Full transcript of this video available at the NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat Speeches, Interviews and Writings: www.nanowisdoms...
During the 1960s His Highness the Aga Khan, then a young man in his 20s, led a consortium of private investors in the transformation of some 35 miles of desolate, untouched Sardinian coast line at Costa Smeralda, into a world class tourist destination. At an estimated 1969 cost of £70 million (approximately $200 million then, or £1.1 billion ($1.7 billion) today), the development was among the largest private construction projects of its time and put up some 9,000 buildings.
In 1986 the Aga Khan characterised the Costa Smeralda project as an enterprise "that probably one day will ... come to be an important prop for our development efforts in the Third World," (1). Indeed, Costa Smeralda is an invaluable case study (2), pioneering principles of environmentalism in the leisure industry and also impact investment -- a concept the Aga Khan today considers as "one of the most important ... in the last 50 years" (3) and a fundamental precept of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED).
"A Man of the World" is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Sardinian development as well as the Aga Khan's private and public life as Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. The programme, which features extensive excerpts from his interview, highlights his roles, objectives, principles and ethics which guided his vision and strategy in Sardinia.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of Sardinia's economy and tourism, the Aga Khan was decorated in 1977 with the Order of the Knight of the Grand Cross, Italy's highest honour and normally reserved for heads of state, and in 1988 he was also decorated with the Cavaliere del Lavoro (Knight of Labour). The Aga Khan was the first Muslim to receive these honours. (4)
Refs: (1) CBC, Man Alive interview, 1986, (2) Philip Jodidio interview, 2007, (3) Synergos Foundation interview, 2012, (4) www.nanowisdoms...
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Launched several years ago, in 2011, upon receiving special permission from Aiglemont to publish His Highness the Aga Khan's speeches, the NanoWisdoms Archive is a unique website dedicated solely to the Ismaili Imamat's speeches, interviews and writings.
With over 500 readings -- from akdn.org, iis.ac.uk, theismaili.org, aku.org, archnet.org, pluralism.ca, printed materials, media Web sites and other sources -- and 1,000 quotes, the Archive is the most comprehensive, public collection of Ismaili Imamat knowledge available today.
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