The Immortals ============= Exported from Holy-Writings.com on 2026-06-18 1 clipping 1. Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Dipchand Khianra, The Immortals, New Delhi, India: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1988, bahai-library.com. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMMORTALS IMMORTALS by DIPCHAND KHIANRA BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST, P.O. BOX 19, NEW DELHI-ll000l Copyright © National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, 1988 ISBN 81-85091-17-X Cover photograph: Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar Courtesy of the Archaeological Survey of India Pbototypeset at Rakmo Enterprises & Printed at Thomson Press , .~ The Hand of the Cause Mr. A.Q. Faizi and Mrs. Gloria Faizi A Humble Tribute Dear Mr. Faizi: Many eminent teachers of our Faith have come to India, but you have a special place in our hearts. Your gentle, inspiring words will always remain a precious memory and guide us through all the weals and woes of life. Dear Mrs. Faizi: You are a great teacher of this Cause and your distinguished services in India are too well known to be recounted. Through your love for our people, you have now made India your home. May we be able to return this love. This book is respectfully dedicated to you both. Please accept my humble tribute. - Dipchand Khianra The Hand of the Cause Mr. A.Q. Faizi and Mrs. Gloria Faizi Acknowledgement The first person I wish to thank is my dearly loved sister, Mrs. Gloria Faizi, who has sympathized with my aspirations to serve the Faith and has constantly encouraged me to write something of abiding value. I am indebted to the spiritual heirs of Isfandiyar Bakhtiyari, Firaydun Yazimaydi and Jamshid Jamshidi, for making available to me some of his diaries. I offer my grateful thanks to Mr. H. Fatheazam for writing a masterly preface to this book; to my spiritual brother, Mr. A. Nakhjavani, for his never failing encouragement; to Counsellor B. Afshin for raising up my spirits during moments of despondency; and to my son Kumar for having preserved the papers and documents which I needed for this book. -D.K. Editor's Note It should be brought to the attention of our readers that in this book Prof. Khianra mentions only a small number of those who served the Baha'i Cause in this country in its early stages. There were many valiant workers in the Faith of whom future historians will, no doubt, write numerous accounts. Contents Preface 1 Narayenrao Rangnath Shethji (Vakil) 7 lashodaben Shethji (Vakil) 27 Khusraw Biman (Thabit) 39 Muhammad-Rida . . -Shirazi 61 Isfandiyar Bakhtiyari 79 Pritam Singh 109 Kaykhusraw Ruzbihiyan 131 Mawlavi Muhammad . 'Abdu'llah Vakil 145 Mihraban Rustam Bulbulan 155 Shyamdulari Bhargava 161 Dawlat Vajdi 167 Ghulam-' Ali Ibrahimji Kurlawala 171 Shah Bahram Mu 'bidzadih 181 Gawhar l:Iakimiyan 205 Mulla Mu~ammad-l:Iusayn Kitabi 213 , Dawlat-i-Iran 219 Appendix J 227 Appendix II 230 Appendix III 237 References 240 Preface India has been, in the past, a magnificent treasury of Divine Revelation. Her influence in the world of thought and her quickening impact on the spiritual growth of man is undeniable. Who can ignore or minimize the importance of Hinduism and Buddhism in the process of an ever-adyancing civilization which man, by the supreme design of God, is destined to bring forward from age to age? These two great religions appeared on Indian soil, and hosts of devoted followers kept the flame of faith burning in their hearts. It is no wonder, therefore, that in this great Day of God, when the promise of all ages has been fulfilled, and the Manifestation of the Divine Essence has appeared, the people of India are once again playing a significant role. When the Bab declared His Mission, an Indian, known as Sa'id Hindi was one of the first who recognized Him, and was the only non-Persian member of the Letters of the Living-the first eighteen devoted souls who, with the Bab, Himself, comprised the first Val:tid of the Babi Dispensation. Such a golden link with the spiritual regeneration of man was strengthened at the time of Baha'u'llah, Who despatched teachers to proclaim His Cause among the peoples of India. Later, at the time of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, the Indian subcontinent became a beacon of light, and constituted one of the first important bases of the Administrative Order of the Baha'i dispensation. Many great souls arose from the Indian soil to become the harbingers of the springtime of God. Their dedication in serving the newly-established Faith produced great results. Their vision, brightened by the creative Words of God, in building a shelter in which diverse people of every caste and creed can live in love and harmony, is progressively coming into being. The stories of these heroes, whose names have adorned the annals of the Faith in India, need to be told. And who can tell these inspiring accounts better than Professor Dipchand Khianra who~ himself, is one of the distinguished sons of India, and a stalwart of the Baha'i Community in that subcontinent. I have had the signal honour of learning a great deal from my fellow believers, such as Professor Khianra, during the happy and rewarding days when I was in India, and I look forward with much eagerness to reading the book which Professor Khianra has written about great Indian believers. I wish to express, with great humility, my gratitude for the soulstirring experiences I have gained by being associated with the beloved Indian people-an indebtedness which will forever burn brightly in my heart. -Hushmand Fatheazam . My rival said, "Why are you here day after day?" I come to find the heart I lost while on this way. Narayenrao Rangnath Shethji "Beloved Vakil" 1 1886-1943 "You are the first believer among the Hindu nation. You must proclaim the Cause of God, spread the divine teachings and make the people ready to receive and realize the Truth."2 arayenrao Rangnath Shethji, better known as Vakil,3 was N born in a well-known Hindu family in Nawsari. His parents were very religious and God-fearing. They were kindhearted and of charitable disposition. The family had a temple beside their house in which prayers were offered and devotional songs chanted every morning and evening. The religious atmosphere must have had a great influence on young Narayenrao who grew up to be a godly and pious man. He was the third of five sons born to his parents, but his father showed special affection towards him. Vakil received his B.A. degree in 1908 from the famous Elphinstone College in Bombay, and became a graduate in Law of the Bombay University in 1911. He was an advocate of 1 from the Guardian's cable dated May 6, 1943 2 'Abdu'l-Baha's words to Vakil, recorded in his diary 3 This is the name by which 'Abdu'l-Baha called him as he was a lawyer by profession. the Bombay High Court, and one of the senior lawyers of Surat where he practised for thirty years. During this time he showed the noblest traits of character and became known for his honesty and integrity. People from different towns and cities came to him for advice and benefited from his services. But there were distinct conditions before he would agree to represent them in Court. Their case had to be genuine. If they had been wronged in any way, he would defend them, otherwise he would not take on the case. Once a man came asking for his help whose father-in~law had died leaving much property. He was now trying to take away all the dead man's wealth for his wife, leaving nothing for her brothers. He told Vakil that he knew how this could be done, and promised him a rich reward if he would agree to help him. Vakil immediately asked him to leave his office, saying, "I am here to defend the rights of the oppressed, not to work for the benefit of tyrants." There was another man who had paid him a large sum of money to fight his case but, as the case proceeded, it became clear to Vakil that the man had lied to him. He called him to his office, returned the money and asked him to engage another advocate. These and similar stories found their way to magistrates and judges, and they were so impressed