Aga Khan V Meets Maharashtra Governor, CM

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), met with Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday.

The meetings, held at Lok Bhavan and the Chief Minister's office, focused on areas of mutual interest and explored opportunities for greater collaboration between the Ismaili Imamat, AKDN, and the state government.

The discussions centered on climate resilience, habitat, education, health, and livelihoods, which are aligned with Maharashtra's development priorities. This visit marks the Aga Khan's first official trip to India since becoming Imam in February 2025, following the death of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.

In a statement, the Aga Khan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the Chief Minister and appreciated the continued cooperation between the Government of Maharashtra, the Ismaili Imamat, and the AKDN. He looks forward to building on this partnership and exploring further opportunities to contribute to improving the quality of life and creating opportunities for people across the state.

The Aga Khan's meeting in Mumbai follows his engagements in New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior national leaders on September 10. During those meetings, he expressed appreciation for the support extended to the work of the AKDN in India and highlighted its alignment with the country's development priorities.

Institutions of the Ismaili Imamat have been present in India since the 19th century, serving over nine million people through programs covering rural and urban development, culture, economic inclusion, health, habitat, early childhood development, education, and climate resilience.

The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) has been working with the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation on climate resilience and urban habitat near Mumbai.

The visit reflects the Aga Khan's commitment to strengthening partnerships and contributing to India's development goals.

The significance of the visit was also highlighted by composer and musician Salim Merchant, who noted that music reflects India's diversity and pluralistic society.

Under the leadership of Aga Khan V, AKDN continues its community-focused projects in Maharashtra, aiming to improve the quality of life and create opportunities for people across the state.

The meeting between the Aga Khan and Maharashtra leaders marks an important step towards strengthening partnerships and achieving development goals in the state.

In conclusion, the Aga Khan's visit to Maharashtra highlights the importance of collaboration and cooperation in achieving development goals and improving the quality of life for people across the state.