...fyi...Rani Jadavji is a NON--ISMAILI
My Experience – Meeting His Highness Aga Khan
Written and complied by Rani Jadavji
The early hours of the morning of Saturday 5th July 2008, I was
interrupted by a dream. The night before we had attended a family
wedding this was very enjoyable, naturally I was dreaming about this
when during this dream I had a very small moment/vision or dream
about being in a corridor where people were walking by in both
directions, they all seemed to know where they were going, I was
standing and then I sat down I felt lost and confused and had the
feeling that I should not be here. There was a murmur that the Aga
Khan is coming and a surge of people where coming towards me. At this
point of my dream it finished I did not see the Aga Khan, I woke up
to discover that it was 6am, another hour before we were due to get
up for our big day in Excel London for the didar.
On the way to Excel London, this was very exciting and I could hardly
contain myself the excitement and anticipation of perhaps a chance
meeting or even to see the Aga Khan was overwhelming.
Once inside Excel we joined our other family members who were already
seated in their place in the didar hall. As a non-ismaili I was
unable to join them however my husband and I decided to look around
and take the children to the play area, we also enjoyed some tea and pastries.
At around 1pm my husband and I decided to visit the hall that I would
be in during the Aga Khan's visit, this hall was the Platinum suite
on the second floor. As we made our way to this hall, I realised that
it would be impossible for the Aga Khan to visit the non-ismaili as
we would be on the 2nd floor and it would be difficult to get to. I
had spoken to many of my family members both in the UK as well as
abroad about the Aga Khan's visit's to other countries and they all
assured me that the Aga Khan always make a short visit to the non-
ismaili's. When we left the platinum suite to go back to the main
boulevard my heart was broken I was very upset I had waited a year
just to get a glimpse of the Aga Khan and all hope was shattered as I
was sure that this time the Aga Khan would not be able to make the visit.
As we approached the lift's to leave I had tears that were
uncontrollable and emotion I was unable to bear I was extremely
upset, my husband tried to console me by telling me that "don't worry
if you really feel from the heart you will get to see him".
I left my husband and the children outside N4 entrance of the main
boulevard where we would meet again after the didar. I steadily made
my way back to the platinum suite only to find that from my earlier
visit there now seemed to be quite a lot of people around 400, there
were provisions of tea, coffee and pastries. I took the liberty of
acquiring a coffee and some pastries and decided to find a seat
somewhere on the front row, just in case we did receive a visit.
Whilst seated there I introduced myself to a lady called Fermuda from
Nottingham who became a very good friend for the next 3-4 hours, we
talked about our families and how we both felt about meeting the Aga
Khan. Between 2-3pm we were shown a children's DVD, at 3pm we were
shown a DVD about the Aga Khan state visit to America Texas this was
very enjoyable. Just before showing the DVD, an announcement was made
about and a show of hands was asked to ascertain how many people if
had the chance would like to see the Aga Khan leave, the show of
hands was very popular as everybody put up their hands.
Both Fermuda and I were very excited we both felt the same and we had
talked and talked about how we would feel if we saw the Aga Khan and
even more had the opportunity to talk to him. I had decided to
rehearse a small speech if the Aga Khan was to approach me. The
excitement and anticipation was electrifying. We had been told that
we would see the Aga Khan leave through the west side of Excel London
centre, he would pass the non-ismaili's and we were also told on
numerous occasion's that the Aga Khan may stop and talk he may just
acknowledge us or he may just wave and leave, we did not know what to
expect. We were also told that if the Aga Khan was to stop and talk
we do not interrupt and only talk if spoken to first and only shake
hands if the Aga Khan was to extend his hand first.
Whilst waiting on the balcony of the platinum suite at 3.45pm I could
see my husband approaching with my 2 and half year old daughter
(Selina) she was upset and crying. I came towards him and he handed
her over to me saying "I have to go the Aga Khan is here and I don't
want to miss this, you have to keep her she keeps crying".
Unbeknown to me my husband and the children along with my father-in-
law where seated in the didar hall, on six large screens they could
see the Aga Khan was approaching the Excel centre as this was being
televised. My mother-in-law and my sister-in-law were seated on
chairs 20-30 yards away in the middle row. My daughter had been
asleep from 1.30pm when the Aga Khan was approaching she started to
wake up, once the Aga Khan was inside the building and inside the
hall she was fully awake. The Aga Khan walked around past my husband
and the children. After this she started to wine and cry that she
wanted her grandmother who happened to be somewhere else and
difficult to get to, my daughter was disrupting other's around her so
my husband made a decision to bring her out of the hall and take her
to the platinum suite and bring her to me.
I tried to console my crying daughter concerned that I would now not
get the chance to see the Aga Khan if I failed to calm her down.
