1945
1945
— 301 —
FEBRUARY 15, 1945
WIRE DATE DESPATCH HUNDRED COPIES TAMIL TELUGU[pg 255] VERSIONS NEW ERA ALSO WIRE PROGRESS TRANSLATION PUBLICATION OTHER LANGUAGES PRAYING SPEEDY SUCCESS.
SHOGHI
— 302 —
March 28, 1945
[To The National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letters dated November 10th, December 16th and 28th (this refers to a statement of policy on Bahá’í publications), of 1944, and those dated January 3rd and 10th, February 6th, and three dated February 7th, February 19th and 21st, and March 2nd and 7th, together with their enclosures, have all been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
He fully appreciates the many difficulties during wartime when printing is undertaken; however, all obstacles must be overcome[pg 256] through perseverance and confidence that the Beloved will aid us to achieve tasks for the promotion of His Cause. As he already informed you by cable he wishes to receive copies of new publications and not re prints of former ones. The translation and publication work at the present time being carried on by your Assembly is of the utmost importance, and constitutes a great contribution to the progress of the Faith in India and to the literature of the Cause in general.
Regarding your question concerning Bahá’ís printing and circulating matter on the Faith: Whether the person writes it openly, as a Bahá’í, or gives the impression he is not a Bahá’í if he is a voting member of our Faith he should submit the material to the National Spiritual Assembly, or its appointed committee, to be passed upon as to its accuracy and acceptability. Naturally non-Bahá’í material, the individual is free to do as he likes about. The National Assembly should deal efficiently with such matters and thus encourage the friends to follow the correct procedure. The whole object in Bahá’í Administration is not only to manage the affairs of the Cause, but to stimulate the believers to work for it and to teach it to the masses.
When the National Spiritual Assembly provides competent and quick service, in its own work and that of its Committees, it will see a far greater manifestation of enthusiasm and enterprise on the part of the believers.
The beloved Guardian is very pleased with the way the Cause has been progressing in India during the last few years, and he feels that the National Spiritual Assembly and the Bahá’ís have every reason to feel proud about and happy over their joint achievements. He urges you to persevere steadfastly in all your important undertakings, and to encourage and stimulate the friends to go out and pioneer, teach, consolidate their previous work and raise the banner of the Cause all over India.
His loving prayers are offered on your behalf and for your fellow members as well as for all the believers in that great and promising land.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The steady expansion of the activities of the Indian Bahá’í community, in accordance with the fundamental administrative principles of the Faith, constitutes a landmark in the early history of the Formative age of the Bahá’í Dispensation, and augurs well for the ultimate triumph and official recognition of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in the course of the second[pg 257] Bahá’í century. The concerted endeavors of the Indian believers during the closing years of the first century have been crowned with signal success. A solid foundation has been laid. The machinery for the systematic and efficient development of the institutions of the Faith in the capital and in the provinces is now functioning. Its literature is being widely disseminated. Its pioneers are labouring in distant fields. What is now required is an intensification of effort to establish direct contact with the masses, proclaim audaciously the verities of the Faith to consolidate the work already achieved and to lend further impetus to the settlement of pioneers in areas where the light of the Faith has not as yet penetrated. A greater measure of self-sacrifice, closer cooperation, and a higher degree of consecration to the tasks facing them are required of the believers of India in the course of the second year of the second Bahá’í century. May the beloved sustain and bless their concerted and meritorious endeavours.
Shoghi
— 303 —
MARCH 11, 1945
URGE RENEWED EXERTION EXPEDITE TRANSLATION PUBLICATION NEW ERA.
SHOGHI
— 304 —
APRIL 2, 1945
URGE TRANSLATION PUBLICATION REMAINING LANGUAGES PUNJABI RAJASTANI NEP‘ALÍ CHIN. PRAYING REMOVAL OBSTACLES PERSEVERE.
SHOGHI
— 305 —
April 12, 1945
[To The Bahá’í Youth Of: Panchgani, Srinagar, Kolhapur, Poona, Calcutta, Karachi, Bombay, Quetta]
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your loving message of greeting and devotion, sent to the beloved Guardian on February 26th, reached him, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf, and to assure all those who signed the letter, sent from the above named centres, of his joy at receiving news of them.[pg 258]
It pleased him greatly to see that there are so many active Bahá’í youth groups in India, and his heart was particularly rejoiced to receive messages from such far off centres as Kashmir and Baluchistan, where, a few years ago, there were practically no Bahá’ís at all!