by Vakil's character and honesty that he was respected by them all. He was always fair towards his opponents; he was loyal to the laws of the land but would never yield in matters of conscience. No one questioned his integrity, and there was a stamp of veracity on cases presented by him. He was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader because of his detached outlook and at one time he was elected as a City Father at one of the Municipal elections. While studying in Elphinstone College, Vakil came in contact with a fellow student, M.R. Shirazi. The two had much in common and soon became good friends. They were different from the frivolous youths around them and spent most of their Narayenrao Vakil free time on serious matters. Shirazi had been introdri'ced to the Baha'i teacher, Mirza Ma~ram, who was living at the Baha'i Centre, a few minute~' walking distance away from Elphinstone College, and he was becoming interested in the new Faith. On their morning walks Shirazi would discuss what he had heard from Mirza Mahram . with Vakil who was soon attracted to the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Then he met Mirza Ma~ram himself and learned much from that great teacher of the Cause. Vakil had been raised as an orthodox Hindu, a devotee of Lord Krishna, and it was not easy for him to accept another religion. But, as he was a seeker of Truth, he finally realized that Baha'u'llah was the return of Lord Krishna and had come to bring unity among people of different religions. When he was completely convinced he told Mirza Ma~ram that he considered himself a Baha'i. Mirza Ma~ram said he had to put him to a test. Vakil should prove his faith by teaching it to his friends and relatives and, if he found it difficult, he could bring them to Mirza Ma~ram at the Baha'i Centre. In this way Narayenrao Vakil Vakil was encouraged to teach the Faith from the very beginning and continued to do' this throughout his life. To him, giving the Message of Baha'u'llah to others was a part of his Faith, an essential duty which he would never neglect. Vakil became a Baha'i in 1909. In 1910 there was a large exhibition in Allahabad which included an all-India Religious Conference. The conference was held on the banks of the . Jamuna, near its confluence with the Ganges,! and thousands of people had gathered there from every part of India. Siyyid Mu~!afa Rumi was to represent the Baha'is at the conference and read an address; but he developed a sore throat and was not able to do any reading, so the Bombay Assembly requested Vakil to read the address in his place. Rumi was also to go to Allahabad from Madras, but Vakil had never met Rumi and wondered how he would recognize him. When he arrived in Allahabad he went to see the exhibition and, despite the large crowd of people there, he immediately caught sight of someone whom he felt sure would be the friend he was looking for; and indeed it was. The two men were instinctively drawn together as though they had known each other all their lives. Vakil's address made. a strong impression on the audience and created a great stir among the delegates. Here was a young man endowed with an attractive, magnetic personality and hailing from a noble orthodox Hindu family, expounding the Faith of Baha'u'llah and announcing the advent of a New World Order! Vakil's speech hit the headlines in the newspapers, and those who heard him took the news with them to all corners of India. The distribution of Baha'i pamphlets, too, had a lasting effect and brought many inquiries. The most important event in Vakil's life, next only to his having accepted the Faith, was his pilgrimage to the Holy 1 These are the two most sacred rivers of India, and a dip in either is considered sufficient to wash away the life-long sins of a Hindu. Land where he attained the sacred presence of the Master. 'Abdu'l-Baha had invited him to visit the Holy Land, and he left for Haifa on March 10, 1914, in the company of his dear friend, Shirazi. Vakil was allowed to stay in Haifa for twenty-seven days, during which time the Master showed him unlimited favours. A number of pilgrims, including some from Persia and America, were already there and they mixed like members of the same family. It is clear from the diary he kept while in the Holy Land, that Vakil had a highly devotional temperament. He prayed for everyone: his parents, his brothers, his friends-even those who had passed away - for the people of India; and he requested the Master to pray for them too. A number of times he begged 'Abdu'l-Baha to pray t~at he might be, confirmed in serving the Cause and in guiding others. 'Abdu'l-Baha showered special benedictions on him. Here are some of the things He said to Vakil: 1 "You will be eternally confirmed." "From India I have received many letters praising and commending you. Now I see with My own eyes that, praise be to God, those praises and commendations are not only fully manifest in you but. . . you are greater than the picture portrayed in the letters .... From our first meeting you have become very dear to Me. Are the members of your caste investigating, searching, or are they satisfied with their old customs?.. I hope that when you leave this Holy Spot you will become the cause of their guidance and, God willing, your very breath shall have a great effect on their hearts! You will go away 1 Vakil kept a diary while on pilgrimage. 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke to him through a translator, and Vakil probably wrote down what he heard from memory when he left the Master's presence. from here with a new fire enkindled in your heart and a new power impelling you to go forward in the path of God .... You must raise the call of the divine Kingdom allover India, and summon the people to the Paradise of Abha.... I am very pleased with you and I love you vetḥ-- much. You have a radiant face and a luminous heart." "We shall soon hear that you have become a new creation ... people will testify to your faith and courage." "Do not look at your own weakness, but look to the confirmations of God. Consider the clay, how insignificant it is; yet, blessed by the rains, it produces beautiful flowers." "You are a tree planted by the hand of Providence and watered by the vernal rains of Divine bounty .... You will bear luscious fruits from which all the people of India will benefit." "Baha'u'llah has crowned you with a crown of jewels. You will awaken multitudes." "Erelong your father and others will glory in your name because of your connection with the Cause of God." The Master then recounted how He had once seen people kissing the stones in a certain place because they thought that their Prophet might have, at one time, stepped on one of them. 'Abdu'l-Baha also spoke of a letter containing two or three lines and said to be written by Peter, the first disciple of Jesus Christ. This letter was sold for a very large sum of money even though no one was sure of its authenticity because paper does not last for two thousand years unless it is parched, and the paper on which this letter was written was not parched. The Master said that Peter, during his own days, was scoffed at and humiliated and no one would have given five paise for his letter, but now he is glorified in the eyes of the world. While Vakil was on pilgrimage, 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote a Tablet to his parents which reads in part as follows: "Praise be to God that you have a son like Mr. Vakil who will, erelong, rise to glorious heights for he will become one of the chosen in the Court of God, and receive heavenly confirmations. I pray that this drop may become a sea, and this atom a mighty mountain. This plant will grow through the showers of grace until it becomes a tree bearing rich fruit; and this lamp will become a radiant light which will illumine the whole of India. "I Vakil supplicated 'Abdu'l-Baha to visit India. The Master said: "India must become a magnetic centre of spirituality so that I may be drawn to its shores. If the fragrances of God waft incessantly over the people of India, it will attract Me." Then 'Abdu'l-Baha said to Vakil that He would send him to India instead of Himself, with special spiritual power. Vakil asked the Master how it would be possible for him to serve the Cause if he continued with his profession as a lawyer. 