Aga Khan’s visit: A personal reflection on pluralism

“There are certain moments that bring with them more than the excitement of an occasion,” writes Salim Merchant, composer and musician. “They make you pause and reflect on the ideas and experiences that have shaped you. The visit of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V to India feels like such a moment for me. Our identities, traditions and faiths are deeply important, and the beauty of a plural society lies in the fact that they remain distinct. For me, pluralism is not about making everyone the same, nor does it ask us to dilute what we believe in. As a musician, I understand this through music. A composition would be dull if every voice sounded the same and every instrument played the same note. Harmony is not created by sameness. It emerges when different sounds exist together without losing what makes each unique. Perhaps that is also what pluralism asks of us: to remain secure in our own identities while respecting those of others. My own experiences with the Aga Khan Development Network have also made me reflect on what these values can look like in practice. I have been struck by the inclusive and non-denominational spirit that brings people and communities together in the service of something larger than themselves. We do not have to let go of who we are in order to care about someone different from us.”