The Baha'i Faith: 50 Years in Singapore

TH E b a h á t f a it h 50 YEARS IN SINGAPORE 1950 - 2000

With compliments

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore

55 Cantonment Road Singapore 089754 www.bahai.org sg Email: nsasing@singnet.com.sg Tel: 62226200 Fax: 62229166 THE B A H Á ’Í FAITH - 50 YEARS IN SINGAPORE Copyright ®2000 by The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore Ltd.

Published by The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore Ltd. 110-D Wishart Road Singapore 098733 Tel: (65) 2733023 Fax: (65) 2732497 E-mail: nsasing@singnet.com.sg Website: h ttp :/ / www.bahai-sg.org

All rights are reserved under all international copyright laws. Portions of this publication may be used freely by any organisation provided that they attribute as follows: “Excerpted from The Baha’i Faith - 50Years in Singapore, a publication of The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore.”

ISBN 981-04-2499-X PREFACE

The Baha’i Faith is the youngest independent w orld religion. Founded more than a century and a half ago by His Holiness Baha’u ’llah, the Baha’i Faith is today among the fastest growing of w orld religions w ith more than six million followers in at least 233 countries and dependent territories. According to the 1992 Encyclopedia Britannica Book o f the , the Baha’i Faith has already become the second m ost widespread faith after Christianity in its geographic outreach.

Baha’is believe that there is only one God, the C reator of the Universe. Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers - each of whom was the Founder of a great religion. This succession of divine Teachers reflects a single historic “plan of G od” for educating humanity about its Creator and for cultivating the spiritual, intellectual and moral capacities of the entire hum an race. The goal of this process of progressive divine revelation is to prepare for the establishment of a world civilization based on equality and justice for all human beings. The ever expanding Knowledge of God’s Will for humanity to bring about a truly global society was revealed just over 100 years ago by His Holiness Baha’u ’llah, w ho is the latest of these divine Messengers.

26 May 2000 will mark 50 years from the date the first Baha’i pioneer, the late Dr. K.M. Fozdar, arrived on our shores. The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore is happy to publish this commemorative book to mark the Baha’i Faith’s Golden Anniversary in our nation.

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore April 2000 CONTENTS

His Holiness Baha’u ’llah 1 Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith

History of the Baha’i Faith in Singapore 3

Advancement of Women 20

Inter-religious Activities 27

Environment 32

Education 35

Youth 37

Marriage and Family Life 40

Singapore Association for Baha’i Studies (ABS) 41

The Goal of the Baha’i Faith 42 HIS HOLINESS BAHÁIFLLÁH (1817-1892) P rophet Founder o f th e Baha’i Faith

Baha’u ’Mh, which means “The Glory of G od”, was bom in Teheran, Iran in 1817. As a young man, He turned His back on a life of w ealth and, sacrificing freedom and material possessions, devoted Himself to the promulgation of laws, precepts and principles designed to carry humanity forward. His mission, Baha’is believe, represents the age of fulfilment prophesied by Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, B uddha, Lao Tzu, Christ, Muhammad, Gum Nanak and the founders of other great Faiths.

Bom the son of a wealthy government minister, Baha’u ’M h could trace His family’s ancestry back to the great dynasties of Iran’s imperial past. Yet, at the age of 22, Baha’u ’Mh declined the ministerial career opened to Him and chose instead to devote His energies to a range of philanthropies which had, by the early 1840s, earned Him widespread renown as “Father of the Poor”.

This privileged existence swiftly eroded w hen Baha’u ’M h became one of the leading followers of Siyyid Ali Muhammad known by his title the “Báb” w hich m eans “G ate” in Arabic. The Báb, Himself the Founder of an independent divine revelation, announced in May 1844 that His mission was to prepare humanity for the imminent appearance of a new' messenger from God, the One promised to all the religions of the world.

The religion of the Báb was widely accepted throughout Iran but it suffered intense persecution from religious and government forces, w ho viewed the Bab’s claim as heretical. The Báb was executed in 1850; Baha’u ’llah Himself was arrested and throw n into a notorious dungeon in Teheran, where conditions were so bad that few were expected to survive. It was here, during His four m onth imprisonment, that Baha’u ’M h received a vision of G od’s Will that He w as to bring hum anity a new religious revelation.

O n His release, B aha’u ’M h w as subjected to a series of exiles and imprisonments which lasted 40 years. The first was to Baghdad where, in 1863, B aha’u ’llah openly declared Himself as the M essenger o f G od promised by the Báb and foretold in all the holy scriptures of the past.

VerilyIsay, this istheDay hich ikii id can behold theFace, arid hearthe Voice. ofthePivmised One. Baha’u ’M h

l From B aghdad B aha’u ’llah w as exiled to Constantinople, then to Adrianople, and finally to Akka, a penal city in what was then Palestine in the Turkish Ottoman empire (modern-day Israel).

Throughout His years of imprisonment Baha’u ’llah revealed thousands of divinely inspired verses which make up over one hundred volumes of His Works. In these Writings, Baha’u ’llah expounded His doctrine, His laws and His ethical guidance. The heart of His ethical teachings is contained in “The Hidden Words”, a compilation of moral aphorisms. In the “Kitab-I-Aqdas” or “Book of Laws”, He detailed the distinctive laws and principles to be observed by His followers, and laid the foundation of the Baha’i administrative order.

Some of the principles proclaimed by Baha’u ’llah for a global society are: • Acceptance of the oneness of humanity and to be of service to mankind • Recognition of the divine origin and essential oneness of all the world’s great religions • Equal opportunities, rights and privileges for m en and women • Elimination of extreme wealth and poverty, and spiritual solutions to economic problems • Compulsory universal education • Adoption of an international auxiliary language • Recognition that true religion is in harmony with science • Independent search for truth, free from prejudices bom of custom and tradition • Sustainable balance between nature and technology • Establishment of a world federation based on collective security and justice for all.

Towards the end of His life, even though still under sentence of exile and prison, Baha’u ’llah was allowed to move outside the city walls of Akka to an estate know n as Bahji. It was here on 29 May 1892, that He passed away and was laid to rest in a garden room adjoining the mansion in Bahji. For B aha’is, this spot is the m ost holy place on earth and a place of pilgrimage.

HISTORY OF THE BAHÁT FAITH IN SINGAPORE

Introduction

Singapore, although tiny in area and devoid of natural resources, is rich and vibrant in the variety of its most precious asset -- its peoples and their traditions.

Located at the crossroads of South East Asia, Singapore is influenced both by the cultural as well as the commercial and industrial infusions from the region and even the world at large. This vital mixture aided by an enlightened government, has given Singapore its unique dynamism and made it a model of political, economic and inter-religious stability. Its multi-ethnic composition of four major races -- Malay, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian and its four official languages - Chinese, Tamil, Malay and English make Singapore a virtual miniature “U nited N ations” — a crosssection of humanity. Strategically located at the crossroads between north and south and east and west, this tiny island has become one of the greatest transportation and communications hubs of the world and at the cutting edge of technological advances in South East Asia.

In terms of religious affiliation, almost every major Faith has found a home in our nation. The Chinese are predominantly Confucianists, Taoists, and Buddhists (what has been called “the Chinese religion”), the Malays predominantly Muslim, the Indians predominantly Hindu and the Eurasians predominantly Christian.

Winds of Change

In the realm of the planet’s political development the demarcation line between the colonial and post colonial eras must be placed squarely at the midpoint between the tw o halves of the 20th century when fully naif the hum an race shirked off the yoke of empire and gained independence. N ations emerging from the holocaust of W orld W ar II recognized the imperative of globalization and created supranational agencies for the protection and well-being of hum anity. W ith the ever-present threat of planetary catastrophe looming in the background, these new political arrangements with their military checks and balances and mechanisms for socio-economic integration have, however imperfectly, continued on to our present times.

As w ith the widening of our socio-economic and political horizons so, too, on the plane of ethical and spiritual development predating the latter by a half century, the end of the 19th century gave rise to new definitions of Religion’s message and its purpose for being.

With the rapid increase in modes of travel, religions expanded their ambits to envelope the globe and Singapore too, was touched by this process of inter-religious mingling. The ethical and social mores it had inherited from the surrounding region by virtue of its location were in turn confronted and influenced by the rapid spread of modernism and technology providing a fit setting for the arrival on its shores of yet another sacred Faith - the world’s youngest independent religion - the Baha’i Faith, then itself barely a century old.

