1944
1944
— 272 —
JANUARY 4, 1944
ACCLAIM MAGNIFICENT ACTIVITIES INDIAN BELIEVERS PRAYING CONSOLIDATION BELGAUM ASSEMBLY SUCCESS CENTRES ALYPORE MADRAS.[pg 243]
SHOGHI
— 273 —
JANUARY 12, 1944
APPRECIATE WALL MAP SHOWING ALL CENTRES WHERE BAHÁ’ÍS RESIDE. LOCAL ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE INDICATED BY SPECIAL MARK DISTINGUISHING THEM FROM OTHER CENTRES.
SHOGHI
— 274 —
JANUARY 13, 1944
CABLING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS FACILITATE SETTLEMENT STILL GREATER NUMBER BELIEVERS VIRGIN AREAS WIDER DISPERSION GREATER INTENSIFICATION PIONEER[pg 244] ACTIVITIES. HEART FILLED GRATITUDE MAGNIFICENT SERVICES ALREADY RENDERED.
SHOGHI
— 275 —
JANUARY 19, 1944
DELIGHTED FORMATION ASSEMBLY ANDHERT. PRAYING SUCCESS.
SHOGHI
— 276 —
JANUARY 22, 1944
AIRMAIL UP TO DATE LIST LOCALITIES WHERE BAHÁ’ÍS RESIDE. LOCAL ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE INDICATED.
SHOGHI
— 277 —
FEBRUARY 15, 1944
OVERJOYED MAGNIFICENT SUCCESSES. PRAYING ABUNDANT BLESSINGS THREE NEWLY FORMED ASSEMBLIES. LOCAL ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE ELECTED AS USUAL DURING RIḌVÁN. ANNUAL CONVENTION SHOULD BE HELD SAME WEEK AS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. ADVISE FIX NUMBER CONVENTION DELEGATES AT 57 OR THREE TIMES NINETEEN. CHOICE PLACE CELEBRATIONS LEFT DISCRETION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
SHOGHI
— 278 —
March 19, 1944
[To the National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letters dated December 5th 1943 and January 24th (two of the same date), and January 31st 1944, together with their enclosures, have been received, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
Please convey to Dr. Bharghava the assurance of the Guardian’s prayers on behalf of his departed wife, and tell him that his courageous stand in having his wife buried according to Bahá’í law is highly commendable, and cannot but hasten the emancipation of our[pg 245] beloved Faith. Also convey to dear Mrs. Vakíl his appreciation of her devotion to the Cause and her steadfastness. He has already written her daughter that he is praying for the establishment of an Assembly there, in Surat. He approves of the plans for holding the Centenary, and wishes the annual Bahá’í Convention to be held in conjunction with it (as already confirmed by cable to you). All Bahá’í Communities free to convene Conventions will be also meeting this year during the Centenary celebrations. This will both facilitate the work of the Cause, stimulate the friends, and be of added interest to the public.
The truly remarkable work accomplished by the pioneers and teachers in India during this last year has greatly pleased, and even astonished the Guardian, and he hopes that the friends, newly enlisted under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh, will study the Teachings deeply, help to promote unity and concord among the believers, and greatly aid in spreading the Divine Message among the people of India.
In regard to your question about voting by mail; all such details, which are not laid down in the by-laws, are left to the National Spiritual Assembly to decide.
With the assurance of his ardent prayers for a most glorious and successful celebration of our Centenary in May, and his loving greetings to all the National Spiritual Assembly members.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The truly splendid and indeed historic achievements of the Indian believers during the concluding months of the first Bahá’í century deserve the highest praise. The repeated and striking evidences of their high accomplishments invigorate, encourage, and excite the admiration of their sister communities in East and West. They are holding aloft the standard of Divine guidance in a manner that cannot but evoke the unstinted praise and the unqualified gratitude of their brethren throughout the Bahá’í world. The Beloved is well pleased with their magnificent record of service. I feel truly proud of their stewardship of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, of the spirit which animates them, and of the steadfastness with which they pursue their manifold and ever expanding activities in the service of this glorious Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 279 —
MARCH 21, 1944
CABLING THREE HUNDRED POUNDS MY CONTRIBUTION CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AND BANQUET MY BEHALF FOR DELEGATES FRIENDS GATHERED COMMEMORATE HISTORIC OCCASION. DEEPEST LOVE. [pg 246]
SHOGHI
— 280 —
MARCH 24, 1944
PRAYING SUCCESS SECUNDARABAD RAJKOT ASSEMBLIES. AIRMAIL PHOTOSTAT INCORPORATION.