After a sweetie and some water, she seemed to calm down and was quite
playfully. Both Fermuda and I were quite relieved that she was calm.
At around 4.30pm we were all asked to go into the platinum suite hall
and wait for further instructions, everyone had a sense of buzz
around them and all were anxious. Earlier 20 or so non-ismaili `s
were asked to volunteer with the ushering, both Fermuda and myself
were curious when they put into place to start to allow people to
descend the 2 floors.
Fermuda and myself happen to be at the front of the door, an
announcement was made that all women with young children and people
who had buggies and pushchairs were to come to the front. Both
Fermuda and I looked at each other in amazement it seemed that Selina
my daughter was sent to me for a reason and in a bit of a miracle. We
were at the front. We were all lead calmly down the first flight of
stairs to level one, were again we were at the front and had to wait
a further 30 mins or so. Around 5pm we were allowed to descend to the
ground floor, where again both Fermuda and I found ourselves right at the front.
Whilst waiting for further instructions we talked to other non-
ismaili's who also felt as we did and were just as excited and
intrigued and so looking forward to the moment when we might see the
Aga Khan. Both Fermuda and I were beside ourselves with the fact that
Selina was with us and her being here had helped us to get that bit
closer to seeing the Aga Khan, I relayed my dream to Fermuda who said
that this sort of thing happens for a reason it must be kismet.
Selina was tense and had wanted to see her dad and grandmother but
generally she was playfully not quite the child I had been given a
few hours ago from which I was struggling to calm down.
At around 5.50pm we were lead to an area where the Aga Khan would
pass on the red carpet. Both Fermuda and I happen to be at the front
as we had envisaged and we were both counting our blessings. To my
right there were 3 people in a wheelchair and I remember a lady
talking about her grandchild who would have been very excited to see
the Aga Khan she was also excited and not sure how or what she would
say if addressed by the Aga Khan, I decided to take this opportunity
to rehearse a few lines of greeting if I was approached and how I
would act. I also talked to my daughter and ensured she was also
happy to say hello "ya-ali-madad", both Selina and I rehearsed our
lines several time. Fermuda was on my left along with another lady, I
think they thought I had lost it.
At 6.30pm it seemed that the Aga Khan would soon be coming out and
everyone again was told that he may come and talk, he may just
acknowledge or he may just wave, we were also told how to address the
Aga Khan if spoken to. The air of excitement was rapid and
overwhelming as everyone prepared for there individual feelings of
this experience.
Just then Fermuda said that she thinks the Aga Khan will come and
talk to me, she felt that my story so far was quite amazing and she
said that there's something about you, I have a feeling he will come
over. I had goose bumps when she said that but she felt quite sure about this.
I was watching my right hand side as I knew that was the way the Aga
Khan would make his descend onto the red carpet. All of a sudden
there was some excitement to my right and the cameras were flashing,
and I said "Oh my god the Aga Khan is here". I caught a quick glimpse
of the Aga Khan and I felt goose bumps rise and my heart was pounding
as the Aga Khan walked onto the red carpet I could see that he was
being lead probably out of the building, but for some reason the Aga
Khan made a turn to his left and stood right in front of me.
My heart was going to jump out of my chest, I watched the Aga Khan
throughout and did not avert my eyes. When the Aga Khan stood in
front of me I became unaware of anyone else around me it felt as if
it was happening in slow motion and everybody else was blurred out.
I did not even look at my daughter. The Aga Khan addressed a small
group of people and from what I can remember he said, if there is
anyway in which we can help you, or if you have any suggestions and
anything that you would like to contribute please come forward. I am
unable to recall all of what the Aga Khan said as I was mesmerised
listening to his gentle voice.
The Aga Khan had his fingers interlocked and when talking he opened
his hands out slightly and in doing so brushed past my arm near my
elbow. I immediately felt blessed and a feeling ran through my body
of which I cannot find the words to describe, there probably is none,
as the feeling was so great.
When the Aga Khan had finished and started to walk away, we all
started to clap in excitement and joy that the Aga Khan had met with
us and had talked to us. I was shaking all over and tears ran down my
face I could not believe that I had got the chance to see the Aga
Khan and also to be blessed. I looked at my friend Fermuda who also
felt the same, we watched the Aga Khan leave and said our goodbye's
to each other and ran with joy and great pleasure of having been in
the presence of the His Highness the Aga Khan.
I ran to the rest of my family and told them of my experience, of
which they told others and so the news spread's.
I felt so overwhelmed with my experience that I wanted to share this
with others, it has been the best experience of my life I thoroughly
enjoyed the day and felt it a great honour to have had the chance not
only to see the Aga Khan but to hear his kind words.
A few days later, I felt compelled to put my experience into writing,
and so I have I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
The written word once read travels far like the word of mouth.