By Way of India

S ay: teach y e th e C ause o f God, O p e o p le o f B ahá, f o r G od hath p re sc rib e d unto every on e th e du ty o f p ro cla im in g H is M essage, a n d regardeth it as th e m o st m eritoriou s o f a ll deeds. Baha’u’Uah

The subcontinent of India has always played a significant part in the political, social and cultural fortunes of South East Asia. The British, for instance, used to rule the Straits Settlements of Penang, Singapore and Malacca from the office of the Governor-General in India. The spiritual history of the region is also connected to India. Indian traders visiting the region transm itted religions such as Buddhism, H induism and Islam to countries such as Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Characteristically, the first Baha’i teachers to this region, also came from India. In the 1880’s, tw o Baha’i teachers, Sulayman Khan-i-Tunukabani (popularly know n as Jamal Effendi) and Siyyid Mustafa Roumie, stopped over in Singapore for a few weeks on their way to the Javanese and Celebes islands.

Jamal Effendi was the first Persian teacher of the Faith sent to India in 1878 by the Faith’s Founder, Baha’u ’llah. His travel companion, Mustafa Roumie was a Muslim of Iraqi descent, whom Jamal Effendi had converted to the Baha’i Faith during his religious teaching tour in India. In the 1880’s both of them decided to team up for the purpose of teaching the Faith to the inhabitants of the countries of South East Asia. In Singapore, they stayed in the Arab quarters of the tow n, as guests of the Turkish Vice Consul, a well-known Arab merchant. They mixed freely w ith the Arab community. It is very likely that they taught the Baha’i Faith in Singapore to the Arab and Indian traders, but it is unlikely that they preached to the Chinese race due to language problems and the fact that 19th C entury Singapore was generally segregated geographically along racial lines.

The First Pioneers

It was only in 1950 that the first Baha’i “pioneers1” arrived in Singapore for establishing the Faith. The first pioneer to arrive was D r Khodadad M uncherji Fozdar, who after resigning from his medical practice in the Indian State Railway set sail from Bombay and after a three week sea journey reached Singapore on 26 May 1950. D r Fozdar was joined later that same year on 19 September by his wife Shirin. Besides being the first Baha’i to settle in Singapore, D r Fozdar also “pioneered” for the Baha’i Faith in Africa as well as in the Andaman Islands in 1953-54 and was bestowed w ith the title “Knight of Baha’u ’llah”2 by the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith for his services in the Andaman Islands. The Fozdars came in response to the call of the N ational Spiritual Assembly (“N SA ”) of the Baha’is of India to all Baha’is in that sub-continent to establish the Faith in all parts of South East Asia. W ith the help of friends, which he had made on board ship, D r Fozdar quickly found employm ent as a private medical ^practitioner in the colony. To ojaen Singapore to the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith, D r Fozdar placed Baha’i books in the Raffles Library and also gave public talks on his beliefs at the YM CA and the Theosophical Society to which he was often invited.

Dr K.M. Fozdar and Mrs Shirin Fozdar (1950)

1Pioneers are not “missionaries” in the commonly understood sense of the term since no financial support is given or special theological training is involved. While “pioneering” may constitute an individual’s sole purpose, Baha’i pioneers often combine it with practicing their profession or furthering their formal education, business opportunities, or even as a creative retirement.

2 “Knight of Baha’u ’llah” is a title bestowed by the great grandson of Baha’u ’llah, the Guardian of the Faith His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (1897-1958), upon 299 Baha’is who left their native land to open up new countries and territories to the Message of Baha’u’llah during the Faith’s World Crusade which stretched from 1953 to 1963. The names of the “Knights of Baha’u’llah” are recorded in an Honour Roll which is enshrined at the Faith’s World Centre in its place of Pilgrimage.

*/ 4 The First Public Proclam ation o f the Baha’i Faith in Singapore came about through an interview w ith D r K.M. Fozdar by The Straits Times, w hich was published in its issue of 15 September 1950. Besides summarizing the aims and teachings of the Baha’i Faith, the news item announced the forthcom ing arrival on 19 Septem ber of his wife M rs Shirin Fozdar under the heading “A Woman With A Message". The article also contained a synopsis o f her m any rem arkable achievem ents especially in the cause of w om en’s em ancipation.

The day after her arrival, Mrs. Fozdar gave a public lecture at the Singapore Rotary Club, then the most prestigious club in the colony. As this was the first public lecture given by a woman at the Rotary Club (then an all-male preserve), the press found tnis newsworthy and reportedparts of her speech the following day under the caption “No more nonsensefrom men, says Mrs. Fozdar. ” This was just the beginning of hundreds of newspaper articles about her3*6and the Baha’i Faith in the years that followed.

Some members of the Theosophical Society were very interested in the teachings of the Baha’i Faith as they shared several com m on ideals regarding the brotherhood of man and the fact that religion should be the cause of unity. A significant portion of the early believers on the island were in fact, former members of the Theosophical Society. A prominent member of the Singapore Baha’i com m unity, M r Teon G eok Leng, a professional accountant, was, for example, a form er President of the Theosophical Society.

Teoh Geok Leng (1907-1986)

Affectionately known as “Uncle Teoh”, Teoh Geok Leng embraced the Baha’i Faith in 1952 and was a member of the first Local Spiritual Assembly (“LSA”) of the Baha’is of Singapore. He remained a member of the Spiritual Assembly until 1972 when he was elected to the newly established National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore. In the 50’s and 60’s, he made several trips to teach the Faith in the tin mining and rural districts of Malaya. “Uncle Teoh” was noted for his meticulous manner of preparing accounts for the Spiritual Assembly of which he was a member and for his punctuality at meetings. He was also the first official marriage solemniser for Baha’i marriages appointed by the government and used to offer philosophical yet witty advice to the newly married couples as they crossed the threshold to married life. Mr Teoh Geok Leng is buried at the Choa Chu Kang Baha’i Cemetery.

3By reference to National Archives microfilm NA. 2044 it can be verified that there are over 500 pieces of newsprint publicity on the activities of Mrs Shirin Fozdar in “The Straits Times” of Singapore.

Governance or Administration of Baha’i Communities

The L o r d h ath o rd a in e d th a t in e v e ry c ity a H o u se o f J u s tic e b e establish ed w herein sh a ll g a th e r coun sellors to th e n u m ber o f B ah á4, a n d sh ou ld it exceed the nu m ber it doth n ot matter. They sh o u ld consider th em selves as en terin g th e C ou rt o f th e p re se n c e o f God, th e E xalted, th e M o st H igh , a n d as beh oldin g H im W ho is th e Unseen. I t behoveth them to b e th e tru sted ones o f th e M erc ifu l am on g m en a n d to reg a rd them selves as th e g u a rd ia n s a p poin ted o f G od f o r a ll th a t d w ell on earth. I t is in cu m ben t upon them to take co u n sel togeth er a n d to have regard f o r th e in terests o f th e servan ts o f God, f o r H is sake, even as th ey reg a rd th eir ow n interests, a n d to ch oose th a t w hich is m eet a n d se e m ly ... Baha’u’Uah

The adm inistration of Baha’i communities predicated upon the above teaching of Baha’u ’llah, is devoid of priesthood or clergy and instead is characterized by a system of Assemblies or Houses of Justice elected by the com m unity of believers w ithin each locale, w ith lim ited terms of office for its m em bers. These elected bodies are responsible for m inistering to the needs of the individual believer as well as the com m unity at large. Thus, Baha’i governance functions th ro u g h collective decisions based on the principles and procedures laid dow n by Baha’u ’llah and not through personality or individual leadership.

The bedrock upon which members of the com m unity mingle w ith and get to know their fellow Baha’is so as to enable them to elect annually the m em bers of the Spiritual Assem bly is the in stitu tio n called “The 19-Day Feast” (quite like a tow n meeting) consisting of three parts: “Devotional”, “Adm inistrative” and “Social”. The 19-Day Feast is held on the first day of each of the 19 m onths com prising the Baha’i Calendar (The 18th m o n th has four extra days to round out the solar year of 365 days). D uring the devotional program m e, selections from Baha’i H oly W ritings as well as the sacred Scriptures of other religions are read or chanted. Thereafter, reports and consultations follow during the administrative part, finally ending with refreshments and fellowship.

The Early Baha’i C om m unity of Singapore

W ithin tw o years of D r K.M. Fozdar’s arrival, there were a total of 12 declared believers in the Baha’i Faith, the first of w hom was M r N araindas Jethanand. Thereafter, an election was held in A pril 1952 to decide w ho among the twelve w ould constitute the first governing body for Baha’i affairs in Singapore. T he n in e elected m em bers of this historic first Spiritual A ssem bly of the Baha’is of Singapore were4

4Signifying the numeral “9” (in alphabetical order): M r Gianchand Datwani5, M r G oh Beng Wan, D r John Fozdar678, D r K.M. Fozdar, Mrs Shirin Fozdar, M r Kishenchand Khemani, M r Motiram, M r Ramsay, and M r Teoh Geok Leng.

Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahó'ls of Singapore, incorporated July 28, 1952 Seated L to R: Mr Teoh Geok Leng, M r Gianchand Datwani, Mrs Shirin Fozdar, D r K.M. Fozdar., M r Ramsay Standing L to R: Mr Goh Beng Wan, M r Kishenchand Khemani, D r John Fozdar, Mr Motiram Mrs Shirin Fozdar is seen here holding the Persian Calligraphy “Ya-Baha-el-Abha” (“O Glory of the Most Glorious”) symbolizing a name of God.

This first Spiritual Assembly, as is normal for these bodies, met regularly to consult on matters concerning the Faith and the community and to plan activities such as holding “fireside”3 meetings in their homes for expanding their membership, as well as occasional public meetings.

As the com m unity grew larger, money was raised for an administrative centre which believers could call their own. And, with a gradually enlarging membership, the Baha’i Spiritual Assembly of Singapore asked the government for a cemetery. A plot at Choa C hu Kang was given to the Baha’i community in 1957. D r K.M. Fozdar who passed away in April 1958 was the first Baha’i to be buried there.

5Mr Gianchand Datwani and Mr Kishenchand Khemani after some years also set sail to pioneer for the Baha’i Faith, the former to Hongkong and the latter to Indonesia. 6In 1954 Dr John Fozdar, settled in Brunei to pioneer there and was declared “Knight of BaháVlláh” by the late Guardian of the Baha’i Faith for his services in that land. 7Regular fireside meetings are a means for Baha’is to talk about the teachings of their Faith to friends and contacts.

Subsequent years also saw the arrival of other Baha’i pioneering families in Singapore. They came to settle, and simultaneously, to pursue their own career and business opportunities. Among them were Col. Eshragian, from Persia, and his family in 1958. They stayed for tw o years before leaving for Australia. O ther pioneers who resided in Singapore in the late fifties and who stayed for at least a year included Mahesh Dayal and Manguhbhai Patel from India, Wesley Huxtable from Canada and John M cH enry III from the U nited States. In the sixties, these pioneers were joined by M r and Mrs Rostum Rahnema from Persia and Mary Robinson from Britain. D r and Mrs Fozdar also visited Malaya occasionally to help there w ith the teaching of the Faith. Their second son D r John Fozdar worked as a surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital for three years and left Singapore in 1954 to pioneer for the Faith in Brunei. Through the effort of all these dedicated early believers both foreign and local, the numbers of Baha’is began to swell in Singapore and especially in Malaya.

During the years 1957 to 1964, the mushrooming Baha’i communities in the countries and territories of South East Asia, comprising Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaya, Sarawak, Philippines, Portuguese Tim or, Mentawei, Brunei, Andaman, N icobar and Cocos Island, were administered by the Regional Spiritual Assembly (“RS A ”) of South East Asia which was elected in 1957. In September of the following year this RS A of South East Asia was given the privilege to host one of the five Inter-continental Baha’i Conferences held under the aegis of the W orld Centre of the Baha’i Faith. The honour of the venue for this conference fell to Singapore. The other four Inter-continental conferences also held that same year were in Kampala, Uganda in January; Sydney, Australia in March; Wilmette, Illinois, USA in May; Frankfurt, Germany in July.

The fifth Baha’i Inter-continental Conference held in Victoria Memorial Hall (27-29 September 1958) was graced by the presence of the H and of the Cause of God8, M r Leroy Ioas, the Representative of the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, His Emminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, and eight other Hands of the Cause of God, besides members of various National and Regional Assemblies.89

8 “Hand of the Cause of God” is a life-time rank bestowed by the Guardian of the Faith upon the pre-eminent champions of the Faith . There have been a total of 47 Hands of which 20 were appointed by Baha’u ’llah in the 19th century and the remaining by the Guardian. The Hands do not participate in matters of administration which fall within the purview of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies. Only two Hands are still alive. Photo s h o w s the Hand o f the C a u s e o f G o d Mr loas seated on the left w h i l e Mrs Shirin Foz da r . Chairperson o f the R S A o f South East A sia d eli vers her o p e n i n g address w e l c o m i n g all the participants to this historic first international B a h a ’i C o n f e r e n c e to be held in S outh East A sia, the C o n f e r e n c e S ecretary Mr Jam shed F o z da r and Dr M S a l i n anpur w h o translated the p r o c e e d i n g s in Persian and French.

The many Baha’is from Singapore and Malaysia experienced for the first time what an “international” Baha’i conference was like. They had the rare opportunity to meet in one place many Hands of the Cause as well as well-known teachers and believers of the Faith, who had journeyed from many regions to come to attend this historic conference. The Singapore com m unity became so enthused after the conference that a num ber of them left the country to go as pioneers for the Faith to other lands.

The Baha’i Centres of Singapore

Early believers congregated in each other’s homes to read the scriptures, to consult on administrative matters and to socialize. By 1962, the Singapore Baha’i com m unity had raised enough money to purchase a flat at Jalan Kechil for their meetings. This was sold a decade later as it proved inadequate for the com m unity’s needs. Subsequently, a small bungalow was purchased at H artley Grove, Frankel Estate in 1968. W hen this became too small, a bigger place was found at Cooling Close in 1973. Subsequently, the Baha’is rented offices in town, after which a unit was purchased at the A ssociation Building, G eylang. The Baha’i administrative centre is currently situated at Wishart Road.

How do Baha’is raise funds? Only Baha’is are permitted to contribute financially for stric tly B aha’i activities and projects. Accordingly, the Singapore Baha’i community is financially supported by its own registered membership. Local and national finances are discussed at each Nineteen Day Feast. All individual Nine-petalled Baha’i House contributions are strictly voluntary and confidential. of Worship, New Delhi

Singapore and Malaysia

The history of the Singapore Baha’i com m unity is also closely linked to that of the Malaysian Baha’i com m unity. By virtue of the tremendous response to her presence in Singapore in the various newspapers Mrs Fozdar also became the “engine” for the entry of the Baha’i Faith in the then Peninsula Malaya. Exactly tw o years to the date of her first stepping foot in Singapore, The Straits Times of 19 September 1952 reported her public talk in Penang the day before where she spoke on one of the cardinal principles of the Baha’i Faith: “Equality ofopportunity fo r both ”, and emphasized the dire need for women’s education and upliftment. H er talks in Malaya in the various towns and cities were arranged by the early Baha’is of Malaya. Chief among these were Mr Yankee Leong (who in December 1953 became the first to accept the Baha’i Faith in peninsula Malaya), M r and Mrs Leong Tat Chee, M r and Mrs G. Saurajan, M r K. Rajah, M r and Mrs Tony Fernandez, D r and Mrs Chellie Sundram, Ms Jeanne Frankel, Mrs Margaret Bates, (the last two both Knights of Baha’u ’llah for Nicobar Islands) and others. The first Baha’i Spiritual Assembly in Peninsula Malaya was established in Seremban in April 19549*1.

From 1952 Mrs Fozdar had been teaching the Faith in Malaya, and was later joined by M r Yankee Leong and others. Their efforts proved successful in creating the first Malayan Baha’i communities in Seremban, Malacca, Kuala Lum pur and Penang. Together w ith a few other members of the Singapore Baha’i community, Mrs Fozdar made several more teaching trips across the Causeway, sometimes residing in places such as Kulai and Alor Star semi-permanently.

9The first Baha’i Spiritual Assembly of what was to later become Malaysia was established a year earlier in April 1953 in Kuching, Sarawak through the pioneering efforts of Mr Jamshed Fozdar (the eldest of the Fozdar children) and his wife Parvati who had settled there in early 1951. In the early years the tw o communities, Singapore and Malaya, often regarded themselves as belonging to the same com m unity. Malayans attended conferences in Singapore while Singaporeans attended the summer schools10of Malaya such as the 1957 summer school held in Malacca.

First World Congress of the Baha’i World

In 1963, a handful of Baha’is saved quite a substantial sum of money to help charter a plane to take them to the first ever Baha’i World Congress (28 May - 2 June), in London’s Royal A lben Hall, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Baha’u ’llah’s Declaration of His mission as the world Redeemer promised in all the sacred scriptures of the past. The Baha’i Faith had by 1963 established itself in all the countries and depen­ dent territories of the planet and ranked second only to the 2000 year old Christian Faith in the geographical coverage and ethnic diversity of its planetary scope. Besides discussing new vistas for expanding the Faith’s world-wide ambit and strength, the 6000 plus participants at the Congress were also introduced to the nine m em ber Supreme Body of the Baha’i W orld -- The Universal House of Justice11, elected a week earlier for the first time by members of the N ational Spiritual Assemblies of 56 coun­ tries who had convened at the first International Convention held at the Faith’s w orld centre in Haifa, Israel, under the shadow of one of its two most H oly Shrines, that of His Holiness the “Báb”, on M ount Carmel. (See above photo).

The purpose of summer schools is to give Baha’is the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the social principles and laws of the Faith, its history and its relation to other religions. 11The Universal House ofJustice is elected every five years.