SHOGHI
— 281 —
MARCH 31, 1944
PRAYING ABUNDANT BLESSINGS BAHÁ’Í YOUTH ACTIVITIES. WIRE NAMES FOUR LANGUAGES INTO WHICH ESSLEMONT’S IS TO BE TRANSLATED.
SHOGHI
— 282 —
APRIL 1, 1944
OVERJOYED PRAYING BLESSINGS SURAT HYDERABAD ASSEMBLIES.
SHOGHI
— 283 —
APRIL 19, 1944
SUPPLICATING CONFIRMATIONS ALIGARH ASSEMBLY. AIRMAIL THREE PHOTOSTAT COPIES INCORPORATION CERTIFICATES BANGALORE VELLORE AHMEDABAD SERAMPORE ANDHERI BARODA ASSEMBLIES ALSO THOSE PROCESS INCORPORATION.
SHOGHI
— 284 —
APRIL 22, 1944
APPRECIATE RIḌVÁN GREETINGS LOVING REMEMBRANCE. EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS BAHÁ’Í TEACHING ACTIVITIES INITIATED BY INDIAN BELIEVERS NECESSITATES CORRESPONDING EXPANSION FIELD BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE. CABLING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS FOR THIS MERITORIOUS[pg 247] PURPOSE AS WELL AS FURTHER MULTIPLICATION BAHÁ’Í CENTRES. PRAYING CONTINUALLY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
ADVISE UNDERTAKE IMMEDIATELY TRANSLATION ESSLEMONT’S INTO RAJASTHANI.
SHOGHI
— 285 —
APRIL 25, 1944
AIRMAILED FIRST INSTALLMENT SURVEY EVENTS FIRST BAHÁ’Í CENTENARY IN PERSIAN. WILL MAIL REST GRADUALLY.
CABLE RECEIPT EACH INSTALLMENT.
SHOGHI
— 286 —
MAY 5, 1944
ASSURE SIWAN MADRAS ASSEMBLIES PRAYERS CONSOLIDATION ACHIEVEMENTS.
SHOGHI
— 287 —
MAY 20, 1944
DEEPLY APPRECIATE HEARTILY RECIPROCATE CENTENARY GREETINGS BELOVED VALIANT VICTORIOUS COMMUNITY INDIAN BELIEVERS. TRIUMPHANT CONCLUSION SIX YEAR PLAN SHEDS IMPERISHABLE LUSTRE RECORD COMMUNITY’S SERVICES FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH COURSE FIRST BAHÁ’Í CENTURY AND AUGURS WELL STILL GREATER VICTORIES OPENING YEARS SECOND CENTURY. WITH GRATEFUL HEART SUPPLICATE THIS GLORIOUS OCCASION UNPRECEDENTED BLESSINGS HISTORIC TASK SO VAST FIELD IN BOTH TEACH INC ADMINISTRATIVE SPHERES BAHÁ’Í ACTIVITY.
SHOGHI
— 288 —
MAY 23, 1944
ANNOUNCE FRIENDS JOYFUL TIDINGS HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY DECLARATION MISSION MARTYRED HERALD FAITH SIGNALIZED BY HISTORIC DECISION COMPLETE STRUCTURE HIS SEPULCHER ERECTED BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ ON SITE CHOSEN BY BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. RECENTLY DESIGNED MODEL DOME UNVEILED PRESENCE ASSEMBLED BELIEVERS. PRAYING EARLY REMOVAL OBSTACLES CONSUMMATION[pg 248] STUPENDOUS PLAN CONCEIVED BY FOUNDER FAITH AND HOPES CHERISHED BY CENTRE HIS COVENANT.