He hopes that in the years that lie ahead of us — years of unrest, of trouble, of transition for the whole world — that the Bahá’í youth will increasingly rise to meet the challenge of the times, and to carry the Message of Bahá’u’lláh through both teaching and example, allover India and, indeed, Asia.
You who are at present in your teens, or twenties, must realize that tomorrow, to a large extent, the burden of the Cause will rest on your shoulders; you will have to be the administrators and teachers and scholars of the Faith. Now is the time to prepare yourselves for your future duties.
He hopes you will study the Teachings deeply, their spiritual, moral, and administrative precepts, and at the same time take as active a part as possible in the life of your respective Bahá’í communities.
His prayers are offered for you all, that Bahá’u’lláh may strengthen, guide, and protect you in His service.
Dear and valued co-workers:
Your message has deeply touched me and brought joy to my heart. I greatly value the sentiments expressed therein and I wish to assure you all of my deep appreciation of the spirit that animates you all so powerfully in the service of the Faith. I will fervently pray that your concerted efforts may be richly and continually blessed, that the range of your meritorious activities may be further extended, and that your highest hopes and aspirations may be fulfilled.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 306 —
APRIL 29, 1945
CONVEY DELEGATES SIXTEENTH BAHÁ’Í CONVENTION DEEPEST LOVING APPRECIATION MESSAGE ASSURANCE REMEMBRANCE SHRINES. SECOND YEAR SECOND BAHÁ’Í CENTURY MUST WITNESS ALIKE STEADY CONSOLIDATION NEWLY PLEDGED ASSEMBLIES, MULTIPLICATION GROUPS UNPRECEDENTED EXPANSION TEACHING ACTIVITIES NATIONWIDE DISSEMINATION BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE. INCOMING ASSEMBLY’S PARAMOUNT DUTY INITIATE[pg 259] SOUND MEASURES ENSURE EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION URGENT TASKS.
SHOGHI
— 307 —
MAY 4, 1945
ANXIOUS NEWS DEARLY BELOVED BAHÁ’Í FRIENDS MANDALAY RANGOON PARTICULARLY SEYYED MUSTAFA.
SHOGHI
— 308 —
June 26, 1945
[To The National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you and point out certain things in connection with the work in India to the National Spiritual Assembly.
First, let me say that he was very pleased to receive your cable telling him the Bahá’ís in at least a part of Burma have survived. His thoughts and prayers have often been with them during these terrible years of war.
He wishes to urge the National Spiritual Assembly to concentrate above all on re-instating any Spiritual Assemblies which were disbanded last Bahá’í year owing to insufficient numbers. This must always be the first consideration, so that the hardly-won prizes of these new Assemblies may not be lost.
Also, he wishes to point out that the power to put a person outside the Faith administratively must be solely, for the present time, in the hands of the National Spiritual Assembly. This applies only to the cases where believers are deprived of their voting rights. Such extremely important and dramatic measures should never be resorted to unless absolutely necessary, and should certainly never be left in the hands of Local Assemblies, where personal feelings might colour the Assembly’s decision. On the other hand, the right to enroll believers has always been given to the Local Assemblies. But they should be strongly urged to make sure the applicant is sincere and fully understands and accepts the fundamentals of the Faith.
He also feels that now that you have so much literature on hand in various languages you should endeavour to teach a wider range of[pg 260] Indian races; specially the Hindus and Muslims as they form the preponderating mass of the people. Also Hindu and Muslim believers should be encouraged to teach, pioneer, lecture, and be appointed on Committees, and elected to Assemblies, so that our true inter-racial, inter-religious character may be incontestably demonstrated to the world.
Assuring you of his ardent prayers for you and your fellow members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
P.S. The Guardian does not feel that it is necessary to wait one whole year before an applicant is admitted into the Faith. The Assemblies must not be too strict, but should make every effort to increase the membership for their communities.
