1946

1946

— 315 —

JANUARY 6, 1946

ADMIRE INITIATIVE OVERJOYED MAGNIFICENT SPONTANEOUS [pg 266]   DECISION NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES INDIAN BELIEVERS INAUGURATE PLAN DESIGNED CONSOLIDATE EXTEND RANGE SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENTS ASSOCIATED TERMINATION FIRST BAHÁ’Í CENTURY. FERVENTLY SUPPLICATING OUTPOURINGS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S BLESSINGS MIGHTY UNDERTAKING. PLEDGING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS FURTHERANCE MERITORIOUS PURPOSE.

SHOGHI

— 316 —

JANUARY 7, 1946

GERMAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY EMERGING TEN YEARS TRIALS BITTEREST ENDURED BY FOLLOWERS FAITH THROUGHOUT WEST. URGE INDIAN BELIEVERS TRANSMIT CONTRIBUTION TOKEN BAHÁ’Í SOLIDARITY THROUGH VALIOLLAH VARQÁ TRUSTEE FUND.

SHOGHI

— 317 —

JANUARY 8, 1946

CONTRIBUTION BURMA DELAYED SOON FORWARDING FERVENTLY PRAYING SUCCESS NEW PLAN. [pg 267]

SHOGHI

— 318 —

FEBRUARY 24, 1946

DELIGHTED INITIAL SUCCESS CONGRATULATE BURMESE   FRIENDS PARTICIPATION PRAYING VICTORY.

SHOGHI

— 319 —

March 20, 1946

[To The National Spiritual Assembly]

Dear Bahá’í Brother,

Your letters written on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly, and dated August 3rd, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 27th, 28th and 30th; September 1st, 5th and 21st; October 5th, 6th, 8th (two), 11th, 13th (two), 23rd, 30th and 31st; November 6th (two), 21st, 30th and 17th, December 10th, 11th (three), 18th and 26th, of 1945, and January 7th, 12th (two), 21st (two), and 23rd; February 4th, 16th and 23rd; and March 7th 1946, have all been received, together with their enclosures; the books and other things forwarded under separate cover have, likewise, reached him safely, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He was very pleased to get the “Esslemonts” in various languages, which you sent him, and he has distributed them amongst the various Bahá’í libraries here. He is looking forward eagerly to receiving the other volumes in process of being translated and printed as soon as possible. The Indian friends should feel very proud of this important work they are carrying on, and do everything to expedite the appearance of new editions, in still other languages, when the present work has been successfully completed.

He was very sorry to learn of the death of yet another Burmese believer — Mr. Tawanggyi. Our brethren have indeed suffered grievously there, and every aid should be given them by their fortunate brothers and sisters in India who were spared the horrors of invasion and bombing. He was very encouraged to see that such men as Prof.

K.T. S̱háh, (whose book you sent him), are becoming favourably[pg 268]  impressed with the Cause and befriending it publicly.

He is making the Power of Attorney out in your name, and will forward it to you, as soon as possible, in order to enable your Assembly to take the necessary steps to secure compensation for the Bahá’í properties in Burma.

There is no objection to permitting the name of a Bahá’í, or his relative, to be placed on a stone incorporated in some Bahá’í buildings he has donated to the Faith.

He is delighted with the progress your work is making in every field, and he urges you all to continually stimulate and inspire the friends to make ever-greater effort and sacrifice in the service of their beloved Faith. The opportunity is unique and the rewards of Bahá’u’lláh inestimably glorious.

Assuring you all of his loving prayers on your behalf and for the speedy success of your important tasks.

P.S. The statement you sent on Bahá’í marriage and divorce, received from Írán, I am forwarding under separate cover. The Guardian wishes the Bahá’ís to adhere to these rules throughout India wherever they will not conflict with the local legal requirements in such matters…

Dear and valued co-workers:

My heart swells with joy, pride, and gratitude as I contemplate the range of the services rendered in recent years by the Indian believers to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. I particularly rejoice at the splendid initiative, the magnificent zeal, the unconquerable spirit that have characterized their recent understanding associated with the new Plan which they have audaciously conceived, and which, I feel confident, they will prosecute with exemplary vigour and constancy. Simultaneous with the united efforts that must be strenuously exerted to ensure its success, a systematic endeavour must be made to proclaim the verities of our glorious Faith to the masses, and to disseminate far and wide its literature. This threefold task requires the concentrated and sustained attention of the rank and file of the believers, the subordination of every consideration to its paramount interests, the extension of generous financial assistance to the agencies designed for its promotion. The believers in India have set an inspiring example to their fellow-believers throughout the East, and even to the great mass of their co-religionists in Bahá’u’lláh’s native land, and[pg 269]  have abundantly demonstrated to them all what organized activity, boldly conceived and soundly and energetically conducted, can achieve when directed and animated by the ennobling influences and the generative spirit of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. Their exploits are indeed unsurpassed by those of any community throughout the Bahá’í world except those which stand associated with the community that may well claim to be the standard bearer of the Cause of God in the West. That these exploits may be the forerunners of still mightier and nobler achievements is my fervent hope and prayer.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