SHOGHI
— 289 —
JUNE 15, 1944
AIRMAIL IMMEDIATELY ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ALL LOCALITIES IN INDIA WHERE BAHÁ’ÍS RESIDE WITH ADDRESS FOR EACH LOCALITY. LOCALITIES WITH ASSEMBLIES SHOULD BE MARKED. SPECIFY ALSO STATE WHICH EACH LOCALITY BELONGS. PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY.
SHOGHI
— 290 —
JUNE 18, 1944
AIR MAIL IMMEDIATELY THREE PHOTOSTAT COPIES OF CERTIFICATE INCORPORATION OF EACH FOLLOWING ASSEMBLIES SECUNDERABAD SERAMPORE AND VELLORE.
SHOGHI
— 291 —
JULY 8, 1944
PREPARE CONDENSED REPORT NOT EXCEEDING THIRTY PAGES REGARDING ACTIVITIES ACHIEVEMENTS BAHÁ’Í FAITH DURING PAST FOUR YEARS. MAIL ONE COPY AMERICA ANOTHER HAIFA PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY.
SHOGHI
— 292 —
August 12, 1944
[To the National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letters dated January 6th, March 25th, April the 6th, 19th and 24th (three of that date), May 3rd and 23rd, June the 19th, 21st, 22nd, 24th and 28th (two of that date), July 1st, 4th, 7th, 11th, 12th and 21st have all been received, together with the enclosures forwarded with them, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
Regarding the question of paid teachers: As we have no clergy or priests there is no paid career open to Bahá’í teachers. This, however,[pg 249] does not mean that teachers going out to spread the Faith, and unable to support themselves, should not receive money from the National Spiritual Assembly or a Local Assembly. At present it would be quite impossible to spread the Cause if those who arise to serve it as teachers or pioneers were not given financial assistance. All must realize, however, that the moneys they receive are only to enable them to fulfil their objectives, and that they cannot consider themselves permanently entitled to be supported by the Cause. In America the pioneers have made every effort to establish themselves in some position in the place they have gone to settle in, and thus be freed from the necessity of drawing further upon Bahá’í funds.
Concerning Mr…’s election to the National Spiritual Assembly.
He considers this quite constitutional as Mr… had returned to India to reside there and it is obvious he is a registered, qualified Bahá’í even if his name had not yet been re-included in the register of Indian believers.
The beloved Guardian was delighted to hear the Centenary event went off so well, and he is anxiously awaiting detailed reports and also any films that were taken of the celebrations.
The truly astonishing increase in the number of Bahá’í Assemblies in India has been a source of pride to the Bahá’ís the world over, and he feels your Assembly should guard these new administrative bodies with the greatest of care, so that they may not disintegrate for lack of support. Teachers should be sent to strengthen them and enlarge their work and also, whenever necessary, pioneers. He is also very anxious that the Esslemont book should be printed as soon as possible in the languages already chosen by the National Spiritual Assembly, as this is our most valuable Bahá’í book at present to arouse the interest of the public and present the Faith in its correct light.
He hopes the dear Indian Bahá’ís will carry on, with renewed determination, their noble labours for our beloved Cause and, in the greatest love and unity, arise to teach its healing message to the masses in their great country.
His prayers will often be offered for each and every one of you, and he most deeply values your self-sacrificing labours.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The magnificent work achieved by the Indian believers merits the highest praise. The Six Year Plan has been crowned with brilliant[pg 250] victory. An unassailable foundation has been laid for the institutions of our glorious Faith. Upon this foundation a noble and enduring structure must be reared in the course of the opening years of the second Bahá’í century. The Assemblies that have been organized must be maintained, however great the sacrifices required. The life of the newly functioning community must be continually safeguarded, and enriched through correspondence, visiting teachers, expansion of literature, summer schools, conferences, publicity measures, and other kindred methods. No sacrifice can be deemed too great in order to preserve the benefits and advantages derived from the vigorous prosecution of the Plan. No relaxation of effort should be allowed to blight the fruits that have been so painstakingly garnered.
