AGA KHAN'S MOTHER

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 19

AGA KHAN'S MOTHER

"A SPIRITUAL QUEEN"

Poets of ancient Persia gave immortality in their songs to many a women whose : beauty was more delicate and rare than that of the rose; had they been born in this modern world they must: inevitably have sung of, one woman who in her prime was lovely as any of those ladies of legend, and from that time to this day has worn a crown of wisdom. She is the Begum AH Shah, mother of the Aga Khan— and nearly 90 years old, wrote F. G. Prince-White in the London "IJaiiy Mail." Millions of Moslems scattered over India and Africa—from Bombay to Kenya, and from Uganda to Zanzibar —revere her as a spiritual mother, for all her long life she has with saintly strength and resolution devoted herself to the task of maintaining the most sacred traditions of Islam. TREASURES OF CHARACTER. It was as a daughter of a long line of Shahs of Persia that she was married to the father of the Aga Khan. She brought to him not only jewels but treasure c-f far greater pricecourage and the capacity for sacrifice, a passion for truth and a profound reverence for all heavenly things. The faith of her ancestors was as a bright flame in her; the words of the Koran were burned on her heart. Perfect bride she was, then, for the man who was hereditary head of the Khojas, a numerous sect of Ismaili Moslems, who acclaimed him a direct descendant of the Prophet, and looked to him, as to one half-divine, for guidance in all things most nearly touching their lives and their souls' wellbeing.

Such a wife was bound to increase the influence of such a husband; and when that husband's mantle passed to the shoulders of her son, the Aga Khan, she became to him an infallible authority, and a tireless guide in the realm of the spirit. She made him aware of the eternal values of the qualities of character j which ennobled her own heart and mind, and she filled him with a knowledge of all the mysteries, rites, and essential observances of his religion. Although a woman can never be head of any Moslem community, the Begum Ali Shah has virtually taken the place of her son in some important i respects while, in recent years, his wide interests have kept him morej and more in the Western world.

STRICT WARDEN OF THE PAST.

For all her heavy burden of years, she is still one of the most vital personalities in India: clear thinking, forthright, imperious—a strict warden of the < Past, who sees little that is worthy or desirable in the fruits of the1 Present. "I do not/ mingle with the world of today—but lam not ignorant of it," she has often said. ' She has no share in the modern ideas of social freedom for women; she herself has gone veiled since childhood. Her physical vitality has been as remarkable as her strength of mind. In recent years she has made long journeys in India on mule-back—hidden from-men's gaze as completely as she was in her bright-eyed youth—and accompanied," generally, by only two girl secretaries. SIMPLICITY AMID SPLENDOUR. In her home she wears always the silken trousers and soft draperies such as the women of Persia wore centuries ago. And although that home is a palace famed for its splendour, her way of life has ever been as simple as that of the humblest of the Prophet's followers. , Her fare is frugal, her drink water. She fasts often, and prays much. And there is ecstasy still in her deep, dark eyes when they turn towards the setting sun, and her spirit adores the Infinite. ■ She would often sit on cushions in the beautiful tapestried rooms dispensing sweets and fruit to the children of her family and friends, who regard her with the deepest affection. Her house in Karachi, known as Honeymoon Lodge, is iull of the most exquisite antique furniture. - Five years ago the Begum Ah Shah paid her first visit to London to receive at the hands of the late King George V Ihe Order of the Crown of India. Her dignity was royal, her expressions of loyalty majestic. While she remained in London her days were ordered as simply as at home, and she performed the duties demanded by her Faith as though not an inch separated London from Boma She came and went as a spiritual queen—a queen whose face her subjects have never beheld.

