hands or brain, your spiritual obligations are equal. By the way you conduct your daily lives, by the compassion you show to your fellow men and women, and above all by your faith in God, you will be judged.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Bombay, March 11, 1958
Other Takht Nashini ceremonies were held on:
- October 19, 1957 in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika (now Tanzania)
- October 22, 1957 in Nairobi, Kenya
- October 25, 1957 in Kampala, Uganda
- January 23, 1958 in Karachi, Pakistan
- February 12, 1958 in Dacca, Bangladesh
Further reading: Other Takht Nashini ceremonies.
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