— 320 —

MARCH 22, 1946

ASSURE DEARLY BELOVED BELIEVERS INDIA BURMA REMEMBRANCE   SHRINES.

SHOGHI

— 321 —

March 24, 1946

[To An Individual Believer]

Your question about whether Bahá’ís can accept grants in aid and free plots from Government…

There is no objection, the beloved Guardian says, to the Bahá’ís receiving this type of help from the Government and civic authorities…

— 322 —

April 8, 1946

Bahá’í Youth Of: Bombay, Quetta, Bangalore, Sholapur, Koihapur, Srinagar, Kashmir, Karachi, Lahore, Poona

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your letters of greeting, sent to the beloved Guardian from your Youth Symposium meetings, reached him, and he has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.

He was delighted to see that in so many centres the Bahá’í young people are active and exerting themselves in the service of our beloved ‘Faith.

The Bahá’ís of India have embarked upon an ambitious and [pg 270]  important teaching Plan, destined to culminate in the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Blessed Báb, and the Guardian hopes that the young believers will do their utmost to ensure its complete success, and to support the work of their National and Local Assemblies. As pioneers, as assistant teachers, through studying deeply our Bahá’í literature, through learning to lecture on and teach the Cause — in all these ways they can help this important Plan to be brought to a triumphal conclusion.

You may be sure he will pray for you all in the Holy Shrines, that God may strengthen you in His service, and aid you to mirror forth in your characters, and through your deeds, the beauty of His Revelation.

Dear co-workers:

I was deeply touched by your messages, and I greatly value the sentiments you have expressed, and your determination to promote the interests of our beloved Faith. The Plan conceived by your national elected representatives offers you a wide field in which to demonstrate your resourcefulness, your energy, your perseverance, and your devotion to the vital interests of the Cause and its nascent institutions. May the Beloved Whose Cause you are so eager to serve, bless your activities, increase your numbers, giddied your steps, and enable you to contribute a notable share to the advancement of its institutions.

Shoghi

— 323 —

April 8, 1946

[To The Youth Of India]

Dear Bahá’í Brother,

Your letter of March 27th reached our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf. I am also forwarding herewith his reply to the loving messages sent him by the various Bahá’í Youth Symposiums; please see that his answer reaches all the dear friends who wrote him.

He feels that, in the important teaching plans now being undertaken by the Indian Bahá, the youth have an ever increasingly significant part to play; they are standing at the threshold of active Bahá’í service in both the pioneer and administrative fields, and they [pg 271]  must prepare themselves for the future and follow at the same time, the example of American Bahá’í young people, so many of whom have entered the field as pioneers during the last ten years, and not only rendered the Cause great services but prepared themselves, through this experience, for their future tasks as administrators and teachers of the Faith.

He assures you he will pray for the success of your services to the Cause of God.

Assuring you of my loving prayers for your spiritual advancement and the success of your efforts for the furtherance of our beloved Faith.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

— 324 —

APRIL 24, 1946

URGE EXPEDITE PUBLICATION TRANSLATIONS NEW ERA CONCERNED DELAY.

SHOGHI

— 325 —

APRIL 24, 1946

ADVISE EXERCISE MODERATION REGARDING REMOVAL BELIEVERS VOTING LIST … AVOID HASTE SEVERITY IN   DEPRIVING FRIENDS VOTING RIGHTS.

SHOGHI

— 326 —

APRIL 30, 1946

ARDENTLY PRAYING SUCCESS DELIBERATIONS CONVENTION.    APPEAL DELEGATES REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TASKS   CONFRONTING INDIAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY RESOLVE AS   NEVER BEFORE SAFEGUARD REINFORCE UNITY ITS MEMBERS    PROSECUTE VIGOROUSLY TEACHING ACTIVITIES, EXPEDITE PUBLICATIONS, STIMULATE REHABILITATION BURMESE COMMUNITY, ENSURE STEADY MULTIPLICATION GROUPS ASSEMBLIES, PROCLAIM VERITIES FAITH MASSES. LOVING REMEMBRANCE SHRINES.

