Hyderabad, October 9, 2026: Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), has reaffirmed the Ismaili Imamat’s 120-year partnership with India. His first official visit to the country, from September 9 to 15, highlighted areas where AKDN could work with governments and communities to support India’s development goals, including Viksit Bharat 2047.
During the visit, Aga Khan V met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. He also held discussions with state leaders in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana. The meetings covered healthcare, agriculture, rural development, education, women’s and youth empowerment, climate resilience, water management, heritage conservation and economic opportunity.
In New Delhi, talks with Modi focused on strengthening India’s partnership with AKDN in healthcare, agriculture, rural development and empowerment. They also explored public-private partnerships in areas such as climate resilience, natural farming, reforestation and sustainable development. Murmu recognised AKDN’s work in water and sanitation, education, maternal health, urban redevelopment, women’s empowerment and employment generation as examples of partnerships that can improve quality of life.
In Gujarat, Aga Khan V met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to discuss sustainable development and stronger grassroots collaboration. Potential areas of cooperation included solar energy, rural development and cooperative institutions, as well as women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis discussed healthcare, education, tribal and skills development, water conservation, climate action and heritage. Proposals included a children’s hospital, specialised geriatric care, medical training and research facilities.
Discussions in Maharashtra also covered AKDN’s work in rural water conservation and environmental protection, including efforts to reduce urban heat and increase green cover. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Aga Khan V discussed climate initiatives in Pune, Mira-Bhayandar and Chandrapur, along with work to revive ponds and water bodies in Vasai. AKDN also expressed interest in working with universities on climate action, environmental protection and micro-forest initiatives.
In Telangana, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Aga Khan V discussed education, healthcare, tourism, urban development and heritage conservation. Reddy sought AKDN’s cooperation to restore Hyderabad’s historic City College and conserve the existing Osmania General Hospital building as a heritage asset after a new hospital is built. The talks also covered plans to rejuvenate the Musi River and opportunities to expand cooperation in heritage conservation and tourism.
AKDN’s institutional development work in India dates to 1905, when the first Aga Khan school was established in Mundra, Gujarat. Its work has since expanded across education, healthcare, rural livelihoods, economic inclusion, habitat, culture, heritage and climate resilience. The network’s programmes reach more than nine million people in India each year, across communities and irrespective of faith, origin or gender.
