Lobsang Khan, a scion of spiritual wisdom and theological prowess, was an Ismaili by faith but had an avid interest in Buddhist theology, mastering the great Mahāyāna texts. His keen eyes, a deep and contemplative shade, reflected a lineage rich with the diverse blood of Persians, Tajiks, and Wakhis, hinting at a heritage entwined with the spread of Ismaili faith in the Wakhan. His ancestors likely settled in Wakhan with the armies of Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the 9th century, a time when Zoroastrianism waned and Ismaili faith spread.
The Khan family's legacy was marked by the discreet yet substantial following of the Ismaili community, revering their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. Lobsang's father, Prince Karim al-Hussaini, the fourth Aga Khan, embodied this historical continuum.
Raised far from his Wakhi roots by the serene shores of Lake Geneva, Lobsang only discovered the stark realities of Central Asian life after returning to his family’s origins in Tashkurgan. There, among the Wakhis who revered him almost divinely, he learned the rigors of life in these secluded regions, and many saw in him a potential successor to the Aga Khan.
His religious education continued in a Kashgar madrasa, where, despite the Sunni majority of Uighurs, a tolerance was extended to him, allowing the Wakhis and Tajiks to even preach in some of the city’s mosques. Lobsang's contemplative gaze, set against the vastness of the desert, was a testament to the depth of his heritage and the breadth of his spiritual journey.