The intensive teaching effort put in by Baha’i pioneers everywhere in the ten years preceding 1963, resulted in a tremendous increase in the number of Baha’is and in the localities where they resided. The time had come for the various national communities which had been under the jurisdiction of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia to elect their own National Spiritual Assemblies.

Hence, in 1964, the National Convention for Malaysia was convened to elect its N ational Spiritual Assembly, w ith 19 delegates attending from the different Baha’i communities in Malaya, Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah and Singapore which would be administered by this National Assembly. This first National Convention of Malaysia, held in Kuala Lumpur, was graced by the presence of A m atu’l-Baha R uhiyyih Rabbani, the Baha’i w orld’s most eminent personality, wife of His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. As part of the Malaysian Baha’i community, Singapore believers helped establish many local assemblies in Malaysia as well as opening other localities where Baha’is went to reside. Singapore also helped to acquire the Baha’i centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Although political separation from Malaysia occurred in 1965, the Singapore Baha’i community remained part of the Malaysian Baha’i Community until 1972. D uring this period, the Singapore Baha’i com m unity also received periodic visits from Malaysian Counsellors12 Yankee Leong and D r Chellie Sundram as well as Malaysian Auxiliary Board Members, Leong Tat Chee and Betty Fernandez to inspire the com m unity to greater efforts for the Faith.

By the late sixties, it became clear that Singapore itself was developing its own identity. Hence, the Faith’s supreme governing body - the Universal House of Justice -- decided that the Singapore Baha’i Com m unity should have its own national governing body. To prepare for this eventuality, the NSA of Malaysia began to take steps to strengthen the Singapore Baha’i community. This it did by organising some of its more im portant annual programmes in Singapore. Accordingly, the first South East Asian Youth Conference was held in Singapore in December 1969 and the Malaysian W inter School, a highly popular activity w ith Malaysians, was held in

: “Counsellor” is a rank bestowed by the Baha’i World Centre upon eminently qualified Baha’is who have demonstrated their capacity for encouraging Baha’i communities in the held of teaching and service. Their term of service is five years which may be extended. Counsellors, unlike National or Local Spiritual Assemblies, are not involved in the iiminist ration of Baha’i communities. Counsellors cover their region of responsibility with the help of members of their Auxiliary Boards (ABMs), who are appointed by the Counsellors.

Singapore in 1971, as well as the Oceanic Conference of the South China Sea held the same year which attracted a few hundred believers from various countries and nations.

The aim of the conference was to achieve immediate expansion of the Faith and to raise a corps of travelling teachers, whose objective would be to visit the Baha’i communities and groups in the area. Baha’i youths also participated whole heartedly in this vital activity.

G.S. Santhanam Krishnan (1945-1975)

A youth who became a Baha’i following the Oceanic Conference in 1971 was G.S. Santhanam Krishnan. H e played a key role in establishing relations between the B ah a ’i c o m m u n ity and th e lo cal press and in strengthening the local Baha’i youth group. H e later pioneered to India where he served w ith great courage and devotion. H e passed away at his pioneering post in 1975.

One of the other youth was Navanita Sundram, then an undergraduate at the University of Singapore, who also helped inaugurate a Baha’i Society at the University.

By 1972 there were five Local Spiritual Assemblies in Singapore and a greatly expanded and strengthened community.

Yan Kee Leong (1899-1986)

Malaysian Chinese Yan Kee Leong, renowned cartoonist, played a crucial part in the spread of the Faith in Singapore and Malaya. In 1953, Yan arranged for a series of talks by Mrs Fozdar in Malacca, Seremban and Kuala Lumpur. At the end of the talks, he him self became a Baha’i. In Malacca, the talk was presided over by the well- Photo shows Mr Yan Kee known Chinese scholar and politician, Dato Tan Leong with his good friend Cheng Lock. Very soon after, Baha’i communities Tunku Abdul Rahman sprang up in Malacca, Seremban and Kuala “Father of Malaysia” at Lumpur. Hiroshima Japan (Nov 1952)

Leong Tat Chee (1910-1972)

Mr and Mrs Leong Tat Chee were active Baha’is from Malacca who played an im portant role in the forma­ tion of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Queenstown in 1969. Both Yan Kee Leong and Leong Tat Chee served on the RSA of South East Asia. Both were appointed in 1964 as ABMs and they were the first Malaysian Baha’is to travel extensively to teach the Chinese of H ong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. Both of them resided in Singapore to help the com m unity grow in the years just before the form ation of the NSA of Singapore in 1972.

Chellie Sundram (1920-1993)

D r Chellie Sundram was a distinguished physician from Penang who became a Baha’i in 1958. As member of the N ational Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia and later of the C ontinental Board of Counsellors in Asia from 1968 until 1988, he paid many visits to Singapore. Known fo r his a d m in is tra tiv e acu m en , his b r illia n t conceptualization and his artistic talent, he contributed to the development and strengthening of Singapore’s Baha’i administration.

M i

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore

In every country, where any of these people reside, they must behave towards the government o f that country with loyalty, honesty and truthfulness. Baha’u’llah

The Singapore Baha’i Community had only a Local Spiritual Assembly for tw enty years. From 1952-1957, it was under the aegis of the N ational Spiritual Assembly of India. Then from 1957-1964, it came under the administrative ambit of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia and thereafter, was under the purview of the N ational Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia. In April 1972, an election was held among Singapore Baha’is to elect nine members to form the first NSA of the Baha’is of Singapore. Those elected were (in alphabetical order): Mrs George Lee, M r G. Machambo, M r Kenneth Mak, Mrs Rose Ong, M r Henry Ong, Miss Navanita Sundram, Mrs Lena Tan, Mr Edward Teo and Mr. Teoh Geok Leng.

Photo shows the Hand of the Cause of God Mr Jalal Khazeh repre­ sentative of the Universal House of Justice, with the newly elected members of the first NSA of the Baha’is of Singapore.

Since then, members of the National Spiritual Assembly have been elected each year by the Baha’is at an annual national convention. The delegates to the N ational C onvention who are responsible for electing the ninemember NSA are themselves elected by their respective local communities for this sole function. T here are c u rren tly five LSAs in Singapore administering the local communities of Katong, Macpherson, Queenstown, Serangoon and Yishun. Every year, each local community is apportioned

a num ber of delegates according to their respective Baha’i population. The delegates are elected in much the same way as the local governing council. There is no nomination or campaigning in the election process.

These administrative bodies use a distinctive m ethod of non-adversarial decision-making know n as “consultation”. The principles of consultation are laid down in Baha’u ’llah’s writings and are a procedure for building consensus and making decisions. Baha’is have found consultation to be useful in virtually any arena where group decision-making and co-opera­ tion is required, including their businesses and families.

Baha’i H oly Days were gazetted in 1972. The days gazetted are those when Baha’is are required to abstain from w ork or school.

The Baha’i H oly Days gazetted are:

N aw Ruz M arch 21 sihT (si the first day o f the Bahá Yyear) Ridvan April 21, April 29, May 2 is a 12-day period with festivities on the first, ninth and twelfth days marking the time prior to the departure o f Bahá ii ’lláh from Baghdad when He made His public Declaration to be God s messenger for today) Declaration of Baha’u ’llah’s Forerunner, the Báb M ay 23 Ascension of Baha’u ’llah May 29 M artyrdom of the Báb July 9 Birth of the Báb O ctober 20 Birth of Baha’u ’llah N ovem ber 12

Baha’i World Centre’s statement on ‘B A H A ’U ’LLAH’ Presented to Head of State

To mark the Centenary of the Passing of Baha’u ’llah on 29 May 1992, the Baha’i World Centre published a comprehensive statement on the Life and Message of Baha’u ’llah and the Universal House of Justice requested all National Spiritual Assemblies to present the statement to their respective Heads of State.

In Singapore, the statement on ‘B A H A ’U ’LL A H ’ was presented to His Excellency President Wee Kim Wee on 22 July 1992 at the Istana by the Representatives of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore Mr and Mrs Jamshed Fozdar.

Photo shows President Wee Kim Wee with Mr and Mrs Fozdar in the Istana

Counselling Institutions

The decisions made by the governing bodies such as the Local Spiritual Assemblies and the N ational Spiritual Assemblies are influenced by the advice of a group of counselling institutions that are an inherent part of the Baha’i administrative order. Chosen for their outstanding qualities and a mature understanding of the Faith, the individuals who serve on these institutions are appointed to act both as advisors to governing bodies and as sources of encouragement and stimulation for individual members of the Faith.

Foremost among these advisors are the “Hands of the Cause of G od”.

Hands of the Cause who visited Singapore include Shua’u ’llah Ala’i, who stopped here to teach for a week in January 1960, Tarazullah Samandari in 1966 and A m atuTBahá Ruhiyyih Rabbani in 1961 and 1964. The latter gave a well-received public talk entitled “All the Races are needed” at the Singapore National Library. O ther Hands who visited Singapore were D r R. Muhajir, A. Faizi, Collis Featherstone, Enoch Olinga and Jalal Khazeh.