All must cooperate, all must support every measure conceived, every plan set in motion by the national elected representatives of the Indian believers. My fervent prayers for your success, guidance and spiritual advancement will be continually offered at the Holy Shrines.
Persevere, be confident and happy.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
— 293 —
JULY 28, 1944
URGE HASTEN TRANSLATION PUBLICATION NEW ERA LANGUAGES RECENTLY CHOSEN. KINDLY MAIL HUNDRED COPIES EACH AS SOON AS PUBLISHED.
SHOGHI
— 294 —
AUGUST 23, 1944
INTENSIFICATION TEACHING ACTIVITY AND EXTENSION RANGE BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE AS NECESSARY PRELUDE INAUGURATION SYSTEMATIC TEACHING CAMPAIGNS NEIGHBOURING TERRITORIES COURSE OPENING YEARS SECOND BAHÁ’Í CENTURY IMPERATIVE. URGE UNDERTAKE IMMEDIATE MEASURES TRANSLATION ESSLEMONT’S NEW ERA INTO NEP‘ALÍ ASSAMESE CHIN LANGUAGES. CABLING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS PROMOTION TWO-FOLD PURPOSE PRAYING ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UNPRECEDENTED VICTORYS.
SHOGHI
— 295 —
OCTOBER 30 1944
URGE EXPEDITE TRANSLATION PUBLICATION NEW ERA[pg 251] THIRTEEN LANGUAGES ALREADY CHOSEN. REDOUBLE EFFORTS URGENTLY REQUIRED NECESSARY PRELUDE MIGHTY TASKS AHEAD. PRAYING SUCCESS. WIRE PROGRESS MERITORIOUS ENTERPRISE.
SHOGHI
— 296 —
NOVEMBER 6, 1944
ADVISE TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS OBTAIN ENTRANCE PERMIT FOR DOCTOR YOUNES AFROUKHTEH TO VISIT BAHÁ’Í CENTRES INDIA SUCH VISIT HIGHLY BENEFICIAL.
SHOGHI
— 297 —
NOVEMBER 25, 1944
OVERJOYED MAGNIFICENT EXTENSION PUBLICATION ACTIVITIES. URGE SIMILAR EXERTION NO LESS VITAL. TASKS PARTICULARLY CONVERSION EXISTING GROUPS INTO LOCAL ASSEMBLIES. MAIL WHENEVER READY HUNDRED COPIES EACH ESSLEMONT TRANSLATION AND FIFTY EACH OTHER PUBLICATIONS. PRAYING EVER INCREASING SUCCESS.
ABIDING GRATITUDE.
SHOGHI
— 298 —
December 1, 1944
[To an individual believer]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer your letters dated September 3rd and 8th, 1943, February 7th and 27th, March 27th, May 4th and June 28th, 1944, as well as to acknowledge receipt of the various reports of the Baroda Assembly which you enclosed.
He also wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters dated October 26th and November 8th, forwarded to him by the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and to answer the questions contained in them.[pg 252]
Concerning the Esslemont book in languages read by Hindus: The text of the book can in no way be changed, but two things can be done to make it more suitable for teaching Hindus; a footnote can be added informing the reader that the book was written by a Scotchman who was anxious to present to the Christians the Bahá’í Faith in relation to their own religion, and hence he used many Biblical quotations with Bahá’í interpretations given; secondly an appendix may be added which will include quotations from the Bahá’í Writings suitable to the Hindu mind and interests.
Regarding Bahá’í women using facial make-up: Individuals are entirely free to do as they please in such purely personal matters. As Bahá’ís are enjoined to use moderation in all things, and to seek the Golden mean, the National Spiritual Assembly can, if it deems it necessary or advisable, counsel the believers to use moderation in this respect also.
