Ismaili Flag - Modern Period

By Author: Ibrahim Machiwala Lodhi
Total Articles: 463
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"Imam Hasan Ali Shah (1817-1881) arrived in India in 1842. He died and buried in Hasanabad, Bombay in 1881. He was succeeded by his son Imam Aga Ali Shah (1881-1885), who also died in Poona on August 17, 1885. His body in a bier was brought to Bombay, where it was temporarily enshrined in Hasanabad, Bombay for 64 days, and shipped for interment in Najaf. Mukhi Kassim Musa (d. 1896), the then estate agent was entrusted to carry the Imam's bier from Bombay to Najaf. He left behind a very important narrative of the journey of 25 days. He relates that the procession carrying the bier to the sea-port was started from Hasanabad on October 25, 1885. Describing the scene of the grand procession of ten thousand persons, he writes that, "Many persons, numbering 125 had lifted the plates of fruits and sweetmeats on heads in the procession. They were followed by another 125 Ismaili believers, carrying banners and muttering salawat with tears in eyes. They were followed by the special horses of Imam Aga Ali Shah, caparisoned in golden and silver. Behind them were six horses loaded with swords, and another six with that of the shields. Next ...
... followed five riders, and three among them held three big banners of Ali bin Abu Talib. These banners are taken out on special occasions" (p. 7).

The Ismailis formed different semi-military organizations in Bombay, such as the Kandi Mola Scout Troops came into existence at Bombay in 1915. The H.H. The Aga Khan Volunteer Corps existed in 1919. The volunteer corps in Hasanabad, Bombay was formed in 1920. Ladies volunteer corps was raised in Kandi Mola, Bombay in 1921 and at Khadak, Bombay in 1922. The scout group at Hasanabad also started in 1922. The first Ismaili Band was formed in 1926 and the Girl Guides Company also was erected in Khadak, Bombay in 1927. In sum, the community added certain tinge of bravery and manliness to its activities. These semi-military organizations were first in the community of their kind and proved highly beneficial. The foremost need of these institutions was to hoist and salute their own banner on the occasions of jubilations and festivity.

It will be very interesting to learn that when Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah made his first visit of East African countries in 1899, it appeared that the Ismailis mostly in the villages used the banners, having complete red ground, whereon the name of the Imam was written in white letters in English. The followers also decorated the steamer and the boat of the Imam with these banners. When the boat landed ashore, the news of the Imam's arrival was announced through the signals of the banners. The tradition of red banner was so popular among the Ismailis in East Africa, that they hoisted it on every occasion and festival on the Jamatkhanas. It cannot be ascertained by any source how the tradition of red banner came to be introduced in East Africa? The Ismailis who emigrated to East Africa mostly belonged to Kutchh, India, and we have a reason to believe that the tradition of red banner must have been originated in Kutchh and introduced in East Africa. While inspecting both oral and written sources available at our disposal, it however appears that there existed no such tradition in Kutchh. The question arises, how the Ismailis in East Africa started the tradition of red banner? It is however seen that when Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah visited East Africa for the first time in 1899, he was warmly welcomed, and the principal items or the decorations in the cities was the red banners of the Sultanate of Oman and Britain. When the Imam launched his next tour in 1905, the Ismailis living in the villages used red banners with the name of the Imam on it instead of the banners of the ruling authorities. It became a normal practice to hoist red banners on the Jamatkhana during the festive occasions as well as on the arrival of the Imam.

Wazir Kassim Ali Fateh Ali (1894-1971), the Kamadia of the Thana Jamatkhana in India had heard the tradition of the red banner in East Africa through different channels. It struck an idea in his mind that a similar tradition should be introduced in India. He consulted with different persons, who appreciated his noble idea. He however found different views to determine the colours of the flag. When no one came to a conclusion, it was finally resolved to refer the matter to the Imam in Europe.

On Thursday, April 28, 1927, the Thana Jamat commemorated the 50th Birthday of the Imam. On that occasion, the leaders and the members of the jamat held a grand assembly in the Jamatkhana and passed a historic resolution, which was also read in the Jamatkhana. Mukhi Itmadi Nazar Ali Hashim and Kamadia Kassim Ali Fateh Ali of Thana Jamatkhana sent the copy of the resolution through a telegram to the Imam in Europe. The Imam was highly delighted with the idea of introducing an Ismaili flag and approved green colour with a cross red stripe in it.

The above report was published in the weekly Ismaili (Bombay, 1927, p. 7) through an announcement on Sunday, June 19, 1927 that:- "The Thana jamat passed a resolution to celebrate the day as an Eid when our beloved Imam Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah may graciously bestow with the talika mubarak or a telegram upon the jamat. The whole jamat should attend with full strength when the talika mubarak is read in the Jamatkhana. It should be read before the jamat with due respect. (Further) on the day when the talika mubarak of Hazar Imam is conferred, the birthday of the Imam and on other festive occasions, our flag should be hoisted on the Jamatkhana. When the Mukhi & Kamadia of Thana Jamatkhana reverently asked for the above flag to the Imam in their telegram of congratulation during birthday, the Imam approved it with happiness, saying "The Thana jamat can use my green colour in the flag, with a red crossing stripe."