'Abdu'l-Baha said: "You must show that you are a Baha'i by your character and conduct. People must see that you are different from others. Do not become too much engaged in your work; devote some of your time to business and some to the Cause." The Master also told Vakil to spend his holidays going on teaching trips. One day 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke to Vakil, who was a pure vegetarian, on the food God has intended for man to eat. He said: 1 This and other quotes given here from the Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Vakil are free translations from the Persian. "It is manifest that in the creation of God, man is not endowed with carnivorous teeth; his food consists of nuts, vegetables and other produce of the vegetable kingdom. Now through the practice of long ages of meat eating man has subverted this divine plan .... The sustenance of man is fruits, grains, and fresh vegetables." Vakil was betrothed to be married to a young girl by the name of lashodaben who was a staunch Hindu. While on pilgrimage, he asked 'Abdu'l-Baha about his marriage. The Master replied: "Marry the girl to whom you are betrothed and I pray that she may become a Baha'i ... " Vakil with lashodaben and Sushila Back in India, Vakil married lashodaben and gave her full freedom to follow her own beliefs and worship as she wished. In time they had two lovely daughters, Sushila and Kapila. Vakil with lashodaben and Sushila Vakil wrote to 'Abdu'l-Baha several times and received beautiful Tablets from Him. The Master always blessed him and said he would become as a shining light in India. In one of His Tablets, 'Abdu'l-Baha writes: "Praise be to God that you have found the path which leads to God and have attained to that which is the desire of the holy ones. I beseech God 'that you may remain steadfast and unshakable because steadfastness is the quality of the faithful. "As long as a tree is not firm and its roots have not penetrated deep' into the earth, it does not yield any fruit. As long as the foundation of a structure is not strong, it cannot become a lofty edifice." In 1920, when the first Convention 1 of the Baha'is of India was held in Bombay, Vakil and Shirazi were among the chief organizers, and Vakil handled much of the work which had to be done in English. 2 In 1922 the Convention elected an executive committee and Vakil was elected its auditor. When this body became the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and Burma in 1923, Vakil was elected as its chairman. He continued to occupy this post, except for one year, until the day of his demise in 1943. When the Master passed away, Vakil's sense of loss was acute. 'Abdu'l-Baha had been a father to him, as well as his Lord and Master, and now he felt orphaned. Yet he was gradually consoled by the beloved Guardian who kept in constant touch wi(h him and encouraged him to attain great heights of honour in the service of the Cause. If 'Abdu'l-Baha 1 In those early days this term was applied to yearly conferences 'where Baha'is came together from all over the country. 2 A sample of the letters which Vakil sent to the Baha'is is given in . Appendix I. had been a father to him, Shoghi Effendi was his true brother. In the year 1929 Vakil, accompanied by his wife and two daughters, went on pilgrimage a second time. The Guardian showered his love and kindness on the family. lashodaben was shown every consideratioR and left free to follow her own conscience and worship as she wished. One night, while sleeping in the Mansion of Baha'u'lhih in Bahji, lashodaben had a most wonderful dream which did not leave any doubt in her mind about the station of Baha'u'llah. The nleaning was clear and she became a firm believer in Him. l Vakil's eldest daughter, Sushila, who was nine at the time of her pilgrimage, has said: "We had been receiving letters from the beloved Guardian regularly and frequently. He was very fond of my father and, what was more, he trusted him very much. Whenever he needed any information about this country, he directly asked my father to provide it .... "One day, with a most enchanting smile on his handsome face, the beloved of our hearts said to my father, 'Mr. Vakil, your future home must be in Haifa. You should come and stay here .... ' For some hours every day he would keep my father near himself ... "Then one day came the moment of parting. Our vision was completely blocked by tears .... Words would not come out. At last we three (Mrs. Vakil and her two daughters) hid our faces in the lap of the Greatest Holy Leaf 2 and broke down. How she loved us! How she kissed us! How she comforted us! What a depth of love was there in those unbreakable ties! "The same was our father's condition and Shoghi Effendi was trying to comfort him. At the moment of departure the 1 See p.27 2 the sister of 'Abdu'l-Baha beloved Guardian said to my father, 'Come here every year, so that you will have a complete change of environment. From the physical world you will come into the world of the spirit.' "Shoghi Effendi called us 'my family' and whenever anyone went on pilgrimage he would ask, 'How are my family members?' Whenever Amatu'l-Baha, Ru~iyyih Khanum 1 comes to India she makes enquiries about my sister and myself by saying, 'Where are the members of my family? How are they?' " Vakil and his family left the Holy Land with heavy hearts after a stay of thirty-eight days and journeyed back to India, meeting Baha'is in many places on their way. To the end of his life, Vakil continued to have regular correspondence with the Guardian who was his constant help and inspiration. Under the guidance of the Guardian, he developed his full spiritual potential and became a shining light as the Master had predicted. He was constantly helping to deepen the understanding of his fellow believers or giving the new Message to others. He gave much time to organising the affairs of the Faith and keeping the whole community united by constant contact and correspondence. For fifteen years Vakil disseminated all kinds of Baha'i news through his letters to the farthest corners of India. As soon as he received any piece of information which would be of interest to Baha'is in India, he would have it typed and circulated. His theory was this: "A man cannot reach all places at one and the same time but his letters can." Many are the people who have maintained files of these letters, and future historians will find them very interesting and informative. Vakil's practice as a renowned lawyer in Surat brought him 1 the wife of the Guardian a very good income. He lived in a large, comfortable house and owned a hack Victoria. 1 This had belonged to' an Englishman who was going back to his country and who wanted to sell his carriage to Vakil as he knew the horse would be looked after properly. Vakil observed the Baha'i Holy Days with befitting dignity. He invited the notables and elite of the city, as well as others, to a gathering at his beautiful house and spoke to them about the importance of the occasion. He also made extensive teaching tours allover India, giving the Message of Baha'u'llah wherever he went. Sometimes he took his wife and daughters with him to visit Baha'is in other towns, and thus close and lifelong friendships were established with other Baha'i families in India. Among those to whom Vakil spoke of the Baha'i Faith was the Maharaja of Mysore. He was originally allowed an audience of ten minutes but the Maharaja became so interested in what he heard that he sat listening to Vakil for over an hour. The beloved Guardian was very happy when the news was conveyed to him. On October 15, 1940, his secretary wrote: "Your meeting with ... His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore ... has been noted with feelings of highest satisfaction and gratitude by the Guardian." In the same year Vakil travelled as far as Nepal and met Col. Raja Jai Prithvi Bahadur Singh, Raja of Bajang (Nepal) who gave Vakil a statement