The exhibition聽Wladimir Ivanow and Modern Ismaili Studies聽opened in Mumbai on 19聽January 2024, with the support of the聽South Asian Studies Unit聽at IIS. The聽original exhibition聽launched in Moscow in 2019, followed by a substantial overhaul by curators聽Esen Kaya听补苍诲听聽for the聽. Bringing the exhibition to Mumbai holds a special significance, reminding the local community of the more than 30 years Ivanow spent in Mumbai while establishing the field of studies that later came to be known as Ismaili studies.聽
The exhibition provides historical contexts for events of the early 20th聽century and sheds light on how Ismaili history and thought impacted Ivanow鈥檚 life. Drawing on archival materials and photography from the period, the exhibition introduces visitors to the origins of modern Ismaili studies. The exhibition expounds on a work published by IIS in 2014,聽Fifty Years in the East: The Memoirs of Wladimir Ivanow,聽edited and annotated by聽Dr Farhad Daftary.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the national leadership of the Ismaili institutions in India. ITREB India Chairperson Asif Merchant welcomed guests and highlighted the vital contributions made by Wladimir Ivanow in establishing the field of Ismaili studies. In his keynote speech, the President of the Ismaili National Council of India, Asif Porbunderwala, reminded the audience of the value of heritage preservation and how heritage can be used to reconstruct Ismaili history. The leadership encouraged the audience to help institutions identify individuals who may possess such materials in order that they may be preserved with the support of the IIS.聽Hussain Jasani, Head of South Asian Studies at IIS, provided a brief overview of Ivanow鈥檚 life and highlighted some major episodes from his time in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Karachi. He reminded the audience that IIS was established by His Highness the聽Aga Khan聽in 1977 to promote scholarship and learning about Muslim societies in general and IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq (d. 765), as his successor. in particular. He added that such research, however, cannot be carried out without primary sources, reinforcing Ivanow鈥檚 invaluable contribution in locating and publishing critical primary sources and their translations.
GPISH听补苍诲听STEP聽graduates affiliated with ITREB India were coached to serve as tour guides. The inauguration was attended by over 60 guests, including national, regional, and local Ismaili leadership as well as senior professionals from ITREB and the Ismaili National Council for India. More than 300 visitors benefited from the exhibition on the first day of the exhibition. Over the weekend, the exhibition attracted over 400 visitors from various parts of Greater Mumbai.聽Secondary Ta士lim students聽from Ismaili religious education centres were also brought to the venue to benefit from the exhibition.