SHOGHI

— 327 —

MAY 21, 1946

LOVING APPRECIATION GREETINGS FRIENDS INDIA BURMA.[pg 272] PRAYING SUCCESS NEWLY FORMED ASSEMBLIES. RETENTION OFFICE PERMISSIBLE. SUPPLICATING BLESSINGS ALMIGHTY.

SHOGHI

— 328 —

JUNE 7, 1946

URGE EXPEDITE RAJASTHANI POSHTOO ASSAMESE SINGALESE   PRINTING NEW ERA ALSO TRANSLATION CHIN PUNJABI AND KASHMÍR’ SHOULD BE PROMPTLY UNDERTAKEN CABLE PROGRESS REPORT.

SHOGHI

— 329 —

August 2, 1946

[To The National Spiritual Assembly]

Dear Bahá’í Brother,

Your letters dated March 16th and 23rd, April 3rd, 6th, 18th (two), 20th (two), 24th, 26th and 29th, May 27th (two), and 31st (two), June 3rd, 15th, 17th, 21st, 26th and 27th, and July 8th and 16th, together with their various enclosures, have all been received, and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.

He was very happy indeed to hear there is now such an active and devoted group of Bahá’ís in Kapran, and he hopes you will extend to them all his loving greetings, and specially to their dear teacher, Mr. Vakíl, and assure them he is praying for their success and that they may next year have an Assembly.

Regarding your questions; he sees no objection to Mr… resigning,, as he seems to feel unable to devote the necessary time to travelling back and forth to the meetings.

He thinks it is better for Bahá’í doctors not to work on our 9 Holy Days — but, of course, that does not mean they should not attend to very sick people and emergencies on these days.

He received the various books you sent, and was very happy to be able to add them to the long list of other books, in different languages, in the libraries here. He fully realizes the many obstacles in your path, but urges you to persevere and keep on pushing the matter [pg 273]  constantly, so that the Book in other languages may speedily be translated and printed.

As he already told you in a previous communication, he feels that your Assembly should not deprive people of their voting rights unless the matter is really very grave; this is a very heavy sanction, and can embitter the heart if lightly imposed, and also make people think we unduly resort to pressure of a strong nature. The friends must be nursed and assisted, for they are still mostly immature spiritually, and their “sins” are those of immaturity! Their hearts are loyal to the Cause, and this is the most important thing.

He is anxiously awaiting good news of the progress of the Plan, and hopes your Assembly is encouraging the friends to arise and, forgetful of self, serve the Faith in these tremendous days the world is passing through.

His ardent prayers are offered for you all, and for your guidance and success.

P.S. The re-establishment of the Burma Community on a sound footing, the extension of financial aid to them, the dispatch of teachers to help them there, is one of the prime duties of your Assembly, and he hopes you are exerting your utmost to assist the Burmese Bahá’ís in these ways. Please assure the friends there of his loving prayers on their behalf.

Dear and valued co-workers:

The responsibilities confronting the Indian and Burmese Bahá’í’ Communities, in these days of stress and turmoil, are immense and inescapable. The task facing them is urgent, complex and rich in possibilities. The Plan which they are now striving to carry out demands the utmost vigilance, care, vigour and perseverance. All must arise to lend their assistance, and ensure its unqualified success in all its aspects. An intensification of effort aimed at increasing the number of pioneers who are labouring throughout the length and breadth of that land; a more vigorous and systematic endeavour to ensure the speedy publication of Bahá’í literature in all the languages that have already been determined upon and its immediate dissemination as an adjunct to the all important teaching work; the elimination of every trace in harmony, misunderstanding and ill will, so detrimental, at this juncture, to the interests of the Plan; the initiation of measures designed to give greater publicity to[pg 274]  the aims and purposes of the Faith and its fundamental teachings, through the press and radio; the adoption and enforcement of whatever measures are required to increase the number of Indian and Muslim converts to the Faith, on whom its ultimate triumph and recognition must depend; the steady consolidation and expansion of newly established institutions, such as the Summer School, the hostel and the local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds; a more liberal and widespread contribution of funds to the National Treasury for the support of these institutions, and for the promotion of the general interests of the Faith — these stand out as the primary duties and obligations of both the participants of the Plan and of those who conduct its operation.