concerning the greatness of the Baha'i Faith which was later published in The Baha'i World. People everywhere knew and respected Vakil as a Baha'i and he would often receive letters enquiring about the Faith from different parts of India. His love reached out to everyone 1 This was a carriage drawn by a horse which only the rich could afford. and all those who came in touch with him responded to his kind nature and were filled with admiration for this first Hindu to recognize the station of Baha'u'lhih. Vakil was very generous with contributions to Baha'i funds. He always set aside a portion of his income for the Cause. Apart from that, whenever it was necessary for Baha'is to collect money for a special undertaking, Vakil would be the first to donate a generous amount. Isfandfyar Bakhtiyari, who was the National treasurer for many years, said Vakil would contribute to the funds for every occasion-on the nine Holy Days, at the time when his daughters sat for exams, and later in thanksgiving because they had passed their examinations. Bakhtiyari writes: "I can never adequately recount the noble traits of this great man. His purity, his saintliness and his 'generosity were beyond description. Once he sent me two money orders by telegram in one day for the National Fund. Not long after that I met him at Convention and asked why he had not sent both donations together as it would have been cheaper for him. He explained that a client had paid him his fees in the morning, out of which he had taken what he considered to belong to God and had sent it. Then, when another client paid his fees in the afternoon, he decided to send the second amount as he did not wish to go to bed that night without giving what was God's due. " Vakil did not keep well towards the end of his life, but he would not slacken his pace of service. The Guardian, who loved him dearly, was very much concerned about Vakil and asked him to take care of his health. Then one day Bakhtiyari received a letter from the Guardian in which he said that Vakil was drawing closer to God day by day. He also received a telegram from Vakil's wife saying that her husband was in a critical state of health. Bakhtiyari rushed to Surat from Bakhtfyarf and Martha Root visit Vakil and his family in Surat Karachi. He found that his dear friend had been unconscious for the past few days and the doctor had no hope of his recovery. Bakhtiyari went closer to the patient's bed and greeted him in a loud voice: "Allah-u-Abha!"l To everyone's astonishment, a smile appeared on Vakil's face and he softly murmured his reply: "Allah-u-Abha!" Then Bakhtiyari chanted the Tablet of A~mad2 for him and he slowly started to speak a few words. He was well enough to get out of bed in a few days and the doctor who attended to him, Dr. Tayyibji, could not understand how such a thing was possible. He said, "I have now seen with my own eyes the effect of the Words of Baha'u'llah. I had no hope that my patient would ever regain consciousness. " A few days later, instructions were received from the Guardian that the National Spiritual Assembly should find a building for its administrative headquarters in New Delhi. Vakil told Bakhtiyari to leave for Delhi immediately and start looking for a suitable place. Bakhtiyari was still concerned about his friend and did not want to leave him so soon, but Vakil would not hear of it. The Guardian's instructions, he said, had to be instantly obeyed. Bakhtiyari said, "I will take the first train after lunch." Vakil replied, "You will go now!" Such was the degree of his obedience to the Guardian of the Cause. Vakil obeyed the institutions of the Faith, too, without any delay. He would say, "Service to the Cause is like justice, and justice delayed is justice denied." An example of his instant obedience was demonstrated as far back as 1920 when it was resolved at the first Convention that Vakil should undertake a teaching trip to the North. He set out on his trip on 1 God is Most Glorious 2 The Tablet of Al.tmad is one of the powerful Tablets of Baha'u'llah. It is often read by Baha'is at times of difficulty. January 1, 1921, one day after the Convention was over. 1 Vakil attended the Convention which was held in Poona on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of April, 1943, and was once more elected as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly for that year. When the Assembly met for its first session, however, Vakil was not well enough to attend. His fellow members said special prayers for him, and then they received the sad news. Beloved Vakil left this mortal world on May 2nd, 1943. The Guardian's cable to the Baha'is of the Indian subcontinent reads: "Share fully poignant grief Indian Baha'i community passing its distinguished champion firm pillar able teacher administrator beloved Vakil. Concourse on high acclaim his pioneer historic service. Advise hold befitting memorial gatherings recognition tribute his high station." 2 Innumerable meetings were held in memory of Vakil throughout the length and breadth of India and Burma as well as in other countries. His wonderful qualities, his sacrifices and achievements, his great love for the Cause of God and for his fellow believers were all remembered. Telegrams and letters of condolence from people who loved and respected Vakil-non-Baha'is as well as Baha'is-poured in for the bereaved family. Members of the National Spiritual Assembly travelled to Surat to pay homage to their' dear brother and assure his family of their love and sympathy. I quote below parts of an appreciation written in memory of Vakil by Amarsingh Vansia, B.A.,LL.B., who had worked with Vakil for a number of years and who was one of his many non-Baha'i admirers: 1 Vakil's reports on this teaching trip are given in Appendix II. 2 Baha'{ World Vol. IX, p. 637 Narayenrao Vakil " .... A home more pious, sweet, quiet and loving than that of Mr. Vakil's could be hardly found. "The spark of intelligence in him as a lawyer attracted many clients for him. In a court of law he was always fair and just to his opponents, yet never yielding in his convictions. His integrity was beyond reproach. "A thorough gentleman with winning and charming manners, he was of a rather retiring temperament.... He often used to say that the tongue is a unique gift from God and it is a cardinal sin to use it indiscriminately. He was never found in angry or perturbed mood during the ten years of my very happy association with him. "His world was always in terms of Baha'ism. He was a Baha'i not for outwardly clinging to a particular Faith, but in his every action and thought he was a true Baha'i. His whole life was in tune with the best principles and tenets of the Faith. He was really a favoured man of God and was always found near to Him .... "I must admit that my knowledge of different Faiths hardly N arayenrao Vakil entitles me to give a comparative view ... but what little I have seen in Mr. Vakil as a Baha'i it is a perfect Faith-a Faith in which all that is best in other Faiths is centralised .... "I would not be surprised if the whole world in times to come were to follow the principles of Baha'ism in one form or other." Vakil left a permanent impression on the Baha'i world and on the heart of Shoghi Effendi. Whenever anyone went to the Holy Land from India, the Guardian invariably talked about dear Vakil. He would ask the Baha'is to visit Vakil's family on his behalf and assure them of the unfailing protection of Baha'u'llah. He always said, "I regard this family as my own. " The high regard and affection which Shoghi Effendi had for Vakil can be seen from the various letters addressed to him by the Guardian. Here is an example of what the Guardian wrote to him: "Dear and prized co-worker: "I wish to ... reaffirm my deep sense of gratitude for all that you have done and are now accomplishing for the spread and consolidation of our glorious Faith. The seeds you have so patiently been sowing will no doubt germinate and yield an abundant harvest. Perservere in your great work. I pray that your dear daughters may be blessed and aided to reinforce and carryon the work you are so energetically and devotedly achieving. "Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi" 1 Vakil received a vast number of letters from Shoghi Effendi, 1 dated April 19, 1941 all of which were carefully preserved by his family and handed over to the National Baha'i Archives of India. They will always be an eternal testimony to the high station of this great Indian B aha' i. When the Guardian heard of Vakil's passing, he wrote the following to his daughters: "I have just heard the very sad news of the passing of your dearly loved father. This is a great loss to the Baha'icommunity in that land aI)d indeed to the Baha'i world. His exemplary devotion, his indefatigable efforts, his shining faith, his unswerving fidelity, his zeal, his magnificent achievements, in both the administrative and teaching spheres of Baha'i activity have enriched the annals of the Cause of Baha'u'llah. I personally greatly loved and admired him. The Beloved, I assure you, was pleased with him and will now bless his soul in the great Beyond. I will pray for him from the depths of my heart." 