
Aga Khan: Philanthropy And Cultural Preservation In India
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, passed away on February 4 at the age of 88 in Lisbon, surrounded by his family.
Aga Khan IV became the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community at just 20 years old, while still an undergraduate at Harvard. Over his lifetime, he built a vast empire funded by tithes from his followers, directing billions of dollars into humanitarian efforts, including housing, hospitals, and schools in developing countries.
He was bestowed the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in 1957, shortly after his grandfather, Aga Khan III, unexpectedly named him heir to the Ismaili Muslim sect, a lineage spanning over 1,300 years.

Under his leadership, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) operates in over 30 countries, focusing on education, healthcare, and cultural restoration. With nearly 96,000 employees and an annual budget of $1 billion, AKDN also manages the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, which generates $4 billion in annual revenues reinvested into development projects.
He held citizenship in Canada, Britain, and Portugal, and had strong ties to India, where he played a significant role in preserving cultural heritage. He donated the vastAga Khan Palace in Pune, a site connected to Mahatma Gandhi’s imprisonment.
Through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), he contributed to the restoration of iconic sites, including Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutb Shahi monuments in Hyderabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the Aga Khan IV a “visionary” who dedicated his life to service and spirituality. Other leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, also mourned his passing.
The Aga Khan Development Network announced that the process to select his successor would begin soon, in line with Ismaili community traditions. His successor, designated in his will, will be revealed after a private reading with family and religious leaders in Lisbon. The name will be made public at a later date.
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