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GUY RAZAKA
1925—1992
uy was born March 31, 1925, in Miadana Ambohitrimanjaka, Antananarivo, Madagasgar. After completing his secondary education he obtained a diploma in civil administration from the
Guy Raza/ea
Institut des Hautes Etudes d’Outremer (Overseas Institute of Higher Education) in Paris, France.
In his professional life he was called to posts of responsibility within ministries of the national government—those of Finance, Agriculture and Land Reform, and the National Forestry Commission.
He also worked for SODEMO (Société de Développement de la Plaine de Morondava—Society for the Development of the Plain ofMotondava) on a water supply project in the southwest of the country.
In 1963 Guy Razaka was appointed by the national Ministére de l’Economie, cles Finances et du Budget (Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Budget) to represent Madagascar at a meeting of the European Economic Community in Belgium. He met the Bahá’í friends there including Mrs. Léa Nys, Mrs. Guyonne David, and the Shamy family. He attended several firesides and marveled at the love and unity prevailing among the friends. During his stay in Belgium he embraced the Faith.
Guy married and fathered nine children, seven girls and two boys. His first son died in 1959 at the age ofnine months. His second son, Elie Razaka, died ofa cerebral hemorrhage at the age of thirty—four while living in Belgium.
Before the acquisition of the National Centre in Mandrosa Ambohijatovo, the Razaka family put their house at the disposal of the Bahá’í community of Antananarivo, and it was used as the local center for all Bahá’í activities. Later he and his wife pioneered to Morondava in western Madagascar.
Guy participated in institutes, schools, and teaching campaigns. He accompanied his wife for one week of teaching and consolidation work in the region of Farafangana, and he came to admire her courage and spiritual strength, as she never complained when confronted by the difficulties and tests before them. 'they walked for many kilometers, climbing mountains and crossing rivers on foot. Throughout the days they listened to the problems of the friends and responded to them in voices inflamed with the love of Bahá’u’lláh.
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14 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
Guy served for several years on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Madagascar, from the time it was established in 1972. He also served on several national committees and took part in the International Convention of1973 in Haifa electing the Universal House ofjustice.
Guy gave the last twenty—five years of his life to the translation of Bahá’í literature into Malagasy. After meeting his professional obligations he‘worked at least three hours a day at the translations, sometimes late into the night. After his retirement he dedicated himself full time to this work. Among his many translations are The Hidden Words, Gleaningsfiom the \X/ritz'ngs of Bzz/yzi’zt ’lla’b, Synopsis oftbe I(itzib—i—Aqdas, Selectionsfrom the Writings of Hbdu ’l—Ba/m’, God PIZSSES By, and 777izjfin the Night. A few days before his death he officially handed his translations to the National Spiritual Assembly.
He was sixty—six years old when he was diagnosed as having lung cancer. His health had deteriorated, especially after the shock of the death of his second son. Having appreciated and recognized the greatness of this Day, Guy Razaka left this earthly world with dignity and spirituality. Of all the friends who visited him during his last days, he would ask them to forgive him and to pray for him. His children and his grandchildren each received his precious and loving counsels, and at each opportunity he would encourage the members of the family, as well as the Bahá’í friends, to arise and serve the Faith and to remain firm in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
On the morning of his death he asked his wife to move him to the veranda so that he could take in the fresh morning air. Once outside, as his eyes were turned to the rising sun, 2 Violent wind started to blow, a phenomenon the family was unable to explain. He was straightaway carried
inside to his room. He asked his wife to pray intensely for him, to let him go to the Abhá Kingdom. In a much weakened condition, his voice no longer clear, he managed miraculously to raise both his hands, palms upward, and express himself in a strong voice uttering: “Andriamanitra 6! raiso ny fanahiko, raiso e!” (O my God, take my soul, take it, I beg of Thee.) These words, with the same gestures, he pronounced three times at an interval of twenty minutes. His voice was quieted into the greatest silence on September 2, 1992, at 7:15 AM. He was lucid to the last second ofhis life. The Universal House of Justice was informed, and the following telegram was received from it by his family on September 7, 1992:
DEEPLY SADDENED PASSING GUY RAZAKA. HIS LONG RECORD SERVICES MADAGASCAR COMMUNITY INCLUDING HIS TRANSLATIONS OF BAHA’I’ WRITINGS WILL ALWAYS BE LOVINGLY REMEMBERED. ASSURE PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES HIS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. WITH HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES MEMBERS BEREAVED FAMILY.
In spite of the 148 kilometers separating the capital from his home and place of burial in Antanetibe Mahandraza, the members of his family, the Bahá’í friends, his colleagues, and acquaintances came in great number to render him a vibrant tribute at his funeral two days later.