1 On June 23, 1943, he wrote again: "The passing of your very dear and distinguished father has deeply grieved me, and I hasten to assure you and your dear mother in person of my heartfelt sympathy in the severe loss which you and the Cause have sustained through his death. His services and the memory of his life and works, which so clearly exemplified the spirit of the Cause, are however imperishable. I truly feel proud of the standard he has set, the work he has accomplished, and the contribution he has made to the progress and establishment of the Faith in India. I will supplicate the Beloved to bless his soul, to cheer your hearts, to enable you to follow his inspiring example." 1 dated May 5, 1943 Jashodaben Shethji (Vakil) 1904-1966 HI pray to God that she may attain endless ,,1 fiavours . .. ashodaben was the beloved wife of Narayenrao Vakil. She J was only thirteen when she was married and she became a mother at the age of fifteen. She had two beautiful daughters, Sushila and Kapila, who were nine and seven when their father took them all with him on his second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. lashodaben had always been a great devotee of Lord Krishna and, although she loved her husband and was a good wife to him, she did not share his beliefs. While in the Holy Land, she spent much time with the Greatest Holy Leaf who was the kindest and sweetest person she had ever known. There was a woman there who knew Gujarati and translated for her and her children. lashodaben continued with her own prayers and worship of Lord Krishna until one night when the Guardian sent the family to sleep in the Mansion of Baha'u'llah in Bahji. Before going to bed, lashodaben said her prayers as usual- and put the Holy Book Bhagavad Gita with a picture of Krishna under her pillow. That night lashodaben had a beautiful dream. She saw a holy Figure in white standing by a cupboard from which He 1 a free translation from a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed to N.R. Vakfl took out beautiful jewelled crowns, one after the other, and gave them to her to put in another cupboard in the room. Every crown was more beautiful than the other, and the holy Figure said to her that these were the crowns of Krishna which now belonged to Baha'u'lhih. Then she saw Krishna and Baha'u'lhih together. Krishna took off his crown and gave it to Baha'u'llah, and Baha'u'lhih gave His Tajl to Krishna. Baha'u'llah then looked at lashodaben and said, "There is no difference between Us; We are the same." The next morning lashodaben woke up very happy and narrated her dream to her husband. Vakil's joy was boundless because he knew that the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha had now come true and his wife had become a Baha'i. 2 Even before she was a believer in this Cause, 'Abdu 'l-Baha had mentioned lashodaben in His Tablets to her husband. Once He wrote: "Extend, on My behalf, this affectionate message to the revered maid-servant of God, thy noble wife, and say unto her, 'Offer thanks to God that thou hast such a husband who abides in My heart and who has made thee self-sacrificing in the Path of God. ' " 3 In another Tablet to Vakil the Master said: ". .. give greetings of the Kindgom of Abha to the maidservant of God, your respectable wife. I pray to God that she may attain endless favours ... " In 1919, 'Abdu '1- Baha addressed a Tablet to both Vakil and his wife in which He said: 1 Tdj literally means crown. It is a headgear which Baha'u'llah used to wear. 2 See p.14 . 3 All quotes from Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha given here are free translatIons from the Persian. lashodaben "0 two candles of Divine Love! ... I pray in the Court of Oneness for you to be guarded and protected under His guard and protection, and to be helped in propagating the verses of Unity and assisted in guiding others, so that you may lay a foundation of everlasting life in this perishable world and kindle a light in this darkness of the physical kingdom ... " It is clear from this Tablet that lashodaben was supporting her husband in his services to the Cause even before she was a Baha'i herself. lashodaben became very attached to the Greatest Holy Leaf. Her daughters, who had vivid memories of their beautiful pilgrimage and had often heard their mother speak of those days, have recounted some of the things which happened: One night lashodaben thought to herself, "I should like to cook some Indian food for the Greatest Holy Leaf." The next day, the Greatest Holy Leaf asked her affectionately, "Would you like to cook some Indian food for me?" Later, she praised lashodaben the food and said that in future everyone would become ve getarian. On another day, the Greatest Holy Leaf told Jashodaben to ask her for a boon. lashodaben said, "My revered mother, I want to have a faith that nothing can shake, so that I can withstand the tests of life. I want to live for Baha'u'lhih and teach His Cause to others." The Greatest Holy Leaf said her wish would be granted. Then she asked lashodaben what else she wanted, for she would be granted any boon she asked for. Jashodaben answered, "I want nothing else, only that I and my children may remain firm in our faith to the end of our days." The Greatest Holy Leaf was very pleased with her and conferred on her a great honour by giving lashodaben her own name-Bahiyyih. Parting with the Greatest Holy Leaf was extremely difficult for lashodaben. She wept a's though her heart would break. The Greatest Holy Leaf took her in her arms and consoled her. Then she put a ring on lashodaben's finger which had the Greatest Name engraved on it. l Sushila has very kindly written down for me some of her own recollections of their pilgrimage. She says: "We were staying in the house of 'Abdu'l-Baha. One morning, I was standing near the flower-beds admiring nature's handiwork when all of a sudden I beheld beloved Shoghi Effendi! ... Light was radiating from him and I was spellbound. He came near me and I held out a rose to him. He graciously accepted it, saying, "Thank you so much. I am happy to receive this rose." Then he slowly walked away .... "It was wonderful to watch and listen to the Guardian chanting a prayer. The whole world was forgotten; one soared to the Abha Kingdom .... 