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The following hand, which is of exceptional interest in the handling of a side suit, was one of a series of fifty hands, each containing some problem of bidding or play, set by a committee of leading Australian analysts, in a duplicate pairs tournament held recently, players from all parts of Australia competing. 4 k.9.8.4. y K.9.6.5.4.3. + A.4. **• _ 4 6.5.2. -—Korth. "") ♦ Q-I-3----<M.7. 4 S »U. 4 K.Q.J.10. | K ♦ 9-8.7.6.5. XK.9.3.2. South. ( X 8.6.5.4. A. A.10.7. V A.Q.J.2. ♦ 3-2-Jj, A.Q.J.10. South dealer. North-South par: 6 hearts by South. West leads the King of diamonds, which is taken by dummy's Ace. It would appear that North-South must lose two tricks—a spade and- a diamond. The contract, however,'can be made. South must-lead two rounds of trumps, then the Ace of clubs, and follow with the Queen of -clubs. It does not matter now which opponent holds the King of clubs, the contract cannot be defeated. . If West(! plays a .low club on the Queen, South will discard dummy's losing diamond. Even if East should hold the King of clubs and. win the trick, South, has established two- club tricks, on which dummy's ■ two. losing spades can be discarded, .while dummy's only diamond has been-got rid of at. the same time. West, however, holds the King of clubs. If he covers the Queen, South can either discard dummy's diamond on the trick, or ruff in dummy and allow the opponents to make one spade trick later. •'. /•■ If the "normal" club finesse is taken, the contract must be lost, as West would make his King, and a diamond trick. It is on the handling of the club suit that the contract.depends. - 4 Q.2C.X.X. ■ A.Z.X.X. ' : 4 *• —North. I ♦ A.K.10.1.1 9 Q.S.X. *•■,,•- ..•■£ :.,f> .K.10.K.X. 4 q.x.x. I" .. : :.b :4E.9.x. XQ.loxi.ix I South. I J^A.K. -■'• '- ■■ V 3.x. -■■•■ la.x.x. X J.x.x.l. Jellinck: (North) opened the bidding with one club. In the Austrian system of bidding, a club opening is absolutuely forcing for one round.

Mathieson (East), expecting that the bidding would be kept open, passed, awaiting developments. Schneider tSouth), however, passed, and the English team lost 400 points on the hand.

The opinion is held by some playerf that it is unethical to pass an opening forcing bid. This is not so. A player may depart from announced conventions, provided that the departure concerned has not been secretly agreed upon between partners. The only player at the table who has a grievance is the bidder whose partner has failed to respond to a force. In the discussion which followed the protest Dr..Stein remarked, "When a player passes a force, his partner may take a revolver to him, but his opponents' only remedy is to bid their own cards, and not expect other people to bid them for them." At the same time, it would be interesting to hear the partner's reason tog passing a force. '■ ' . ' AN UNUSUAL THROW-IN PLAY. Another interesting hand from th* same tournament features a clever "throw-in" play, by means of • which the declarer is enabled to make his contract of four spades. * 6.2. V 8.6.4. 4 K.Q.J.10. Jj, 9.7.6.3. ♦»• Kotth. 1 * 9.7.5.4. % 9Q. 'A 8.4. £ H + 9.7.6.5.3.2. ' XA.K.10.5.4. | South.' I XJ.2. ▲ A.K.Q.J.10.3. y A.K.5.2. * Q.5. North-South par: 4 spades by South. West leads the King of clubs, and follows with the Ace. South at- this stage sees no prospect of making his contract, as, with no entry, card in dummy, there would appear to ba no hope of discarding his losing hearts on dummy's winning diamonds. At the third trick, West switches to the Jack of hearts. East's Queen played on this trick is significant. South wins the trick, and plays three rounds of trumps. (On the second lead, West has discarded, and .East's distribution can be counted by South as two clubs, one heart, four spades, and six diamonds.) The Ace of diamonds follows, and then South' leads his Ace of hearts. If East ruffs, he can lead only a diamond and South discards his losing hearts. If East refuses to ruff, South leads the three of spades, which East cannot duck, and he still has to lead a diamond. South, it will be noticed, deliberately gives away, one trick, but only in order to make two in its place.