Bahá’í World/Volume 18/Dr. M. E. Lukmani
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M. E. LUKMANI
MOHAMMED EBRAHIMJI LUKMANI (MUHAMMAD IBRAHiMJi LUQMANI)
1896—1981
Dr. M. E. Lukmani was one of the best-known Bahá’ís in India and was known to Bahá’í’s far beyond its borders. A homoeopathic physician by training, he was able to present the Faith to many who came to him as patients. He learned of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh from the renowned teacher, Mr. Mihr‘ali Munji, who devoted many months to confirming him. By 1920 Dr. Lukmani was a fully-fledged believer and was actively teaching. Mr. (fllulam‘Ali Kurlawala, who became the Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for Daman, was among the many whom he taught and who arose to render outstanding service to the Faith.
Dr. Lukmani was soon elected a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bombay and within two years was serving as its chairman. He strove to intensify teaching activities in Bombay by arranging public lectures which prominent scholars of the Faith from East and West—including Keith Ransom Kehler, Fred Schopflocher, Mirza Mahmi’ld Zarqani and Mirza Mum’r Nabilzadeh—were invited to address. By this means, and by press interviews, the Message was presented to the leading citizens of Bombay. In the 1930s Dr. Lukmani was elected a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and carried out his responsibilities with full devotion. He made many tours throughout India and travelled, as well, to Burma and lran. Everywhere he taught the Faith with great proficiency.
In 1936 he was invited to make his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and was privileged to
meet Shoghi Effendi for whom he had deep
love and respect and with whom he corre
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M. E. Lukmani
sponded frequently from 1936 until 1956. When he returned from the Holy Land he was a new man. He increased the tempo of his activities, undertook more frequent teaching trips and took a heightened interest in national Bahá’í activities. In the early 19405 he pioneered to Hyderabad, and after some years moved on to Surat and Sholapur. Everywhere he went, many accepted the Faith through him. On 6 May 1942 the Guardian penned in his own hand, as a postscript to a letter written on his behalf to Dr. Lukmani, ‘May the Beloved bless abundantly and continually your high endeavours, and reward you a thousandfold for the admirable manner in which you have arisen to serve His Faith in virgin territories, and at so critical 3 time in the history of the world.’ Dr. Lukmani participated in summer and winter schools throughout India, accompanied visiting teachers from abroad on their lecture tours, and took a keen interest in the purchase of the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in New Delhi, gratified that its acquisition had pleased the Guardian. Shoghi Effendi wrote to him on 25 March 1943, ‘Your noble efforts are highly meritorious in the sight of God. I am deeply thankful, and will continue to
THE BAHA’
IWORLD
pray for you from the depths of my heart. Persevere in your historic task, and rest assured, and be happy.’
Dr. Lukmani’s most important service to the Faith was his pioneering to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in response to the Guardian’s appeal. On 23 May 1949 Shoghi Effendi’s secretary wrote on his behalf, ‘You have no idea of how happy it has made him to know that at last a pioneer has carried the torch of Bahá’u’lláh to that country! A service highly meritorious in the sight of God and one long overdue.’ In the Guardian’s own hand was appended, ‘Your spontaneous and exemplary response has rejoiced my heart and evoked my intense admiration . . . I am eager to learn of the progress of your work for which I cherish the brightest hopes.’ Later, Shoghi Effendi referred to him as thih, ‘the (spiritual) “Conqueror” of Ceylon’. He performed outstanding services in Sri Lanka, and saw the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies. Thus the groundwork was laid for the establishment, in 1962, of the National Spiritual Assembly, with its seat in Colombo where, with the assistance of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, a beautiful national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds had been purchased.
Having completed his mission in Sri Lanka, Dr. Lukmani returned to India in 1956 and settled in Aurangabad where he continued to reside until October 1981 when the Messenger of Joy called him to the realm beyond. His earthly remains were laid to eternal rest in Aurangabad, while his soul winged its way to reunion with Shoghi Effendi whom he had loved more than anything in life. Dr. Lukmani’s services undoubtedly ensure him a permanent place in the Bahá’í history of India. The Universal House of Justice cabled on 22 October:
GRIEVED PASSING DEVOTED PROMOTER FAITH DR. LUKMANI. HIS LONGSTANDING RECORD SERVICES LOVINGLY REMEMBERED. PRAYING SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL. CONVEY RELATI‘VES LOVING SYMPATHY.
(Based on a memoir by DIPCHAND KHIANRA)