1 Kapila has preserved this precious ring. "I remember hearing Shoghi Effendi say to my father, 'Vakil, I can see a great future for these two sweet daughters of yours. They will render great services to the Cause of God. Look after them well.' To the end of his earthly life, my dear father would repeat these sweet words to us .... "Never-to-be-forgotten were those nineteen days ... the kind eyes of the Greatest Holy Leaf, full of feelings of love and mercy; the inspiring and heart-warming words of the Guardian. After our pilgrimage, came the Beloved's never-failing letters which were to be our greatest comfort and will always be our most precious treasure. "Whenever I think of the Beloved, I am reminded of the words of the Gujarati poet 'Wherever I gaze, I come across Some sweet remembrance of yours; Wherever I find a flower bed My mind goes back to you.'" Concerning her mother, lashodaben, Sushila says: "She lived her life as a staunch Baha'i and faced every situation with the utmost faith in Baha'u'llah .... She was the right hand of my father.... When father developed heart trouble she would chant the Tablet of Al}mad and the Healing Prayer for him with great emotion." After Vakil passed away his brothers, who had never sympathized with his religious ideas, tried to win back his family to their own beliefs. lashodaben and her daughters would not be influenced by them and, although most of their property was taken away from them, they clung to their Faith. Sushila writes: "If my father made connections with Baha'is, my mother kept them up for almost a quarter of a century afterwards. She was careful that we answered every letter addressed to us whether it came from the Beloved Guardian, or the National Assembly, or individual Baha'is. She lavished her attention on us two sisters and gave us the best education available in Surat. She sent us to Baha'i Conventions and conferences. "It is really a surprise to us how our mother ran the house, looked after our many guests and kept all the Baha'i activities . gOIng. "After my father's demise, the greatest comforter of our family was Shoghi Effendi. He gave us strength and advice. It was because of his guidance that we could teach and open our house to all who wanted to hear of the Faith. Thirty-three years ago this was not done. Our dear mother always encouraged us to teach and helped us in every way she could." Kapila has also recounted some of her sweet memories of lashodaben. She says: "My mother had no love for worldly wealth and glory. At the time of contributing to the Funds, if she had no money, she would take off a piece of jewelry and give it. Thus everything that belonged to her was given away in contribution. " Kapila recollects that one day lashodaben saw the milkman drenched in the rain when he came to the door. She brought him a towel with which to dry himself; then she gave him a hot cup of tea before she sent him away. Sometimes children would come to visit lashodaben-a few little boys and girls. She would sit with them and ask them to say any prayers they had learnt at school. She herself would chant a Baha'i prayer for them, then give them sweets. The Local Spiritual Assembly of Surat was formed after Vakil passed away. Kapila remembers that Baha'is from other .- .., .-- ~ ~ ~ ~ '"0 c:: ~ .-- ~ ..s:: ::s en lashodaben, Sushila and Kapila, with Baha'i friends in Surat places, came to Surat at that time and helped them in their Baha'i activities. There were many Baha'i gatherings in their home and up to fifty people would attend these meetings. The two sisters, encouraged by Jashodaben, would organize everything and Sushila would give a speech. Sushila was a very good writer in Gujarati and some of her short stories have been published in magazines. She also translated Baha'i literature from English to Gujarati, and composed poetry and Baha'i songs which she chanted in their gatherings. lashodaben, who had received no formal education, also composed beautiful Baha'i poems which she would chant to herself and which even now sometimes appear in the Baha'i Samachar of Gujarat. In 1953, Kapila married Khudadad I:Iakimiyan, son of lamshid I:Iakimiyan and Gawhar Khanum,l and went to live in Bombay. After four years when Sushila was married to Sachi Chatterjee and went to Calcutta, Kapila and her husband came back to Surat to look after Jashodaben as she was getting old. lashodaben was much loved and greatly admired by her sons-in-law who were both devoted Baha'is. 2 They thought of her as a saint and considered it a privilege to serve her. She died a happy woman on December 7, 1966. The last words she uttered were "Ya Baha'u'I-Abha!"3 The following cable was received by the National Spiritual Assembly from the Universal House of Justice after Jashodaben passed away: 1 See p. 205 2 Khudadad 1:Iakimiyan served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly for many years. Sachi Chatterjee became an Auxiliary Board Member in 1960. 3 0 Glory of the Most Glorious! "Grieved news passing Mrs. Vakil. Assure relatives friends prayers Shrines progress her soul." The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land sent this telegraphic message: "Kindly convey Mrs. Vakil's family deepest sympathy passing mother steadfast devoted believer. Her exemplary loyalty Faith worthy emulation all. Praying Shrines bounties departed soul. " lashodaben was a sweet, simple lady who played a great role in the life of her husband, her children and the Baha'i community of Surat. To her husband she was a loving companion who helped and supported him in his Baha'i activities. To her children she was a wonderful mother who nurtured them in the love of God and constantly encouraged them to serve His Cause. Sushila continued to serve the Faith to her last breath. 1 She was a capable person and everyone relied on her. She served as the secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Calcutta for many years. Her parents had been famous for their hospitality, and Sushila followed their example; her home in Calcutta was a centre of Baha'i activities and always open to guests. Sushila went on a number of teaching trips, and accompanied her husband on his tour of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I once asked Sushila who had impressed her more than anyone else in her whole life. Without a moment'~ hesitation, she said, "Shoghi Effendi. I have never seen a halo of radiance around any face as I have seen around his. Though I met our I She passed away in 1982. Sushila with Ru~iyyih Khanum Sushila with her husband and adopted son Sushila with Ru~iyyih Khanum Sushila with her husband and adopted son beloved Guardian half a century ago, and I was only nine at that time, his blessed face is as fresh in my memory as though I had seen it but yesterday." Once, when Amatu'l-Baha, R(i~iyyih Khanum was visiting Calcutta, the Baha'is had gone to receive her at the airport. They stood in a line and Sushila, who was very modest, stood at the end of the line. As soon as R(i~iyyih Khanum saw her, however, she went straight to Sushila, took her in her arms and said, "Shoghi Effendi loved you, and I love you too." Kapila is still serving the Cause with her husband in Surat. After her mother passed away, Kapila went on many teaching trips and travelled with her husband to Burma, Ceylon and Pakistan to meet the Baha'is of those countries. She has also served on the institutions of the Faith in India, and was at one time elected on the National Spiritual Assembly. One of Kapila's great contributions to the Faith was that for years, and almost single-handed, she edited Baha'i Samachar, which is a circular that comes out every month and reaches Baha'is allover Gujarat. In this way she followed in the footsteps of her noble father who circulated Baha'i news to his fellow believers a generation before her through the letters he sent out to every part of India. I give below an extract from one of the letters which the Guardian wrote in answer to Sushila and Kapila's letter as early as 1941. These letters were the source of their inspiration throughout their devoted life of service to the Cause of God: "May the Almighty spirit of Baha'u'llah guide and sustain you both, and enable you to lay a firm foundation for future Baha'i youth activity, and fulfil the hopes and wishes of your dear parents for your future service in the Divine Vineyard." 1 1 dated June 19, 1941 Kapila and her husband visit Baha'is in Burma in 1955 Kapila is seated first on the left; her husband is standing fifth from the left. Kapila and her husband visit Baha'is in Burma in 1955 Kapila is seated first on the left; her husband is standing fifth from the left. ~usraw Biman (Thabit) 1832?-1936 "Know thou the worth of this kindhearted man. He is an inmate of the divine Threshold and foremost among the friends of God. He is esteemed in this assemblage, and admired and respected by 'Abdu'l-Bahd. Day and night his thoughts centre round serving the Faith of God and scattering heavenly per).