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"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah
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Jubilee
becomes major talking point
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PORT
BLAIR, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 6
January 2004 (BWNS) --
Celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the
arrival of the Faith here became the talk of the
islands as local dignitaries attended special
events, and the media provided extensive
coverage.
At
a dinner for high-ranking officials, the Lt.
Governor, Shri N. N. Jha, praised the work being
carried out by the Baha'is in the islands, which
are a Union Territory of India.
The
first lady, Smti Chaya Jha, then officially
announced that the Baha'is had specially
produced for the occasion a souvenir
publication, which included a history of the
Faith here. |
First Lady of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, Smti Chaya Jha, (right, with the
souvenir of the jubilee.
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In a speech
wishing the Baha'is good luck in their endeavors, she
said that she had first met Baha'is 40 years ago, and
had a number of good friends who were members of the
Faith.
At a unity
concert attended by some 700 people, the Chief of Staff
of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, Rear Admiral Rakesh
Kala, wished the Baha'is all the best in their work and
activities.
Rear
Admiral Kala spoke of his fond memories of the
peacefulness he experienced during his visit to the
Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi.
At both the
official dinner and the concert, Jamshed Fozdar was one
of the guests of honor. Mr. Fozdar is a son of Dr. K. M.
Fozdar (1898-1958), who first brought the Baha'i Faith
to these islands in 1953 as part of a Ten Year Plan to
take Bahá'u'lláh's teachings around the world.
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Dr.
Fozdar, who received the title of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh
for his services, had to leave the islands after
four months but by then four local people had
become Baha'is, and they remained to continue the
development of the community.
At
the jubilee events, which were held 10-12 November
2003, Jamshed Fozdar said that the Baha'i Faith
possessed a solution to the problems being faced
by mankind today, and he exhorted the audience to
investigate its teachings.
He
also recounted stories about his father, who
diligently and effectively served the Faith not
only in the islands, but also in India and
Singapore.
The
events attracted coverage in the widely
circulating newspaper, "The Daily
Telegrams," an official English daily. There
were also reports in three other English language
daily newspapers, two Hindi newspapers, and a
Tamil weekly newspaper. |
Jamshed Fozdar (left) presenting a memento to the
Chief of Staff of the Andaman and Nicobar Command,
Rear Admiral Rakesh Kala. |
The All
India radio repeatedly led its bulletins with news of
the jubilee. It broadcast quotations from Bahá'u'lláh
as its "Thought for Today" and carried live
interviews with three Baha'is.
The local
television also covered the unity concert, which
featured a program of songs and dances presented by
Baha'i youth and other high school students, all on
themes of peace, harmony and unity. At that event,
citations of appreciation were given to people who had
rendered selfless service to the people of the islands.
The former project manager of the construction of the
Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, Sheriar
Nooreyazdan, gave an address and presented a slide show
about the Temple to an appreciative audience of more
than 110 people, including 32 engineers.
An integral
part of the festivities was an Institute conference at a
freshly refurbished Baha'i House. The more than 100
Baha'i who attended were addressed by, among others,
Payam Shoghi, a member of the Continental Board of
Counsellors, Mr. B. Afshin from Panchgani in India,
Mehrzad Akhtarkhavari, secretary of the Spiritual
Assembly of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Mr. R.
N. Shah, a prominent Baha'i from India.
Among the
topics of the sessions, were the Five Year Plan,
currently being carried out by Baha'is throughout the
world, and its three core activities -- capacity
building study circles, devotional meetings and
children's classes.
Each of
these activities is open to the wider community, and all
are being energetically pursued by the Baha'is here.
There were also reminiscences of the early days of the
Faith in the islands.
A group from the Nicobar islands performs at the
celebrations. |
Seven
people who declared their Faith in Baha'u'llah
were called to the stage for a warm welcome and
expressions of encouragement. Twenty-one Baha'is
offered to move to other parts of the islands to
develop Baha'i communities there.
In a
message to the Spiritual Assembly, the Universal
House of Justice promised prayers that the jubilee
event would be a source of inspiration to the
Baha'is as they endeavored to promote the Cause of
Baha'u'llah.
There
are currently 11 Local Spiritual Assemblies on the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which has a
population of some 280,000. The population is
spread among 40 of the 540 islands in the group. |
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Published in Bahá'í
World News Service
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