Chapter 3E: His Holiness understood the power of privileged networks. He had learned the ways of diplomacy. He was an insider in the diplomatic circles. He now had a European passport, an Italian wife and a French wife. There was an Ismaili wife as well but that was no longer relevant. He was an August member of the League of Nations – the only one from South Asia.
He now wanted to get his status back in British India. Bombay was his base but now a new set of leaders were dominating Bombay. Tatas, Birlas, BN, Bhulabhai Desai, Pherozeshah Mehta… the Parsi opium moguls were now called Baronets. Everyone wanted “pure breed”. Just like breeding thoroughbreds for horse racing. The Parsi Baronets had passed a dictum that they would only marry within the five families. These led to in breeding and damage to their gene pool. The Parsis in Bombay outnumbered the Ismailis. Eventually the tables turned, aided by multiple wives and and good fertility. There are now 15 million Ismailis. And maybe 0.1 million Parsis.
Geometric progression is known to all but understood by few. The mathematical model is marry early, have children quickly. Then marry again, repeat. The Parsi model was slow. Study first, marry once, don’t ever be in a hurry. The numbers reveal the rest.
The Aga Khan had no business. No need to work. His followers worked. And he got his share. He had a lot of time for socialising and philanthropy. He was a regular at every party that mattered. He became the first person of Indian origin to become a member of the Bombay Club. It was reserved for Europeans. And he was now one.
In 1900, the Orient Club disrupted the British monopoly. The Club based in a fancy stone building at Chowpatty facing the sea opened its membership to all. All of course did not ever mean all. But it opened membership to select elite Indians. His Holiness came on board immediately as a patron member.
Most people can barely manage lawyers. The wise manage the judge. But the really wise become the JUDGE.
His Holiness realised that the judge for global border disputes would be the League of Nations (which later morphed into the United Nations). He promptly got himself appointed through his fellow Eaton alumnus who was heading it. When the Jews started getting massacred, a role was created to head Refugees. Another role was created for colonies going independent. These were two judges. And the by laws required them to be salaried employees.
God does not do a salaried job. His Holiness had two eligible sons. One was half Italian. The other was half French. He was Swiss. And the League of Nationa head was British. Between these four, he could swing any appointment. So he set out to get his sons appointed as the worlds seniormost diplomats.
And they took up the job instead of becoming God. Aga Khan IV was not the son of Aga khan III. He was the grandson.