-Fumes . ... " 1 ot many people in this land have been fortunate enough to N serve the Faith of Baha'u'llah as ardently as Khusraw Biman. He was a most zealous worker and an enthusiastic champion of this glorious Cause, and one of its prized teachers. His own family and occupation, material wealth and social position were all secondary matters to him. His first concern was the Faith of God and if anything came in the way of his spiritual work, it was always put aside. He was an ardent lover of 'Abdu'l-Baha and the mere name of the Master put him in a state of rapture. It brought a smile to his lips and tears to his eyes. It created a yearning in his heart to visit his Beloved and bask in the sunshine of His presence. I from a Tablet revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha for Khusraw's wife, quoted in Navid-i-ldvid p. 74 Khusraw was born in a Zoroastrian family in one of the " villages near Yazd, in Iran, around the year 1832. Only the Persians themselves know the amount of degradation and insult the Zoroastrians were subjected to in their country at that time. They were forced to wear a special type of clothing. They could not ride a donkey through the market-place, nor were they allowed inside the house of a Muslim or a public eatingplace. If a Zoroastrian was, riding and came upon a Muslim priest, it was binding on him to get down from his donkey as a mark of his own inferiority. On a rainy day he was not to come out because if his wet garments touched those of a Muslin1, the Muslim would consider himself defiled. The homes of Zoroastrians had to be far away from respectable localities. They were obliged to build unattractive houses in order to display poor taste and create an unpleasant environment. A Muslim would wash the coins he accepted from a Zoroastrian, and he seldom spoke to him without hurling an abuse. And these were only some of the degradations they were subjected to. Khusraw had not been to any school. From early boyhood he had taken on his ancestral occupation-farming. In the harvest season the produce of the farm would be taken to the city where Muslim merchants would underweigh it and then buy it at a low price. The farmers, though always suspicious of these merchants, were at their mercy. One day Khusraw weighed his produce before setting out from his village and then took it to one of the merchants in Yazd. But when it was put on the scales there, it actually weighed more! Khusraw was astonished. Such a thing had never happened before. He expressed his surprise to other farmers there. One of them said, "This merchant is a Baha'i, so he is honest and God-fearing and kind to the poor." This was Khusraw's first contact with Baha'is. Up to that day he had heard nothing but contemptuous words about the followers of this religion from both Zoroastrians and Muslims. What he now experienced was something quite different from his expectations. On another day he went to visit the dastur 1 of the Zoroastrians in Yazd. The priest happened to be ill and requested Khusraw to go and bring him a certain doctor saying, "Since this physician is a Baha'i, he is more reliable and fair-minded than the others. " When the doctor came he showed great kindness towards the patient and his family. He sat down and had tea in their home, and he spoke of human beings as brothers and members of one household. Khusraw was greatly impressed by the words and conduct of this Baha'i. We are not sure of the date of Khusraw's birth or the exact day on which he set foot on Indian soil. We learn from his autobiography, N avid-i-Javid, 2 that he came to India around 1884. From this date till the day of his death on 31 st of December, 1936, he spent some fifty-two years in India. Isfandiyar Bakhtiyari, who met Khusraw only a few days before the close of his earthly life, states in an article that he found him hale and hearty and walking erect inspite of his age of 103 or 104 years. On coming to India, Khusraw worked outside Bombay for the first four years or so before he took over a restaurant in Apollo Street, Fort, Bombay. This was the beginning of a settled career in his life. Khusraw continued , to have correspondence with his relatives and friends in Iran and, sometimes in their letters, they would make mention of Baha'is. One of his friends once wrote in moving language about the martyrdom of two Baha'i yo~th in Yazd. He said: "While I was sitting in my shop, two Baha'i youth were 1 a Zoroastrian high priest 2 The Eternal Glad- Tidings taken to be martyred by a crowd of people armed with sticks and clubs. There was a great excitement in the street and abuses and curses were being hurled at the young men from all sides. My attention was drawn to these two spiritual youth. Their faces were radiant with an inner light and, as they passed by my shop, I heard one of them say to the other, 'Come brother, let us hasten to our death so that these poor people may be able to go back to their work and not be put to inconvenience on our account.' There was no trace of hatred for their enemies in their hearts .... You, who are in Bombay, must investigate this Faith for it is no simple matter." Near the shop .of Khusraw lived l:Iaji Siyyid Mirza Afnan,l a prominent Baha'i who ran a prosperous export business. The family of the radiant Bab, it should be, known, had a branch of business in the port of Bushihr in Iran, and they imported goods from India. 2 The Afnans in Bombay showed generous hospitality to all, the Baha'is who passed through this city on their way from Iran to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China or Japan. In those days Baha'i literature was also printed in India through the office of the Afnans. One evening, as Khusraw was sitting in his restaurant, he received an order to send refreshments to the residence of Mr. Afnan. Khusraw could have sent the things with a servant but he chose to take them personally. He found a number of people assembled in the house. They welcomed him with respect and showed him so much kindness that he was overwhelmed. He had never expected to be treated like this in the house of such important people. On another occasion, when there was a gathering of Baha'is in the house of the Afnans, 1 The relatives of the Bab are known as Afnan. 2 If research were made, letters in the handwriting of the Bab might be found among the papers belonging to some of the merchants of Bombay. and Khusraw was also present, he was given a seat by the side of the host, and he was further impressed to see that there was a Baha'i from Jewish background in that assembly, full of love for his new Faith. That spiritual gathering had a profound effect on Khusraw. When he sought permission to return to his shop, the host would not hear of it. "You are our honoured guest," he said, "you must dine with us." His kindness was disarming and Khusraw forgot all about his business that evening. At dinner Mr. Afnan seated Khusraw and the Baha'i from Jewish background on either side of himself. He said to them, "Consider the greatness of this age. Although I am a Siyyid, a descendent of the Prophet Mu~ammad, and you are from the followers of the holy Prophets Moses and Zoroaster, we have forgotten all differences and associate with each other in perfect love and friendship. This is the day of unity. All the prophets of old were eager to witness the brotherhood of mankind; and Baha'u'llah has now ushered in this Day of days. We who are privileged to live at such a time should value it and arise to serve the cause of unity." Khusraw went home in great excitement. Life for him had now acquired a new meaning; it had received a new direction. He felt as if he were a new man. He said to himself, "How very fortunate am I that I have received this great bounty and divine guidance. I should now hold on to it and shape my words and deeds according to these teachings which emphasize the value of forbearance, noble deeds and kindness towards all members of the human race. I must try my utmost to remove the prejudices which have enveloped the world and separated man from man. The religion of God comes to unite mankind. Should it become the cause of separation? Having no religion at all would be far better than making religion a cause of disunity. " But Khusraw needed a greater understanding of his newlyfound Faith. According to the beliefs which had been implanted in his mind and heart from early childhood, only some thousands of Zoroastrians living on earth will enter the eternal paradise because they are special people in the sight of God. Khusraw could not yet fully grasp the meaning of a Universal religion or comprehend that the foundation of all religions is the same, whereas Baha'u'lhih had taught the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of mankind. Khusraw went to 'Andalfb, the great teacher and poet who " had newly arrived from Iran, and put his questions and doubts before him. He said, "I am from the Zoroastrian community and it is our belief that from the time of His Holiness Mahabad to His Eminence Sasan the fifth, prophets appeared in every age and they were confirmed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. According to us, no other guidance would come from God until the time of Shah Bahram." 