To extend into the future the functions of the Hands of the Cause, the Universal House of Justice designated a number of spiritually mature and experienced individuals as “Continental Counsellors”. Appointed to five-year terms, they reside in specific continental regions and are charged to advise communities at the regional and national levels. In 1985, a member of the Baha’i Com m unity of Singapore was appointed a Counsellor for Asia by the Universal House of Justice.

Mrs Rose O ng Mrs Rose Ong was appointed as Counsellor for Asia and served for the period of 1985-1995. D uring this time, she was the advisor to several N atio n al Spiritual Assemblies in Asia. She travelled extensively to many countries of South East Asia as well as to Taiwan, China and Reader’s Digest, October 1998 Vol. 72 No. 427 Mongolia. In 1995, Mrs O ng initiated the idea of a Singapore Bookshelf in many libraries of the less endowed colleges in China. This project caught the attention of both the Chinese and English press in Singapore. Many kind-hearted Singaporeans donated their books. Collecting and despatching books was tim e consuming but the effort has paid off. To date, eleven colleges have received books for their libraries. The project is ongoing.

The Advancement of W omen

“ Theworld o f humanity is possessed o f two wings the male and female. -

So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realised; humanity cannot wing its way to heights o f real attainment.” Abdu’l-Baha

F or the first time in history, a major w orld religion has explicitly stated that women and men must enjoy equal opportunity. The Baha’i Writings also state that:

4 Girls should be given preference over boys when educational opportunities and resources are limited. 4 In Baha’i marriage, neither the husband nor the wife has a dominant voice. ^ Any apparent inequality between the capacities of women and men is due solely to the lack of educational opportunities denied to women in past ages.

N o t surprisingly, the rise of the early w om en’s movement in Singapore and well before that in the w orld at large, is closely connected w ith the Baha’i Faith. The w orld’s first woman suffrage martyr, Tahirih, the most famous poetess of 19th century Iran, was a follower of the Faith who, fully a half century before her sisters in the west proclaimed the cause of women’s emancipation and for this she suffered martyrdom by strangulation in 1852 at the young age of 35. H er fame, which after her m artyrdom quickly spread even to the west in books and articles about her life and aims, by renowned scholars in England, France and America, as well as in the Middle East, was one of the chief causes motivating the suffragette m ovem ent in the west to arise and successfully achieve w om en’s emancipation.

In Singapore the movement for the emancipation of women got its start exactly a century after T ahirih’s championing of this cardinal Baha’i principle in the F aith’s cradle, her native Iran. This was marked by the arrival on our shores on 19 September 1950 of Mrs Shirin Fozdar, an ardent champion of the Baha’i Faith and a famous feminist who, long inspired by Tahirih’s shining example had already made her mark as early as 1934 in the League of N ations in the cause of w om en’s emancipation. She was also an associate of M ahatma Gandhi (Father of M odern India) in his task of establishing Hindu-M uslim understanding and amity in western India, especially the hot-bed Ahmedabad. Mrs Fozdar became recognized both by the public and in the mass media as the champion of women’s rights in Singapore and, as the Secretary-General of the Singapore Council of W omen which she founded in April 1952 amidst intense pub­ lic interest and press coverage, she spoke fearlessly on the controversial issues of polygamy and divorce which affected women’s welfare adversely. She was strongly supported by many eminent women, among them Mrs Robert Eu, Mrs H.B. Amstutz, Mrs E.V. Davies, Ms Zahara Bte. N o o r M ohammed and Mrs George Lee, w ho was elected the first President of the SCW.

MRS GEORGE LEE (1904-1999)

Mrs George Lee was the President of the Singapore Council of W om en (SCW), from its inception in 1952 until 1971. As President of the SCW, Mrs Lee was responsible for the form ation of the first Girls Club in Singapore in 1953 w hich was form ally opened by Singapore Chief Minister, M r Lim Yew Hock. The girls were taught English, Mandarin, cooking, sewing and the art of self-defence13 during their free time. Mrs Lee accepted the Baha’i Faith in March 1958. Mrs Lee visited several countries for the dual purpose of teaching the Baha’i Faith and advancing w om en’s emancipation.

In August 1959 Mrs Lee and Mrs Fozdar visited China for a three week to u r at the invitation of the N ational W om en’s Federation to inspect various w om en’s activities in the PRC. While there, they also L. to R. Mrs George Lee, Vice Premier and Foreign met some of the high government Minister Marshal Chen Yi of the People’s Republic officials, among them the Vice of China and Mrs Shirin Fozdar P rem ier and Foreign M inister Marshal Chen Yi, as well as many women’s organisations which were also very interested in the efforts for the W omen’s Charter for Singapore.

As an active Baha’i, Mrs Lee was a prominent member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore in the fifties and sixties. In addition, Mrs Lee was an elected member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore in 1972. Earlier, she was also elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Malaysia in 1964 and 1965.

13The honorary instructor for which was Mr Jagjeet Singh Sehgal, BBM, PBM who later became the Chairman of Singapore’s Central Sikh Gurdwara Board. */ .

Because of Mrs Fozdar’s fame as a crusader of w om en’s rights, the media also frequently reported on other talks she delivered which were not merely on w om en’s rights, but on other fundamental teachings of Baha’u ’llah which addressed the spirit of the new age, such as the “Oneness of the Human Race”, “The Source of Religion is O ne”, “A Spiritual Approach for Economic Well-being”, “A Universal Language” and “A World Legislature”. The people who came to listen to or read about her talks became sympathizers and friends and some accepted the Baha’i Faith as the religion for our times.

Mrs Fozdar’s work led to the legislation of the Muslim Ordinance of 1957, which provided for the establishment of a Muslim law court (Syariah Court) in 1958, so as to make the process of Muslim divorce more difficult. By 1961 the work of the Singapore Council of Women, spearheaded by Mrs Fozdar, succeeded in the Singapore Legislative Assembly passing The W om en’s C harter which protected the status and welfare of women in Singapore w ith regards to marriage and divorce. It also abolished polygamy among non-Muslims and changed the whole framework of Chinese marriages. All marriages had to be legally registered from 1961 and those done solely through customary Chinese rites were not recognized as legal.

Early appreciation of Mrs Shirin Fozdar’s struggle for women regardless of race or religion came also from Singapore’s Founding Fathers. The testimonial below from M r S Rajaratnam who was also Singapore’s first Foreign Minister, is one of those attesting to Mrs Fozdar’s w ork for all Singapore women.

***"•■ M IN IS T E R F O R F O K e t C S A F F A IR S , W "*: SINGAPORE. UFA.6 7 0 / 2 V e l . Ž 1 8 th A p r il, 1967.

Ur. Parwatl Gharat, $Aii* *i C e n t r e , 7 7 / ï S e t h a n g Su w . , SJÜ K JK C *, p . O , B o x 1 5 0 I .

Sear S ir ,

I ass pleaaed to not* that you ax* bringing: out at •ouwenijr brochure 4« appreciation of the aerrioe* rendered by U r*. ShiT in Fowiar.

1 h a v e known K x * . F e e d e r when « h e v s e in S in g a p o r e « a d o f t h * a i n g l e « and ed v « y i n w h ic h aha e t r u g g l e d t o p r e r o t e and « a f e g u a r d t h e r i g h t » o f * o » « a end t o e n h a n c e t h e e t a t u a of woesen i n o u r o o u a t r y . S h e d i d t h i * w it h o u t r e g a r d t o r a c e o r c r e e d end I w o u ld l i k e t o 3 0 ! » w it h t h e o t h e r s in r e c o g n i t i o n of h e r e e r r i c e » t o p r o a o t e j u s t i c e f o r w oaen i n A e ia .

Tour* »ineerely,

(3. Aitejaripnat*)

O ther countries in the region used Singapore’s W omen’s Charter as a model for their own legislation in this important field. For her great contribution to the social development of Singapore, Mrs Fozdar was the first person singled out for tribute by the Singapore Council of W omen’s Organisations (SCWO) in 1988.

Besides many others, the following tribute was received also from His Ex­ cellency President Wee Kim Wee on the occasion of Mrs Shirin Fozdar’s passing.