Thus, a flag dressing in green and red colours was designed within a short span of time. Its ground or field contained rich green colour with a red diagonal gushing out from left of the top-corner near staff down to the bottom-corner of the right side, making a red stripe crossing in the green flag.

On Sunday, the 18th Zilhaja, 1345/June 19, 1927 during the historic occasion of Eid al-Ghadir, the unfurling ceremony of the Ismaili flag had been performed for the first time on the Indian soil in the compound of the Thana Jamatkhana. On that occasion, H.H. The Aga Khan Volunteers Corps, the Ismaili Band and eminent persons participated. The ceremony began at 4.30 p.m. with an inauguration speech of Wazir Kassim Ali Fateh Ali. He, then unfurled the Ismaili flag with due honour on the Jamatkhana after march-past amid the enchanting tune of the Band, which certainly created a thrilling and sensational environment. Guard of honour was also accorded by the volunteers. Mr. Kader Hussain Merali Manji handed over the flag on behalf of the Thana Jamatkhana to Captain Pir Muhammad Madhani (1896-1959) and Vice-Captain A.J. Lakhpati (1884-1947), which they accepted on behalf of the Bombay Volunteer Corps. Then, Mr. Ismail Gala recited the famous poem of Nur Mohammad Javer before the audience. Mr. Kader Hussain Merali Manji, Haji Mohammad Fazal, Mohammad Abdullah, A.S. Sadruddin and Haji Mohammad Rahim delivered touching speeches. In short, the whole proceeding was performed with unbounded jubilation. On that occasion, the following telegraphic message of the Imam was read before the audience:-

London: 21/6/1927

Time : 10.50 a.m.

RECREATION, BOMBAY

CONVEY PATERNAL LOVE AND BLESSINGS THANA, AS NO ADDRESS ON THEIR CABLE. SEND THIS THROUGH YOU.

The next unfurling ceremony of the flag was performed in Andheri Jamatkhana, Bombay on Sunday, June 26, 1927 at 3.30 p.m. by the hands of Alijah Ismail Virji Madhani, the President of the Supreme Council for Kathiawar. On that occasion, the Imam sent the following telegraphic message:-

London: 29/6/1927

Time : 10.00 a.m.

CHILDREN. PATERNAL LOVE AND BEST BLESSINGS HAPPY OCCASION. MY TREASURER OPENED FLAG AT BOMBAY AND MY OFFICERS AT ANDHERI. VERY PLEASED HEAR THIS GOOD NEWS.

The third ceremony in succession was performed in Khadak Jamatkhana, Bombay on Monday, June 27, 1927 at 3.30 p.m. by the hands of Kamadia Kassim Ali Hasan Ali. The Imam sent the following message on that auspicious occasion:-

London: 1/7/1927

Time : 9.45 a.m.

CHILDREN. BOMBAY

CONVEY BEST BLESSINGS FOR SEVERAL ENTERTAINMENTS SENT BY MY TREASURER ON HAPPY OCCASION OF MY FLAG INSTALLATION.

Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj (1842-1930) had an honour to perform its unfurling ceremony at Bandra Jamatkhana, Bombay on July 4, 1927. The whole programme was organized with pomp and jubilation.

Soon afterwards, the unfurling ceremony had also taken place in Talaja Jamatkhana in Kathiawar on July 11, 1927 by Nazar Ali Dhanji Gheewala. It was performed at Dharka Jamatkhana on July 14, 1927 by Mukhi Alibhai Sunderji, in Dhoraji Jamatkhana on July 29, 1927 by the hands of Mukhi Pirbhai and Kamadia Mawji. It was also unfurled in Karachi on August 17, 1927 by Rai Alidina Ali Muhammad (1884-1952). The Panderkawda Jamatkhana performed unfurling ceremony on August 24, 1927 by the hands of President Khalfan Lalji. In Sind, it was unfurled at Hyderabad by Varas Karim Kassim (1878-1958) on November 24, 1927. The ceremony was also performed in Nairobi, Dar-es-Salam, Kampala, Rangoon, etc. The first hoisting ceremony in Gwadar Jamatkhana took place on April 12, 1928 with the hands of Mukhi Muhammad Abdullah Bachani (1927-1932). The ceremony inaugurated with the sound of bugles, and it was followed by musket-shots for 11 times. The ceremony was performed with the loud voice of Allaho-Akbar.

The Imam arrived Bombay from Europe on December 9, 1928, and when the above flag was presented before him, he became overwhelmed with joy to see it and said, "Excellent! This is my Flag". Hence, it became known as My Flag in the Ismaili community. In sum, the identity of these two colours together found a new lease of life with the creation of the Ismaili flag. The name "My Flag" had however been applied by the Imam himself in his message to the Khadak Jamatkhana, Bombay on June 27, 1927