1 'Andalfb said to him, "Please tell me one thing. Were these prophets deputed by one God or by many gods?" "By one God," was Khusraw's reply. 'Andalfb went on to ask, "When God sent a prophet, confirmed Him with the Holy Spirit, and through Him revealed divine laws, established a social order and assured the wellbeing of humanity, why did He then send other prophets?" Khusraw confessed he did not know. "The reason," said , Andalfu, "is that, after a lapse of time, the priests mixed their own interpretations with the Words of God. They ,established ceremonies and rituals which gradually supplanted the teachings given by God, and these innovations became more important than the original spiritual teachings. With the passing of time, customs and traditions increased and the pure religion of God was completely forgotten. There was a need for God to renew His guidance and send another prophet. So 1 Baha'u'Uah is Shah Bahram, the One promised in Zoroastrian Scriptures. Khusraw is concerned about the mission of Christ, Mu~ammad and others Who appeared before Baha'u'llah. the Sun of Truth rose again and again and illumined vaster and vaster horizons. Now the same Sun has appeared from a different horizon and illumined the whole world with its radiance. From the day of Mahabad till eternity prophets will continue to come and, even though they do not appear from the same place, the spirit of Their teachings is the same. Each one of Them is guided by the same Holy Spirit." Khusraw said, "The Prophet Zoroaster went to King Gushtasp, imparted the Faith of God to him and he, in turn, directed Isfandiyar to go to different places and spread the teachings of Zoroaster. Why has such a thing not happened at this time?" 'Andalib replied, "Those who do not believe in Zoroaster say that it was the earthly and material power of King Gushtasp, not the spiritual might of Zoroaster, that caused the spread of His Faith, and that is why the teachings , of Zoroaster remained confined within the boundaries of Iran. Now reflect: Baba'u'llah was opposed , by the two greatest , Muslim kingdoms of the time, that of Iran and Turkey. Iran represented the power of the Shi'ihs, and Turkey the might of the Sunnis. These two great powers conspired together against Baha'u'llah and kept Him in bondage for forty years. They banished Him from place to place-to Baghdad, Constantinople, Adrianople, and, finally, to 'Akka. 1 Despite all this, the Faith of Baha'u'llah spread throughout the entire globe and brought about love and understanding among the different peoples of the earth. No one can say that Baha'u'lhih's teachings were propagated by any earthly power. God wanted the whole world to know that He is the All-Powerful and that no one can stand against His Will. The kings, the ministers, and the priests who opposed His Faith all met their doom disgracefull y . " 1 This was a prison-city to which unwanted people were sent from all over the Turkish Ottoman Empire. 'Akka is now part of Israel. Khusraw was much impressed by what he heard and continued to visit 'Andalfb for guidance and deepening. 'Andalfb gave him a copy of a Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha, revealed in answer to a Zoroastrian priest who had asked Him certain questions. When Khusraw had studied the Tablet, 'Andalfb asked him if he had found anything objectionable. Khusraw said, "I did not read the Tablet with a view to finding fault. I read it in a spirit of investigation and found it most educative and inspiring." 'Andalfb told him he had followed the path of a true seeker because it is impossible for a prejudiced person to distinguish truth from falsehood. Khusraw now started teaching the Faith to others. He was very keen that the Zoroastrians whose days of abasement, Baha'u'llah had said, was over should hear of the Baha'i Faith. He talked to everyone he knew. Instead of responding favourably, however, the Zoroastrians began to avoid him. But Khusraw was not discouraged. He kept on with his teaching work and the first person who accepted the Message was the pious Zoroastrian priest Hurmuzyar Khudabakhsh. Hurmuzyar was very suspicious at first and argued a great deal. He would not touch any food or drink offered to him by Khusraw, either at the restaurant or in his house. Referring to this later, he said, "I had been told by people that Baha'is put a magic drug in their food and drink so that anyone who eats or drinks with them falls under their spell and accepts their Faith. After investigation I came to know that they have no magic drug. It is their sincerity and devout faith and their reliance on the Manifestation of God that attracts souls." Hurmuzyar was so fired with the spirit of his new Faith that he left for the Holy Land on pilgrimage. When he returned, Khusraw welcomed him and requested him to recount his experiences. In reply he said, "Only those who go and see for themselves can understand the glory of the Holy Land and the greatness of 'Abdu'l-Baha, otherwise no tongue can describe it." By the close of the nineteenth century, Khusraw had moved from Bombay to Poona and opened the National Hotel. His name as a Baha'i had become known to everyone in the city. Since he was teaching the Faith day and night, and speaking to every Zoroastrian who came his way, the members of this community were infuriated. They decided that he had given up the religion of Zoroaster and should therefore be excommunicated. However, the High Priest in Poona said such a drastic step should not be taken until he had had a personal talk with Khusraw. He called Khusraw to him one day and said, "It is being stated that you have given up your faith in Zoroaster and there is a strong feeling that you should be excommunicated. But I want to hear from yourself your views on the teachings of Zoroaster." Khusraw said, "These teachings gave a new spiritual life to the people of that time and inspired them to be just, generous, forgiving and magnanimous. But Zoroaster also said that, after the passing of a fixed period of time, the tree of His Faith would be withered and in need of rejuvenation. Now God has once more unlocked for us the doors of His bounty and grace." The High Priest was pleased and said, "Now I know that you have not lost your faith in Zoroaster. I am glad I spoke to you." The two parted as good friends and Khusraw later gave the priest Baha'i literature to read. Khusraw's efforts at spreading the message of the Baha'i Faith aroused the antagonism of the Persian Muslims as well. They too raised their voice against him. His discussions with the Persian General Consul of those days is most interesting. One day this gentleman addressed Khusraw in a gathering where a number of Muslims were present. He said, "People are complaining that you have left the religion of your ancestors and "have accepted a new Faith." Khusraw said, "Do you mind if I speak frankly, Your Honour?" The Consul replied, "Not at all, go ahead." Khusraw said, "Your ancestors also did the same thing when they gave up the religion of their forefathers, the Zoroastrian Faith, and accepted a new