After the passing of Mrs Shirin Fozdar (her resting place is at Singapore’s Choa C hu Kang Baha’i Cem­ etery) on 2 February 1992 at the age of 87, the Asso­ ciation of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) established in her m em ory the Shirin Fozdar Trust Fund which was inaugurated on 15 May 1993 w ith H.E. President Wee Kim Wee and First Lady Mrs Wee as Guests-of-Honour. Mrs Shirin Fozdar in her 85thyear

$■/ 4 ' 23 The objectives of the Shirin Fozdar Trust Fund are:

♦ To develop and support facilities that are beneficial to women, such as training centres, crisis centres, homes and shelters for needy women ♦ To provide educational and training opportunities in fields which w ould benefit women, such as skills training for housewives to re-enter the w orkforce and the training of counsellors. ♦ To study issues of gender and national development ♦ To fund publications and multi-media materials relevant to the advancement of women

Based on these objectives, the Fund will benefit organisations and individu­ als w orking towards the advancement of women in general, and needy women in particular.

W ith the formation of the Singapore Council of W om en’s Organisations (“SCW O”) in 1980, a broad-based umbrella body very much like its prede­ cessor, the Singapore Council of Women, the Baha’i W om en’s Committee (later the Baha’i Office for the Advancement of Women “BO AW ”) became one of the first associations to seek affiliation w ith it.

In their respective stints on the SCW O executive board, Baha’i women such as Lena Tan, Christine Lee, Lalitha Nambiar and Anula Samuel served mostly as H on. Treasurer an d /o r H on. Secretary and were also active in committees such as publication and research. In 1993, the BWC teamed up w ith the SCW O to publish the book Voices Choices - the W omen’s Movement in Singapore, a landmark book which traces the history of the women’s movement in Singapore and which was launched on 25 July 1993 by H.E. President Wee Kim Wee. Voices and Choices - The Womens Movement in Singapore (1993): this comprehensive

book traces the history of the women’s movement in Singapore, delineates women’s present status and charts their aspirations for the future. It was jointly pub­ lished by the BO AW and SCWO, and launched by President Wee Kim Wee and Mrs Wee President Wee Kim Wee with members o f the SCWO-BOAW Book Committee at the Gala Dinner (1993)

Singapore Baha’i women were also actively involved in the Fourth U N W orld Conference for W omen in Beijing inl995. Eleven Baha’is went as part of the forty-eight strong SCW O contingent and the tw o workshops contributed by the SCW O during this conference were organised by the BOAW. These two workshops were on “Women, W ork and Family” and “Young W omen and a Violence-free society”

Photo shows Mrs Goh Chok Tong with members of the BOAW on 17 Mar 1994 when she was presented a book on “The Baha’i Lotus Temple” in New Delhi that she had visited on 24 Jan 1994 during Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong’s State Visit to attend India’s National Day on 26 Jan 1994.

The BOAW has also worked closely with government ministries. In 1995- 6, D r H.B. Danesh, an internationally renowned psychiatrist was invited by the BOAW to conduct a series of public workshops on marriage, family life and personal development. D uring his visits, he met w ith several government and non-government organisations, medical and educational institutions working in the areas of family violence and juvenile delinquency as well as w ith the H onourable M r Abdullah Tarmugi, the M inister for Community Development. In 1997-8, BOAW and SCWO jointly organised a series of talks by medical doctors on various aspects of w om en’s health. This project was given the endorsement of the M inistry of Health.

” / f

W hen the new SCW O building opened in 1998, the BOAW was among the first to establish its office there. It is now the focal point for Baha’i women in their activities for service to the public.

Baha’i women are also active in other w om en’s organisations. A Baha’i, D r Phyllis Chew, became President of AW ARE in 1998. During her ten­ ure as President, she launched a public exhibition on the atrocities of mass rape and collected 45,000 signatures for a petition to the Indonesian President and the U N Commissioner for Human Rights. D r Chew is also a founder member and past President of the University W om en’s Associa­ tion of Singapore (UWAS), an affiliate of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW).

M any other Baha’i w om en have also been recognised for their active contibution to society at large. The following Baha’i women were also recipients of “The Long Service Award” from the Ministry of Community Development: D r Phyllis Chew, Mrs Fatima Tia Traazil, Mrs Anula Samuel, Ms Lynette Thomas, Ms Tan Lay Kuan and Mrs Rose Ong.

Inter-religious Activities

Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets o f God is one and the same. B aha’ullah

World Religion Day

In an endeavour to emphasise the common features underlying the sacred teachings of the religions in our multi-religious and multi-racial nation, the Baha’i C om m unity recently (1995) revived the observance of W orld Religion Day in Singapore, the first observance of which was organised by the Singapore Baha’is in 1956 w ith the Chief M inister M r Lim Yew H ock as the guest of honour at the Victoria Memorial Hall.

Since 1995, four W orld Religion Day observances have been held in Singapore. The first tw o were organised by the Baha’is while the third observance in 1997 was jointly organised by the Baha’i com m unity of Singapore and the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)14 of Singapore. The fourth observance of W orld Religion Day was organized for the first time by the IRO.

The Aim of World Religion Day

The underlying purpose of World Religion Day, inaugurated over fifty years ago and now regularly observed in over eighty countries on the third Sunday of January, is to foster the establishment of inter-faith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common denominators in all religions. The message of World Religion Day is that mankind, which has stemmed from one origin, must now strive towards the reconciliation of that which has been split up. Human unity and true equality depend not on past origins, but on future goals, on what we are becoming and whither we are going. The prime cause of the age-old conflict between man and man has been the absence of one ethical belief, a single spiritual standard one moral code. The history of man’s cultures and civilizations is the history of his religions. Nothing has such an integrating effect as the bond of a common Faith. The history of religion shows that all religions had this unifying power— the power to instil in the hearts and minds of their adherents the fundamental verities, the vital spiritual standards, and thus establish a unity of conscience for motivating man towards founding great cultures and civilizations. Hence, through World Religion Day observances dedicated towards encouraging the leaders and followers of every religion to acknowledge the similarities in each of our sacred Faiths, a unified approach to the challenges that confront humanity can be agreed upon and then applied on an ever- expanding scale to permeate the very psyche of mankind, so that it can be made to see the whole earth as a smgle country and all numanity its citizenry.

14The IRO Singapore is one of the oldest if not the oldest IRO in the world. It originally began with members from the Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Sikh Faiths with the Zoroastrian, Baha’i and Taoist Faiths joining in 1961,1995 and 1996 respectively, thus comprising in its membership all the nine independent world religions.

These observances clearly filled an im portant niche in Singapore’s multi­ religious society for greater awareness of each others’ sacred Faiths and audiences of over 1000 packed the hall for every observance to hear the eminent religious personalities address common denominators from the perspective of their own religions. The government too extended its vital support by the presence of Ministers and Ambassador-at-Large as guests of honour for each of these annually observed most popular publicly held inter-Faith events in our nation.

Em inent national and international personalities also conveyed their fe­ licitations for World Religion Day observances to its organisers.

A ppreciations

“The President sends his best wishes fo r a meaningful and successful observance. " Principal Private Secretary to the President of the Republic of Singapore -1/9/94

“I congratulate you fo r taking tim e to attend this gathering to observe World Religion Day and... wish you every success in your deliberations to bring about peace and tranquillity, no m atter how distant the ultim ate goal may be. " Former President Wee Kim Wee (message to the Chairman and all participants of World Religion Day Inaugural Observance in Singapore 1995)

“He wishes the occasion a success. " Principal Private Secretary to Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew - 13/6/95

“I congratulate the B ahai C om m unity o f Singapore fo r organising this inaugural observance. I hope it w ill become an annual event. This is an auspicious year to hold this observance because it is the 50th anniversary o f the end o f the Second World War and the founding o f the United Nations. What is the purpose o f this observance? It is to prom ote understanding and a m ity among the different religions ana their followers. This is a worthy goal. It is a goal which the world needs because, in some parts o f the world, we still see the existence o f religious intolerance, religious hatred, and religious conflict. '' Professor Tommy Thong-Bee Koh Singapore’s Ambassador-At-Large (Keynote Address delivered at the Inaugural Observance of World Religion Day in Singapore 1995)

“I assure you o f m y prayers fo r all who w ill take part in World Religion D ay that you may be one heart fu ll o f love in the Heart o f God. " Mother Teresa - 9/8/96

“I am heartened by this large gathering o f people fro m different religious faiths, coming together fo r the com mon purpose o f fostering inter fa ith understanding. Today's gathering is a significant reflection o f our efforts to promote and preserve racial and religious harm ony in Singapore. " Mr Lim Hng Kiang Minister for National Development (Keynote Address delivered at 2nd Observance of World Religion Day in Singapore 1996)

“The World Religion Day observed fo r the third year in Singapore is significant in that the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) is co-organising it with the World Religion Day committee o f the Baha'i C om m unity which organised the first two observances here. The intention is fo r the IR O to organise fu tu re W R D observances to continue the good w ork started by the Singapore Baha'i C om m unity." Mr Abdullah Tarmugi Minister for Community Development (Keynote Address delivered at 3rd Observance of World Religion Day in Singapore 1997)

This is indeed a blessed occasion where we seepeople, not only o f differentfaiths, but o f different races coming togetherand interactinginpeace andgoodwill asyou do today. Farfrom seeingour differences as impediments, we see them, rather, as causesfor us to meet and celebrate; to know and understand each other. Is not diversity the essence o f life and creationfor us to cheńsh and appreciatef

The commemoration o f W orld Religion Day in Singapore was started by the B ahai com m unity fo u r years ago. B ut the Inter-Religious Organisation or IR O has agreed to be responsible fo r organising the annual observance fro m this year onwards. This 4th observance o f World Religion D ay in Singapore is therefore significant in that it is the first tim e the IR O is hosting it. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi Minister for Community Development (Keynote Address delivered at 4th Observance of World Religion Day in Singapore 1998)

The 3rdPrize in the World Religion Day Essay Competition in 1998 was won by Baha’i youth Ms Kelly Koay for the second year in succession. As Ms Kelly was in the USA pursuing her studies in medicine, her sister Ms Michelle Koav is seen here receiving the award on Kelly’s behalf from the guest of honour the Honourable Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Minister for Com­ munity Development. The aim of these Essay Competitions which were only open to Singapore youths, was to encourage them to learn about other Faiths besides their own.

