Telangana Governor Meets Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, Seeks Wider AKDN Partnership

Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla met Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), at Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday. The meeting marked the Prince's first official visit to India and Telangana since he assumed his responsibilities.

The Governor called for closer cooperation between Telangana and the AKDN in education, healthcare, urban development and community welfare. He also paid his respects to the late Aga Khan IV, recalling his contributions to India and to the work of the development network, and noted that he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and remained held in high regard in the country.

Mr. Shukla recalled Hyderabad's long association with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, including the Prince's visit to the city in July 2024 for the inauguration of the restored Qutb Shahi complex. He described the Trust's conservation and landscape development work as a notable example of public-private partnership, and pointed to the Aga Khan Academy near Hyderabad as an institution of excellence nurturing young minds and future leaders.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V spoke about the AKDN's work in Telangana in urban renewal, community healthcare, women-led development and employment generation. He underlined the benefits these initiatives bring to local communities and stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening the development partnership between the network and the State.

The Governor expressed confidence that the longstanding association between Telangana and the AKDN would keep expanding and contribute to inclusive, sustainable and people-centric development.

As a gesture reflecting the State's artistic heritage, the Governor presented the Prince with a Cheriyal Nakashi painting depicting traditional rural life in Telangana, and a Karimnagar silver filigree veena featuring the Hansa (swan) motif.