Perhaps the most enduring achievement of his period at the Institute is the creation of a community of scholars resulting in a large number of publications from some of the best names in Shi鈥榠 and Islamic Studies.
The Institute鈥檚 fellowship programme ensured that many young and upcoming scholars would work with well-established names in the field.
During Professor Nanji鈥檚 tenure, the Institute also hosted many innovative conferences and seminars, such as听Word of God, Art of Man: The听Qur鈥檃n听and its Creative Expressions; Muslim Pluralism; Civil Society in the Muslim World; Nasir Khusraw: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, and Contemporary Islam(s) and Muslims.
The Department of Community Relations, the Quranic Studies Unit and the Central Asian Studies Unit were established under his leadership while the听Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities听grew from strength to strength and the new Secondary Teacher Education Programme was launched.
Professor Nanji was also pivotal in furthering the Institute鈥檚 intellectual support to the听听(AKDNThe Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a contemporary endeavour of the Ismaili Imamat to realise the ethics and social conscience of Islam through institutional action. More) and the Ismaili community the world over. The secondary curriculum materials are now in an advanced stage of publication; a series of training programmes are well established and the IIS supports various AKDN activities on a regular basis. Initiating closer co-operation between the Institute and various organisations in Europe engaged with the educational activities of Muslims was yet another feature of his period.
He leaves his imprint not only through programmes but also through his personal style of leadership that valued empowerment, decentralisation and responsibility. It was during his tenure that the Institute celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. Asked about his experience of working with the Institute, Professor Nanji said: 鈥淎n opportunity to lead and build further an institution like the IIS is a rare privilege. In this case, also, there was a happy coming together of a moment in history, committed colleagues, as well as听Imamat听and Jamati support. My stay here will remain for my wife Razia and myself, a period full of fond memories and lasting friendships.鈥
It is poetically apt that Professor Nanji joined this institution and the next one in the season of Fall. For it is said that 鈥淎utumn is indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil鈥. Professor Nanji鈥檚 stay at the IIS did indeed bring to fruition not months but rather years of thought and care. Following his departure, the Associate Director, Dr. Farhad Daftary has been appointed as the Acting Director.
