Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-11
Ago Khan, 70, Wealthy
|MosIem Leader, Dies
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Page
Rita Hayworth, is at the Aga S
villa. Yasmin. the Aga's ia
vorite grandchild. came to Eu-
rope to visit her father and the
Aga Khan wanted her in
Geneva for the wedding.
Sadruddin's flancee, Nina
Dyer, and Aly's fiancee. French
model Bettina, also are here.
Five Doctors in Attendance
Five doctors attended the
Aga during his last hours. They
were headed by Paris heart
specialist Prof. Gaudart DIAL
lains, and Geneva heart spe-
cialist Prof. Pierre w. Duchosal
Besides being spiritual leader
of the far-f1ung Ismaili sect of
Moslems, the Aga Khan was
a world political figure, wealthy
bon vivant and sportsman in
the grand manner. He lived in
Iregal ease and enjoyed a cos
mopolitan acquaintance with
the royal, the famous and the
rich.
! His millions Of followers are
found in Asia. Africa and
Europe, with large concentra-
lions in India. Afghanistan,
Iran. Arabia, Syria, Zanzibar
and Morocco. There are scat
terings in other places.
His followers kept the old
Eastern custom Of showing
their devotion by matching his
weight in precious metals and
diamonds on jubilee occasions,
then presenting him with their
value in cash to be used for
welfare work.
He was presented the equiva-
lent of his weight in gold when
he completed so years Of spir-
itual leadership. On his Goth
anniversary, he received the
amount of his poundage in dia-
monds.
In 1854, his 10th year as
Imam" his 215 pounds-he
previously had weighed more
were matched symbolically In
platinum.
Had Great Influence
While the Western world
sometimes lost sight Of the Aga
Khan's religious rule-it was
accustomed to seeing pictures
of him at racing meets OF
lounging on the Riviera-he
viewed himself primarily as a
spiritual leader. His influence
was considerable and the Is
malls are regarded as among
the most advanced Moslems
economically and culturally.
The Aga Khan long exertec
a considerable personal polit-
ical influence.
His public career began al
the turn of the century wher
he called on Moslems to arouse
from apathy. In 1906 he lee
a deputation to Lord Mimic
the Viceroy of India, anc
pressed for adequate repre-
sentation of MoslemS on loca
governmental bodies and in TIT
Legislature.
In the same year, mainly
through the Aga Khan's efforts
the All-India Moslem Leagu
was established.
Visited White House
During President Theodort
Roosevelt's administration h,
was received at the Whit
House while on a severa
months visit to the United
States during a world tour.
The Aga Khan gave his sup
port to the allies in Worl,
War I, when it was feared
the Mohammedan world woult
side with Turkey. which hat
) placed itself alongside tn,
central powers.
In World War II he asked
his followers to help the allies
He was a leading participant
, in British Indian conference
seeking a formula for Indial
self-government in the 1905
In 1897 he was elected presi
dent of the League of Nations
His Interests Wide
Along with his religious an,
political activities, the Ag
Khan maintained a lively de
votion to horse racing, goo
food, literature. the ballet
opera and to people in genera
He found no difficulty in har
monizing such interests will
his religion. "One should eX
perience life in order not b
dominated by life." he ono
said.
The Ismaili sect holds tina
the world is a delightful plact
good in every way, and that
is the duty of the Aga and h
family to seek out worl
pleasures.
OF Persian Percentage
Although often thought of q