A special effort must simultaneously be exerted to provide whatever is required to reestablish the long-suffering and dearly loved Burmese Community on a secure foundation. The despatch of competent teachers and visitors, to that sorely tried land; the extension of the necessary relief to those who are still in need; the reconstruction of the administrative headquarters and the re-establishment of the Bahá’í school; the construction of the memorial to the beloved and unforgettable pioneer and martyr Siyyid Muṣṭafá; the formation of Assemblies and Groups in as many localities as possible — these constitute the immediate tasks confronting your Assembly in addition to the responsibilities you are called upon to discharge under the new plan.

No sacrifice can be deemed too great for the achievement of this dual purpose, no effort should be spared in order to carry out in its entirety this twofold objective. May the Beloved grant you the strength you require for the accomplishment of your historic task.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

— 330 —

October 12, 1946

[To The National Spiritual Assembly]

Dear Bahá’í Brother,

Your letters dated May 27th, July 25th and 29th, and August 12th, 16th, 22nd and 26th (three of this date), and 31st, together with their enclosures, have been received, and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf. Regarding the various matters you have referred to him:

He sees no reason why your Assembly should not protest to the Persian government against the atrocities, committed against our[pg 275]  brethren in Írán, but advises you to first ask the Persian National Spiritual Assembly if such a step is wise and desirable or not.

Concerning Mr… divorce: He has no right to demand from his wife a refund of the marriage expenses he incurred. In the Aqdas it is quite clear that the husband must not only give the dowry but must support his wife until the time when the divorce is completed. In view of this, she is not required to repay expenses of the marriage, etc.

The paying of the Ḥuqúq is a spiritual obligation; the friends must not be obliged by the Assemblies to pay it, but they should be encouraged to fulfil this spiritual obligation laid upon them in the Aqdas. He is very pleased to note the list of literature the publishing committee is forwarding to him, and urges you to persevere in pressing the translation and publishing of the “New Era” in the important languages already chosen for this purpose, as he attaches the greatest importance to this work.

He was also delighted to see that the Srinagar Assembly held its elections. These new Assemblies must receive every aid and encouragement from your Assembly and every effort must be made to carry the Faith to new centres, and to stimulate pioneering amongst the friends.

The Indian believers have a great opportunity to compete with both the American and British Bahá’ís in pioneer services; they already have a record to be proud of, and are first among the countries of the East in the record they hold of achievements in this field. He hopes they will go on from victory to victory, and vindicate the high hopes he cherishes for their future.

If the National Assembly is sure that it was Siyyid Muṣṭafá Rumi’s wish to be buried next to his wife in Mandalay, then you should, by all means, arrange for the interment of his remains there. A befitting memorial can then be erected over the vault. The spirit of this great and valiant teacher surely watches over the land of his adoption, and will aid the Burmese believers in their efforts to rebuild their centres and promulgate the Cause of God there.

As we see the confusion in the world spreading, and the hatreds that divide men augmenting steadily, we, as the trustees of our Lord’s glorious Faith, must rise to higher levels of self-sacrifice and devotion. He prays that the Indian believers may achieve wonderful victories for Bahá’u’lláh in the months that lie ahead, and prove themselves worthy of the great destiny that beckons to them.

His loving prayers surround you and your fellow-members of [pg 276]  the National Spiritual Assembly.

Dear and valued co-workers:

The perseverance, the tenacity, the unstinted devotion displayed consistently by the Indian Bahá’í community, so clearly demonstrated by the reports recently received by their national elected representatives, are truly exhilarating and augur well for the future of the Plan. The members of this community, however, must not be content with the standard already achieved, but must exert themselves ever more determinedly and unitedly to fulfil the high hopes cherished for the success of their collective enterprise. The Burmese Bahá’í community, which they are so devotedly striving to rehabilitate, must, likewise participate without reserve, in the glorious task that confronts them, and demonstrate, thereby, its virility and resilience in the face of the trials and obstacles which it has had to struggle against in the past. The establishment of new centres in Burma, the consolidation of the reinstated Assemblies, are both equally vital and urgent. The verities of the Faith must be proclaimed, its literature must be disseminated and its institutions reinforced and multiplied throughout that land. Both communities must collaborate and through sustained, vigorous and systematic effort and mutual assistance lend an unprecedented impetus to the onward march of the Faith in India and Burma. The greater the effort and self-sacrifice, the richer the benefits that will accrue, and the more potent the blessings that will be vouchsafed from on high. The goals are clearly defined. The prizes to be won are within reach and inexpressibly glorious. Time is running out and the opportunity is priceless. The promise of Divine unfailing assistance is assured. All are challenged to arise, to toil and to persevere, until their solemn pledge under the Plan is completely and totally fulfilled. That they may prove themselves worthy of their high mission is my fervent hope and constant prayer.

Shoghi