— 309 —
JULY 14, 1945
HEARTS GRIEF STRICKEN PASSING SUPREME CONCOURSE DISTINGUISHED PIONEER FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH DEARLY BELOVED STAUNCH HIGH MINDED NOBLE SOUL SIYYID MUSTAFA. LONG RECORD HIS SUPERB SERVICES BOTH TEACHING ADMINISTRATIVE FIELDS SHED LUSTRE ON BOTH HEROIC AND FORMATIVE AGES BAHÁ’Í DISPENSATION. HIS MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENTS FULLY ENTITLE HIM JOIN RANKS HANDS CAUSE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. HIS RESTING PLACE SHOULD BE REGARDED FOREMOST SHRINE COMMUNITY BURMESE BELIEVERS. ADVISE HOLDING MEMORIAL GATHERINGS THROUGHOUT INDIA HONOUR HIS IMPERISHABLE MEMORY. URGE INDIAN BURMESE BAHÁ’ÍS PARTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TOMB. CABLING THREE HUNDRED POUNDS MY PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION SO PRAISEWORTHY PURPOSE.
SHOGHI
— 310 —
July 29, 1945
[To Yaganagi Family]
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter dated July 18th has been received, and the beloved[pg 261] Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf. I am also enclosing a receipt for your loving contribution to the Faith at its World Centre.
He will pray that your services as a family may grow and increase in the Cause of God, and that Bahá’u’lláh may bless and guide you all.
There is much work to be done in India, and the believers must strive, with love and unity, to teach the Cause and quicken the hearts of the people.
May the Beloved bless your meritorious efforts, guide your steps in the path of service, and enable you to promote the vital interests of His Faith and its newborn institutions.
Shoghi
— 311 —
August 9, 1945
[To The National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer your various communications dated as follows: March 9th and 10th, April 6th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 21st and 28th, May 19th and 21st, June 1st, 9th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 27th and 29th, and July 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 13th and 16th and 31st, and to acknowledge the receipt of the various enclosures you forwarded with them and under separate cover.
He was deeply grieved to hear of the death of our very dear and esteemed Bahá’í brother, Siyyid Muṣṭafá. He was truly an example of steadfast devotion and one of the outstanding pioneers the Faith produced during the first century of its existence. He was also very sad to hear of the ruin of the Bahá’í Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds and the plight of the Bahá’ís in general. He wishes your Assembly to exert its utmost in alleviating the suffering of the Burmese friends, and assisting them in every way possible. Convey to them all the assurance of his ardent and loving prayers on their behalf, and for the speedy reestablishment of the Faith and its institutions in Burma…
As at present a Bahá’í marriage is not yet legally recognized by the authorities, the friends should also have the civil marriage in addition. We have no objection to it at all, as it is non-sectarian and in no way affects our Bahá’í status.[pg 262]
As long as both the Bahá’í and the other religious (whatever it may be) ceremony are both performed prior to the consummation of the marriage, we do not mind which ceremony is performed first. It should be left to the individuals concerned to decide among themselves…
The Guardian agrees with your Assembly that no one can voluntarily resign his voting rights as it is a form of sanction imposed by administrative bodies. He feels that the National Spiritual Assembly should endeavour to unite the friends and to show them a more loving forbearance in its handling of their problems. Naturally, it must not tolerate acts harmful to the Cause but as the friends are spiritually immature, and many new believers are also entering the Faith, patience is required in dealing with them and their difficulties. The most important thing, as the Master pointed out over and over again, is love and unity among the believers. They must forget themselves, the faults and weaknesses they see in each other, and arise to spread this glorious Message in mankind’s hour of greatest darkness and trial.
He wishes to urge your Assembly to redouble its efforts in getting the various translations of the Esslemont Book printed and in circulation. He himself is anxiously awaiting the receipt of further editions for the libraries here and at Bahjí.
