Voices of IIS

Dr. Daryoush Mohammad Poor, Associate Professor and Interim Head of Constituency Studies at IIS, reflects on his unconventional path from studying mathematics in Iran to becoming a scholar of Ismaili philosophy. He recounts how an early encounter with an IIS graduate sparked a lifelong dream to join the Institute, how he navigated a circuitous route through student visas, college courses, and tran...

The Oral History Project's fourth episode of The Voices of History marks Children's Day in the UK. Host Murtaza travels across Syria, Iran, India, East Africa, and Chitral to uncover childhood memories from the 1940s to the 1960s — seven elders, five countries, and decades of memory that exist nowhere but in the voices of those who lived them.

Dr Dagikhudo Dagiev, Senior Research Associate in Shiʿi Studies and Coordinator of IIS PhD Scholarships and Fellowships at IIS, reflects on his remarkable journey from Soviet-era Tajikistan to becoming a scholar of Central Asian Ismaili studies. He speaks about growing up during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the civil war in Tajikistan, his first encounters with IIS through the Khorog Engli...

Dr Farhad Daftary, Director Emeritus and Governor of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, reflects on the personal and intellectual journey that led him from economics to becoming one of the most influential scholars in Shiʿi and Ismaili studies. He speaks about his family connection to the Aga Khan lineage, his early encounters with modern Ismaili scholarship, the turning points that shaped his care...

Dr Amier Saidula reflects on his journey from a State Prosecutor in China to a Senior Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. He speaks about his multicultural upbringing in Kashgar, his career in law, and the unexpected path that brought him to IIS. After more than two decades researching Muslims in China, particularly the Ismaili community, he found renewed purpose and a platform...

In this episode of Voices of IIS, Dr. Toby Mayer reflects on his two-decade journey at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. With a half-Indian, half-English heritage, he pursued his undergraduate degree in Indian Studies at Cambridge before transitioning to medieval Arabic thought at Oxford. He discusses his forthcoming work on al-Shahrastani's esoteric Quranic commentary, which seeks to bridge E...

In this episode of Voices of IIS, Dr Najam Abbas reflects on his two-decade journey at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Born in New Delhi, he pursued his studies across Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, along a multilingual and transregional academic path. He discusses his pivotal work on The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia, which seeks to enhance access to knowledge of Persian and Central Asian...

Russell Harris is celebrating twelve years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Kassam-Ramji as they discuss how music shaped his outlook on life and languages, as well as how he curates his work in and beyond the Institute. 00:00 Meet Russell Harris 03:05 Discovering ‘world’ music 04:56 Opera in New York 08:26 Returning to London 11:54 The Aga Khan Centre 13:55 Visiting ‘Fatimid’...

Dr Fayaz Alibhai is celebrating 21 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they discuss the importance of continued heritage and exploration through the Ismaili Heritage Project.  00:00 Meet Dr Fayaz Alibhai  00:50 Studying at the IIS  03:17 The Ismaili Heritage Project  10:48 Visiting sites  12:52 Alamut  14:39 The Bibi Fatima hot spring  17:14 The Palace of Nations ...

Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi is celebrating 25 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they discuss Dr Shah-Kazemi's understanding of Divine Unity and how he applies that to his work as an editor and researcher, his work on The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia, and his connection to nature. 00:00 Meet Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi 00:46 Joining the IIS 08:17 Speaking multiple languages 09:29...

Joy Johnson is celebrating 34 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they discuss Joy’s passion for people, travel, and storytelling. 00:00 Meet Joy Johnson 01:24 Joining the IIS 03:45 Choose how you live 05:04 Highlights at the IIS 06:47 Aga Khan Centre tours 08:34 The joy of reading 09:54 Lessons in travel

Alnoor Nathani is celebrating 30 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they discuss Alnoor’s passion for art and design and how he brings that to the IIS’ ta’lim (curriculum). 00:00 Meet Alnoor Nathani 00:50 Joining the IIS 05:47 The IIS Digital Curriculum 08:25 Career highlights 11:29 Raising the bar (and keeping it there) 12:59 IIS’s 40th Anniversary 14:20 Islamic...

Dr Shainool Jiwa is celebrating 25 years at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Join host Selina Ramji as they remember how Dr Jiwa got started in the Institute, what inspired her to study the Fatimid Empire (909-1171 CE) and how she brings Islamic studies to a wider audience today.

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...

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 th...

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, we’ll meet Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, a former governor of the Institute of Ismaili Studies and award-winning specialist in cross-cultural...

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, on...

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 alu...