Concerning your question as to whether a person may sign a registration card and then request his declaration to not be made public: All such administrative details must be referred to the National Spiritual Assembly for decision and their instructions followed…
Assuring you of my prayers for your protection and spiritual advancements.
Shoghi
— 299 —
DECEMBER 14, 1944
HUNDRED COPIES KENARESE RECEIVED. LOVING APPRECIATION.
ADVISE MAIL FIVE COPIES EACH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ALSO FUTURE VERSIONS. WIRE DATE PUBLICATION TAMIL TELUGU URGE EXPEDITE TRANSLATION REVIEWING PUBLICATION REMAINING LANGUAGES.
SHOGHI
— 300 —
December 20, 1944
[To the National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to acknowledge the receipt of your various communications dated July 25th, August 3rd[pg 253] and 7th, four letters dated September 1st, two dated September 6th, two dated September 7th, and also those of September 8th, 14th, 15th, 19th and 22nd, October 5th, 6th, 19th, 28th and 30th, and November 14th, 17th and 22nd. He has also received the various enclosures forwarded with these letters and thanks you for the same.
A few days ago the Kenarese volumes reached him and he was very happy to see them; he has placed most of them in the Mansion of Bahá’u’lláh and the others he has distributed to various Assemblies and Bahá’í libraries. He is eagerly awaiting copies of the various other translations your Assembly has undertaken, and in this connection he urges you again to persevere in your efforts to overcome every obstacle and get these further additions to your Bahá’í literature in India speedily out and in the hands of the newly attracted souls.
The Guardian wishes to once again stress the immediate tasks which face your Assembly: The important — and almost miraculous work achieved during the closing years of our first Bahá’í Century informing so many Assemblies, most of them in virgin territory, should be carefully consolidated through travelling teachers, additional pioneers (if necessary), extension of financial help, etc., so that none of them will be weakened and forced to revert to group status, also the newly-formed groups should be given every assistance to enable them to become Assemblies and take part in the administrative order of the Cause in India. He urges you to concentrate on these three things: The publication and distribution of the newly translated books; the firm consolidation of the new Assemblies; and the development of existing groups, that they may speedily achieve Assembly status.
Important as new teaching undertakings are, they should not be given precedence at the present time until these other objectives are well on the way to being realized.
The obituary of our dear Bahá’í brother, Mr. Vakíl, together with his photograph, has been forwarded to America for publication in the “Bahá’í World.”
In closing, let me assure you that the beloved Guardian cherishes the brightest hopes for the future development of the Cause there, and expects great things of the Indian believers in view of the truly remarkable tasks they have been accomplishing these last few years with such a spirit of zeal and devotion. His loving prayers are offered on your behalf and for your fellow members of the National Spiritual Assembly that you may be blessed and guided always.[pg 254]
Dearly beloved friends:
The achievements of the Indian Bahá’í Community during the closing years of the first Bahá’í Century have shed a great lustre on the record of their imperishable services ever since the inception of the Faith in their vast and promising country. Both in the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá’í activity they have assiduously laboured, nobly persevered, generously given of their resources, consistently collaborated, achieved mighty victories, and raised to a new level the standard of Bahá’í stewardship. The field now stretching before them during the opening year of the second Bahá’í Century is vast and highly promising.
The call is urgent, the opportunities priceless, the need of the waiting masses desperate, the machinery for the execution of the Divine Purpose already erected and vigorously functioning, the promise of signal victory clear and definite. A higher degree of administrative efficiency; a closer collaboration between the various elements constituting the organic Bahá’í community; a greater measure of self sacrifice; a still more intensified exertion aiming at the consolidation and preservation of the newly constituted Assemblies and the rapid conversion of the existing groups into full-fledged Assemblies; a systematic, sustained and nation wide endeavour for the purpose of disseminating the literature of the Faith, increasing its volume and adding to its diversity, and lastly a more audacious and convincing presentation of its tenets to the masses of the people, these constitute the primary tasks facing now the Indian believers. That they may achieve their high destiny is my constant hope and fervent prayer.
Shoghi