Voices of IIS

Shah Hussain, currently a librarian with the Aga Khan Library, has been with The Institute of Ismaili Studies for 20 years. Join host Selina Ramji as they recount his life in Chitral, Pakistan, joining IIS as a graduate student, and the importance of libraries, today.

Dr Shiraz Kabani is celebrating 25 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they share how Dr Kabani got started with institutional work and what inspires him to continue reaching the Ismaili community. 

The Oral History Project, by the Ismaili Special Collections Unit of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, seeks to preserve the memories, experiences and stories of the members of the Ismaili communities across the world in their own voices. ⁠Learn more⁠.In this episode of Voices of History, we meet with two remarkable women, Bibi Afroze and Siramdam Begum, from Hunza in North Pakistan. They share their recollections of the hardships of growing up in an isolated mountain community in the mid-20th century, but with an appreciation for its unique traditions, festivities and a profound sense of unity and hope. They also share their memories of the first-ever visit of an Ismaili Imam to the region in 1960, which has transformed the trajectory of the region. As Bibi Afroze and Siramdam Begum were interviewed for the IIS Oral History Project in Burushaski, a language isolate spoken in Hunza, Nagar and Yasin valleys of North Pakistan. Click here to listen to the episode in Burushaski.

The Oral History Project, by the Ismaili Special Collections Unit of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, seeks to preserve the memories, experiences and stories of the members of the Ismaili communities across the world in their own voices. Learn more.In this episode of Voices of History, we meet with two remarkable women, Bibi Afroze and Siramdam Begum, from Hunza in North Pakistan. They share their recollections of the hardships of growing up in an isolated mountain community in the mid-20th century, but with an appreciation for its unique traditions, festivities and a profound sense of unity and hope. They also share their memories of the first-ever visit of an Ismaili Imam to the region in 1960, which has transformed the trajectory of the region. As Bibi Afroze and Siramdam Begum were interviewed for the IIS Oral History Project in Burushaski, a language isolate spoken in Hunza, Nagar and Yasin valleys of North Pakistan. Click here to listen to the episode in English.

The Oral History Project, by the Ismaili Special Collections Unit of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, seeks to preserve the memories, experiences and stories of the members of the Ismaili communities across the world in their own voices. Learn moreIn this episode, we’ll meet Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, a former governor of the Institute of Ismaili Studies and award-winning specialist in cross-cultural mediation. Dr Keshavjee shares his experience growing up in South Africa in the midst of the 'winds of change'. He also reflects on his experiences with His Highness Aga Khan IV and how that has influenced his life and work.Do you have a story to share with the IIS Oral History Project? If you want to share your memories, story of your family or story of an elder you know, please reach out to Oral History Project Coordinator Rizwan Karim at rkarim@iis.ac.uk.

The Oral History Project, by the Ismaili Special Collections Unit of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, seeks to preserve the memories, experiences and stories of the members of the Ismaili communities across the world in their own voices.Learn more: https://www.iis.ac.uk/research-publications/research/ismaili-special-collections/oral-history-project/In this episode, we’ll meet Dr Farouk Topan, one of the founding faculty members of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London and a renowned scholar of Swahili literature. Dr Topan shares his experience growing up in Zanzibar, an eye-witness account of a significant event in the contemporary Ismaili history, travel to England for education and the formative days of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. Do you have a story to share with the IIS Oral History Project? If you want to share your memories, story of your family or story of an elder you know, please reach out to Oral History Project Coordinator Rizwan Karim at rkarim@iis.ac.uk.

Welcome to the IIS Alumni Voices Podcast. In this episode, we are honoured to sit down with Professor Karim H. Karim, the inaugural IIS Alumni Recognition Award winner. Professor Karim shares insights into his early days at the IIS, his remarkable career journey, and much more. About the Alumni Recognition Programme Established in 2024, the Alumni Recognition Programme seeks to acknowledge IIS alumni who have demonstrated a career of exceptional service, professional leadership, and outstanding accomplishments. About Prof Karim H Karim Professor Karim has an extensive record of over three decades of scholarship, service, and leadership. His designation as Chancellor’s Professor is the highest honour given by Carleton University for scholarship of outstanding merit with substantial international impact, research leadership and continued active participation in the development of research excellence. Professor Karim has a worldwide reputation as a leading scholar of media representations of Muslims and diasporic communications. He has had visiting appointments at Harvard, Aga Khan, and Simon Fraser Universities. Professor Karim has delivered keynote addresses in several countries, and his critically acclaimed publications have been cited widely. He was the inaugural winner of the Robinson Book Prize and has received media coverage in six continents.