Baha’is in the IRO

The first Baha’i member of the IRO was D r Suresh Sahadevan who became a member in 1995. Mr Jamshed Fozdar and Mr Foo Check Woo were the first Baha’is to serve on the executive Council of the IRO. Mr Fozdar served as the Hon. Secretary for a two-year period from July 1996-August 1998. During his tenure as Hon. Secretary, Mr Fozdar was delegated to represent the IR O 15 at the Executive Committee Meeting of the Asian Conference

15The IRO’s objectives are to inculcate the spirit of friendship and co-operation among the leaders and followers of different religions and to improve the condition of the adherents of different religions in generally accepted moral principles. The IRO conducts regular inter­ faith seminars and public talks to increase tne puhlic’s knowledge about the various religious observances, and holds prayers and blessings ceremonies for various government agencies and civic institutions. It is also consulted by Committees of Parliament on matters or ethics and beliefs of the citizenry.

on Religion and Peace in Ayuthaya, Thailand held in O ctober (15-19) 1996, which was opened by the Former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda Privy Councilor to His Majesty King Rama IX of Thailand. In June (21- 26) 1998 M r Fozdar also represented the IR O at the U nited Religions Initiative Global Summit III held in Stanford University, California, USA. M r Fozdar and M r Foo were succeeded by M r Selvam Satanam and Lt. Col. Yeo Yew Hock on the IRO Council.

Mr Fozdar later served as Chairman of the IR O ’s Committee for the Com­ memorative Postage Stamp to mark the IR O ’s 50th Anniversary in 1999 and, with Committee members M r V.R. N athan (Chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board) and Brother Joseph M cNally (Former President of LaSalle-SIA College of Arts), was successful in having the Singapore Post issue on 15 January 1999 the IRO Commemorative stamp in three denomi­ nations listing on it in chronological order the names of its nine constitu­ ent religions: Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Mus­ lim, Sikh, Baha’i.

This set of three stamps was issued by Singapore Post on 15 January 1999 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore. The design shows the Organisation’s logo, its motto and the names of its nine constituent religions in chronologi­ cal order.

Baha’i Presidency of the IRO

In conform ity w ith the IR O ’s policy of annually rotating the H on. Presidency among its nine constituent religions, the period from August 1998 to August 1999 saw a member of the Baha’i Faith, M r Selvam Satanam, as the IR O President. M r Satanam, at the age of 29, was the first Baha’i to become H on. President of the IR O since the Baha’is joined in 1995. His term of office saw the IRO hosting a first-ever exhibition on the nine major religions of Singapore at the prestigious Singapore History Museum marking the IR O ’s 50th Anniversary, and also the publication of the revised edition of the book (first published in 1993) entitled “Religions in Singapore” which sold out within a couple of months of publication. The Honourable Minister for C om m unity Development M r Abdullah Tarmugi presided at the opening of the exhibition and the launch of the book. The IRO published the revised edition of “ Religionsin Singapore^m W )9^^

In keeping w ith the tradition initiated by Singapore’s First Head of State President M r Yusof Ishak and followed by the Second President D r Benjamin Sheares as well as the Fourth President M r Wee Kim Wee, Singapore’s Fifth President M r Ong Teng Cheong also hosted a reception on 3 June 1999 at the Istana for representatives of the nine constituent religions in the IRO Council.

Photo shows His Excellency President Ong standing front row centre and on his right IRO President Mr Selvam Satanam of the Singapore Baha’i Community.

Environment

Every mano f discernment, while walking upon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed, inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the source of his prosperity, his wealth, his might, his exaltation, his advancement and power is, as ordained by God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the feet o f all men. B a h a ’u ’llah

Active since 1992 when it was first established, the Baha’i Office of Environment (BOE) promotes through its activities a vision of sustainable development which combines economic, ecological and spiritual principles. The protection of the environment is viewed in the broadest possible sense as Baha’is believe that recognition of the oneness of m ankind is a fundamental component of the environment movement.

The office works closely with various organisations with a view to sharing information and collaborating on educational projects on environmental conservation. It has contributed to awareness of our ecological problems through exhibitions, talks and children’s activities. It also takes part in regular coastal and nature reserve clean-ups and organises activities to mark Earth Day, World Environment Day and Clean and Green Week.

C ollaboration w ith o th er green groups, including the Singapore Environmental Council, has led to the informal setting up by the Office, of a green network for consultation on current concerns. This has resulted in a higher degree of inter-group co-operation and collaboration.

Environm ental activities across interfaith lines have also been initiated, w ith talks by different religions on their perspectives concerning the environment, as well as inter-faith commemoration of Earth Day.

Representatives of Singapore’s religious communities and BOE members at the interfaith commemoration of Earth Day at Fort Canning Park

Representatives of the BOE have attended regional and international conferences on the environment, including those organised by UNESCAP in Bangkok, the G lobal N G O C onference on E nvironm ent and Development in Paris, and others.

Recently the Earth Charter, originally drafted for adoption by the Earth Summit in 1992, has been redrafted following substantial input from a broad-based group of N G O ’s, including religious groups. Internationally and locally Baha’is are part of initiatives to make better known this important values statement which addresses the fundamental issues underlying any attempts to solve environmental and other problems.

Earlier, in 1990, B aha’i women organised The Arts fo r Nature which was one of the first attempts to raise public awareness on the n eed to c o n se rv e o u r environment in Singapore. The works of more than 60 local artists were selected an d th e ir p a in tin g s , sculptures and installation pieces were displayed at the Empress Place Museum and the proceeds from the sale of the paintings donated to the Save the Turtles Campaign of the Malayan Nature Society. The production of the full-colour catalogue was sponsored by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, as part of its “Care for N ature” programme.

In 1992, a Baha’i, Mrs Fatima Tia Traazil became the first woman to win the Ministry of Environment’s Green Leaf Award in the individual category for outstanding contribution to environmental protection and preservation. She also served on the Board of the Singapore Environment Council from 1992-1998.

Photo shows Mrs Traazil receiving the Green Leaf Award on 7 November 1992 from the Minister of Environment the Honourable Dr Ahmad Mattar.

Education

Regard man as a mine rich in gems o f inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. B a h a ’u ’llah

C hildren’s moral education classes open to all are held regularly by the Singapore Baha’i Com munity. Virtues and the skills of co-operation and consultation are taught in an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment.

The independent investigation of reality, whether scientific or religious is strongly encouraged. Scientific knowledge and religious education are regarded as the two wings of the bird of humanity. Baha’u ’llah’s Writings portray science and religion as different yet harmonious approaches to the comprehension of reality. These two paths are essentially compatible and mutually reinforcing.

Baha’i children are taught about the principles, history and p ractice of all w o rld religions since “Oneness of Religion” is one of the cardinal principles of the Baha’i Faith and, in accordance w ith the F a ith ’s p rin c ip le of “Independent Investigation of T ruth”, the children of Baha’i parents may choose which religion they wish to belong to when they reach the age of fifteen.

In 1989, when the Ministry of E d u c a tio n and th e G overnm ent Parliam entary Committee for Education were studying w hether religious knowledge ought to be taught in sch o o ls, th e B ah a ’i com m unity made representations for school children to be taught a curriculum that covers all the world religions. The Baha’i Community */ submitted that “through such a curriculum the students will gain an appreciation of the common origins of different religions and much of the animosity and misunderstanding that are the result of ignorance will be dissipated”.

Grow with Nature Banner Project

This was organised in 1991 by the Singapore Baha’i Community to create awareness in school children of the importance of protecting and caring for the environment. O ver 80 banners painted by primary, secondary and tertiary students were displayed along the Singapore River during that year’s Clean and Green Week.

Youth

Blessed is he who in the prime o f his youth and the heydey o f his life will arise to serve the Cause o f the Lord o f the beginning and of the end,and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such a grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth. Blessed are the steadfast and well is it with those who are firm. B a h á V llá h

Baha’i youth, wherever they reside, are com m itted to a strong moral code that forbids intoxication of any kind, prohibits prem arital sex and discourages smoking. They are exhorted to uphold the highest virtues in both their personal and public life and to look outside them selves to see how th e y can be o f service to th e w o rld of humanity.

In Singapore, the Baha’i Y outh D evelopm ent G roup (“B Y D G ”) is affiliated to the N ational Y outh Council (“N Y C ”) and Baha’i youth regularly participate in the programmes of the N Y C. In 1997 and 1999 a Baha’i youth, Michelle Koay, was chosen by the N Y C to be a m em b er of th e d eleg a tio n th a t re p re se n te d S in g ap o re at th e International Y outh Forum in South Korea.

The BYDG runs weekly workshops for Baha’i youth to study the application of the spiritual and moral teachings of the Baha’i Faith in th e ir daily lives. Singapore Baha’i y o u th have co n trib u ted to com m unity service projects w ithin Singapore and in China, Mongolia, M yanm ar and Indonesia.

In 1996 a contem porary perform ing arts group, “The Singapore Baha’i Y outh W orkshop”, was set up by a group of Baha’i youth to convey the principles of the Baha’i Faith through songs, dance and drama. The W orkshop has since perform ed at num erous youth carnivals, schools, old folks’ homes and concerts. T heir perform ances have m ainly been on the eradication of racial prejudice, the prevention o f su b sta n c e abuse and th e a c q u is itio n o f v irtu e s su ch as trustw orthiness, justice and unity. Their signature perform ance is the “Step D ance” which has its origins in Africa and is a perform ance demonstrating the powerful impact of unity and cooperation.

# The Singapore Baha’i Youth W orkshop performing the “Step Dance” at the official opening of the N ational Y outh Centre in 1996 by the H onourable Prim e Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong.

Baha’i youth have made their m ark in international efforts to prom ote peace and conservation of the environm ent. Singapore Baha’i youth contributed articles to two books published by Peace Child International, namely “Rescue Mission Planet Earth: a children’s edition o f Agenda and “A World In Our Hands”. In the case of the latter book, which detailed the past, present and future of the United Nations, the submission of the Singapore Baha’i youth was considered w orthy of an invitation for a representative to be on the editorial board. A Singapore Baha’i youth, Jordan Melic, had the honour of being selected to travel to New York to present a copy of the book to U N Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the U N held in San Francisco in 1996.

AWorld in [>ur Hands

Singapore Baha’i youth Jordan Melic, 14, presenting copy o f : “A World in O ur Hands to U N Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1 9 9 6 )____________________________________

Extreme right: Singapore Baha’i youth, Sonia Ong and Adeline Koay at the 42nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in 1998.

In 1998, tw o Singapore Baha’i youth, Sonia O ng and Adeline Koay, represented the Baha’i International Community at the 42nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York. They were the only Singapore youth present at the conference. In 1999 another Baha’i youth, Nadya Melic, represented Singapore at Peace Child International’s Young Person’s Millennium Conference in Hawaii, USA.

Many of the Baha’i youth in Singapore are active in sports and have earned recognition for their contributions. M r A nthony Joseph donned Singapore national colours for hockey from 1967 to 1973. An outstanding player from his school days in Raffles Institution, A nthony earned his first call up to the national squad when he was only 17 years old. A nthony was a member of the Singapore team that w on the historic gold medal at the 1973 SEA Games and in that same year he was also the captain of the national Under 23 team. A nother Baha’i, Selvam Satanam who also hailed from Raffles Institution, was awarded the Singapore Schools Sports Council National Colours Award in 1986 for his services in the Singapore Combined Schools hockeyteam.

Baha’i youth have also distinguished themselves in other arenas. The 1999 SLA Inter Junior College Debating Competition saw Jordan Melic winning the coveted Best Speaker of the Series Award.

ł Marriage and Family Life

Marriage is “ afortress for well-being and salvation”. Baha’u’Mh

Baha’i marriage is recognized under the laws of Singapore and since 1972 Baha’i Marriage Solemnizers have been appointed by the Registrar of Marriages.

Baha’is affirm that the family is the basic unit of society. Unless this all im portant building block is healthy and unified, society itself cannot be healthy and unified. Monogamous marriage stands at the foundation of family life. Inter-racial marriages are also encouraged in the Baha’i teach­ ings, which stress the essential oneness of the human race.

Parental permission for marriage is obligatory. Once it is obtained, the marriage takes place, requiring only the simplest of ceremonies. In the presence of two witnesses designated by the local Baha’i governing council, the couple recites the following verse: “We will all, verily, abide by the will of God.” For Baha’is, that simple commitment to live by God’s will implies all of the commitments associated w ith marriage, including the promise to love, honour and cherish.

Beyond these simple requirements, Baha’is are free to arrange their own marriage celebration.

The signing of the marriage certificate at a Baha’i wedding in the presence of Mr Kuek Yi Hsing the Singapore Baha’i Marriage Solemnizer (2ndfrom right).

Singapore Association for Baha’i Studies (ABS)

Thesanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts o f the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course o f their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, in as much as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will have no cause for vacillation. BaháV lláh

The ABS is a committee of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore and was set up in April 1996. It organises an annual conference at which invited speakers deliver talks on aspects of the Baha’i Faith and Comparative Religion.

These talks then form the basis for a series of papers which are collected into the Singapore Baha’i Studies Review. This journal promotes religious and cultural harmony and provides a forum to discuss how religion might be applied to solve contem porary problems. Thus far four volumes have been published, on such topics as unity of religions, the soul and the after­ life, and challenges for the new millennium.

Four volumes of the Singapore Baha’i Studies Review

The Goal of the Baha’i Faith

“Thewell-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. ” B aha’u ’llah

The driving force behind the civilizing of human nature, Baha’u ’llah asserts, has been successive interventions of the Divine in history. It has been through this influence that the innate moral and spiritual faculties of hum anity have been gradually developed and the advance of civilization made possible. Associated with the missions of such transcendent figures as Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Jesus, M uhammad, and G uru Nanak, the phenomenon is an ever-recurring one; it is without beginning or end because it is fundamental to the evolutionary order itself.

A lthough nurtured by the process, hum anity has never understood it. Instead, people have constructed around each episode in their spiritual experience a separate religious system. Throughout history the religious impulse has been hobbled by the resulting contradictions and bitter conflicts.

Baha’u ’llah compares the maturation of the human race as a whole to the experience of its individual members who struggle, successively, through the stages of infancy, childhood and adolescence. Today, hum anity has entered on its collective coming-of-age, endowed w ith the capacity to see the entire panorama of its development as a single process. The challenge of m aturity is to accept that we are one people, to free ourselves from the limited identities and creeds of the past, and to build together the foundations of global civilization.

The vital contribution which the teachings of Baha’u’llah make to Religion is the development of spiritual tru th from the area of the individual conscience to embrace the area of human and social relations as a whole. Thus, wherever Baha’i communities exist, exists also a true cross-section of the human race united in conscience and united in purpose.

Hence, to Baha’is, both for themselves individually, as well as for the collective development of humanity, the ‘purpose for being’ has a single and identical goal - W O RLD U N ITY , achievable only through the emergence of an ethically developed race conscious and convinced of its intrinsic spirituality and dedicated to the full realization on the material plane of the all-tooevident fact which our scientific and technological achievements have irrefutably forced upon us mentally -- a fact emphatically proclaimed 150 years ago by BahP’u ’llah - that the earth is a single home and all humanity one family.

In the words of the late Guardian of the Baha’i Faith:

The unity of the human race as envisaged by Baha’u’llah implies the establishment of a world federal system ruling the whole earth and exercising unchallengeable authority over its unimaginably vast resources. Blending together the ideals of both the East and the West. Liberated from the curse of war and its miseries. A system in which Force is made the servant of Justice, whose life is sustained by its universal recognition of one God and its allegiance to one common Revelation. Such is the goal towards which humanity, impelled by the unifying forces of life is moving.

W hatever be their professions, in whatever climes they labour, their one over-riding calling — the prime directive — the achievement of the unity of the human race, is the vision that animates and energizes every Baha’i, and to which all peoples are lovingly invited to pledge their allegiance. The year 2000 marks the golden anniversary o f the arrival of the B aha’i Faith in Singapore. This commemorative book documents the history, achievements and contributions o f the Baha’i community during those fifty years. Among these have been the championing of women’s rights, fostering inter-faith cooperation and understanding, promoting an environmental ethic and advancing moral education for children. The foundation of Baha’i belief is in the unity of God, of religion and of humanity and it is this that propels Baha’is to work for the greater good of society wherever they may reside.

ISBN 981-04-2499-X