Bahá’í World/Volume 18/Arthur Joseph Gustave Ruggoo
ARTHUR JOSEPH GUSTAVE RUGGOO
1923—1981
Arthur Joseph Gustave Ruggoo, who was born on 24 February 1923 in Mauritius, was among the first to respond with total conviction to the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith which he learned of through Miss Ottilie Rhein,2 Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for that island. He embraced the Faith on 14 September 1956 and served it faithfully until the end of his earthly life. For many years he was a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Port-Louis. From the beginning he was enthusiastic in his espousal, staunch in his conviction and very much in love with the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. He made it a duty to open the Bahá’í Centre every evening and he was the last to leave it in the late hours of the night. The question of every enquirer would be answered with characteristic patience and thoroughness. He had a keen interest in the prophecies of the Bible and he was careful to ensure that the person he was teaching understood that Bahá’u’lláh was the Promised One Whose coming was foretold in the Bible and other holy Writings.
When, in 1966, the National Spiritual Assembly called for pioneers for Seychelles he arose with sincerity and devotion and settled there for six years during which time he contributed greatly towards the progress of the Cause in those islands. During those years he had to return to Mauritius for short periods due to visa problems and in such intervals he would undertake special teaching projects in
1 See Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Words, (Arabic) No. 59. 2 See ‘In Memoriam', p. 703.
Arthur Joseph Gustave Ruggoo
Réunion and Madagascar. In 1974 when a call was made for a pioneer for Rodrigues he again arose and served there under difficult and trying circumstances until 1980. The slow progress of the Faith in Rodrigues and the demoralizing conditions that obtained did not discourage him; he laboured patiently knowing that one day the seed would grow. Early in 1981 he went back to Rodrigues to spend four months on a teaching project. He was to have returned to Mauritius on 7 May 1981 but he fell ill suddenly at his pioneering post and died during the night of May sixth. He was given a Bahá’í burial which was attended by many people of various religious denominations as he was very well loved in Rodrigues.
Mr. Ruggoo served the Faith with distinction. An accomplished painter and artist, he made many exhibitions for the Bahá’ís. He always voluntarily and gladly devoted his spare time to the maintenance, renovation and improvement of Bahá’í properties. He was always simple and humble. His selflessness and purity of heart endeared him to one and all. The National Spiritual Assembly of Seychelles sent the following message on receiving the news of his death:
COMMUNITY DEEPLY SHOCKED PASSING DEARLY LOVED HEROIC STEADFAST SELFSACRIFICING BROTHER JOSEPH RUGGOO.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF MAURITIUS