A multimedia display that vividly depicts the forty-year history of Aga Khan University was presented to the public on Thursday, and many luminaries, including Oscar-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Dr. Ishrat Husain, the former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, were there.
A Transformative Vision, the first exhibition of its kind in AKU’s history, honors the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan, the university’s founder and chancellor, the dedication of the thousands of committed individuals who have worked to realize that vision, and the influence AKU has on people’s lives.
With never-before-seen images, footage, artifacts, and papers, fresh interviews, and unexpected information, the show depicts AKU’s transformation from a single campus and hospital to the globally renowned, continent-spanning organization it is today.
Mr. Zakir Mahmood, Chairman of the AKU Board of Trustees, stated, “If there is one thing that AKU’s four-decade journey educates us, it is that when competent and dedicated people come together and collaborate toward a common objective based on common values, any obstacles can be overcome in establishing an institution with strong foundations.”
“A Transformative Vision recounts how one of Pakistan’s most esteemed establishments came to be, and how it did so with such profound effect in such a brief amount of time. It’s a motivational and motivating experience.
President Sulaiman Shahabuddin of AKU stated, “We couldn’t miss the opportunity that AKU’s 40th anniversary provides to express our pride in what we have achieved, to reflect on the University’s evolution, and to gather inspiration for the task that still lies ahead of us.”
“From the time His Highness the Aga Khan announced the AKU project in 1964 to the recent announcement of new programs in the arts, sciences, medicine, and nursing, the exhibit we are opening today takes you on a journey.”
Regardless of how familiar you are with the university, you will always learn something new.
A Transformative Vision is open to all interested parties free of charge and located on the Stadium Road campus of AKU.
The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, a nonprofit organization devoted to historic and cultural preservation as well as instilling pride in Pakistan’s heritage, organized the show. Next year, it will make its way to the AKU campus in Nairobi.
Dr. Ishrat Husain, a former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, stated, “I see AKU as an institution that is helping Pakistan to take advantage of the enormous possibilities for economic and social development that exist in the era of the knowledge society.”
“AKU has a lot to be happy about, as does its incredible fan base. A Transformative Vision is based on a solid foundation of noteworthy achievement.
Visitors to the exhibit will be able to view interviews with influential figures in the University’s development and speeches made by His Highness the Aga Khan.
They will also be able to read rare documents created by the architects responsible for the Stadium Road campus, look through numerous newspaper articles from the 1970s, and listen to a newly commissioned piece of music commemorating the University’s 40th anniversary.
Original items utilized by His Highness during the Stadium Road campus groundbreaking ceremony are on exhibit, along with an eye-catching hand-crafted brass replica of AKU’s official seal.
“The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) was founded almost twenty years ago with the goal of developing a public resource that showcases notable individual accomplishments as well as lesser-known regional tales.
Research on AKU’s global operations was conducted for the CAP-curated show, which featured data presented through traditional, digital, and immersive media. We are proud to have collaborated with AKU and applaud what they have accomplished in 40 years,” stated Ms. Obaid-Chinoy, Patron of The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