Your Assembly’s responsibilities are very great and you have much work to accomplish. He will pray for your guidance and protection, and that the mass of Indian believers may arise to new heights of sacrifice, of victory, and of fame.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The task facing the members of the Indian Bahá’í community in these days of stress and trial is urgent, vast and sacred. The responsibilities they shoulder are growing in number and complexity. The obstacles in their path are numerates and seemingly insurmountable. The victories, however, which they have won during the concluding years of the first Bahá’í century, augur well for the future, and constitute only a preliminary stage in the great work they are destined to accomplish in the years that lie ahead. A unity that is truly unshakable, a consecration to their task which no trial or test can impair, a resolve that no force, however inimical, can shake; a united and systematic endeavour to proclaim and firmly establish their Faith which enemies neither from within nor from without can undermine — all these are vitally required to enable them to[pg 263] achieve their high destiny. To you as their national elected representatives I desire to appeal in particular to exercise the utmost forbearance, care and vigilance, to exert the utmost endeavour, to deliberate, cooperate and carry out with exemplary vigour the necessary measures which the urgency of the task and the criticalness of the hour imperatively demand. That their glorious mission may be crowned with signal success is the object of my constant and fervent prayers at the Holy Shrines.
Shoghi
— 312 —
AUGUST 13, 1945
DISAPPOINTED DELAY TRANSLATION PUBLICATION VERSIONS NEW ERA URGE REDOUBLE EFFORTS.
SHOGHI
— 313 —
NOVEMBER 7, 1945
GREATLY DEPLORE TRIBULATIONS AFFECTING DEARLY BELOVED BURMESE FRIENDS. PROFOUNDLY MOVED CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING ASSASSINATION HEROIC APOSTLE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH SEYYED MUSTAFA AND ASSOCIATES. ADMIRE UNQUENCHABLE SPIRIT ANIMATING LONG SUFFERING BRETHREN RANGOON MANDALAY DAIDANAW ASSURE THEM ADMIRATION GRATITUDE STRONG ATTACHMENT. FERVENT PRAYERS REVIVAL ACTIVITIES. SOON TRANSMITTING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS MY CONTRIBUTION RELIEF, REBUILDING INSTITUTIONS PROMOTION TEACHING ACTIVITIES. URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEVOTE IMMEDIATE CONCENTRATED CONTINUAL ATTENTION PROMOTION VITAL INTERESTS BURMESE COMMUNITY.
SHOGHI
— 314 —
December 18, 1945
[To The National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letters of August 21st, September 14th and two of September 24th, and October 2nd, together with the enclosures you forwarded with them, have been received, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.[pg 264]
He was very sad to read of the sufferings of the beloved Burmese friends, of the death of that bright star of the Faith, Siyyid Muṣṭafá, and of the murder of many other of the friends! At the same time his heart swelled with pride when he saw that already the believers have reassembled, elected an Assembly, and started their school again. This shows how deep their faith is, and presages a glorious future for the Cause there.
As you already know he has sent you a sum to be devoted to rebuilding the Bahá’í institutions, teaching the Faith, and assisting the friends who are in desperate need. He has also invited other National Assemblies to contribute to this fund, and thus assist your Assembly to carry out this very important task of re-establishing a flourishing Community in Burma.
The Indian believers are finding themselves increasingly called upon to shoulder heavy responsibilities; they are becoming more numerous, have spread to many new centres, undertaken a large publishing programme, increased the number of their institutions, and are gradually becoming known to their fellow Indians as followers of a new and glorious Faith. In view of this, he feels your Assembly should constantly exhort the friends to be more conscious of their duties, and to be very careful of having differences of opinion which are so strong as to lead to disputes and thus humiliate our beloved Faith in the eyes of non-Bahá’í. The public is beginning to observe them, and they must therefore conduct themselves at all times as befits those who bear the glorious Name of Bahá. They must be forgetful of self, but ever mindful of the Cause of God!
He assures you all his loving prayers are offered for the National Spiritual Assembly, for the successful execution of its many duties, and the love and unity of its dear members.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The rehabilitation of the community of the sore stricken believers throughout Burma constitutes the most urgent task of the Indian believers, and is a direct challenge which they cannot ignore or neglect. The reconstitution of dissolved Assemblies, the extension of relief to the needy, the promotion of the teaching work, the dissemination of Bahá’í’ literature, the construction of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, the re-establishment of schools and committees are all vitally urgent, and should be carried out fully, systematically, and with the utmost speed. I long to hear of the progress of your labours in this important field, upon which the future[pg 265] welfare of the Burmese community depends, and with which the destinies of the Indian believers are closely interwoven. I will pray from the depths of my heart that your meritorious efforts may soon be crowned with magnificent success.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi