Malaysian Bahá’í News/Volume 6/Issue 3/Text

←Previous

Malaysian Bahá’í News Volume 6, Issue 3

Next→

Return to PDF view Proofread once

[Page 1]

Malaysian Bahá’í News

September-October 1970

B.E. 127

KDN. 4762

Vol. 6 No. 3 [Page 2]

Malaysian Summer School 1970

There had been no Summer School during the fateful year of 1969, owing to the emergency laws imposed by the country after the May 13th riots.

One of the first requests of the delegates at the National Convention during Ridvan 1970, was that the NSA set the dates for the Summer School early! And it was done.

The first week of the mid-year vacation beginning on July 26th saw the Bahá’ís of Malaysia stream into Port Dickson from all over the country. Young and old they came, families with tiny babies and grandfathers who have been the stalwarts of the Faith in this country and who haven’t missed a single Summer School ever.

The Sunshine Camp was filled to over-flowing, and the meeting hall which in past years had been more than enough, was this year, pronounced insufficient! The population explosion in the Malaysian Bahá’í family was being felt, and note was taken for the future — not to restrict its growth — but merely to cater for the ever growing numbers....

The highlight of the Summer School was a full-house workshop on Universal Participation, following a talk on the subject. The person chosen to carry through this important message was the youngest and newest National Assembly member, Mr. S. Bhaskaran. As his dynamic voice filled the hall, and he quoted freely and forcefully from the Universal House of Justice message, the meaning of Universal Participation sank deep into the minds and hearts of the believers. “The real secret of Universal Participation lies in the Master’s express wish that the friends should love each other, constantly encourage each other, work together, be as one soul in one body....”

Fig. 1 — Arriving at Summer School, Port Dickson.

Fig. 2 — A happy bunch of Bahá’ís from all over Malaysia.

Fig. 3 — The children were delighted to pose for a picture, after their classes. [Page 3]Three groups were organised and the following questions were put to them for discussion:—

(1) How can more from the masses of the Bahá’í Community be brought to participate in implementing the remaining goals of the Nine Year Plan?

(2) How do you, as an individual propose to contribute in the spirit of Universal Participation?

As the figures and details of the Nine Year Plan for Malaysia appeared on the board, the friends knew at once, where the scene of action should be. It was obviously East Malaysia. . . . and soon the action began. . . . An onlooker might have mistaken the Sunshine Camp for a fishmarket watching the friends participating in the workshops.

The report from the first group was centred around the idea that every single believer in West Malaysia, should be made aware of our East Malaysian goals. A seminar on East Malaysia, and prayer circles for the pioneers were also suggested. . . .

The second group saw more of the practical problems involved with the indigenous believers. Counsellor Yan Kee Leong summarised it as a need for ‘blood transfusion.’ Naturally then, the group’s answer was to pioneer on a short or long term basis to East Malaysia! The result. . . . six from the group volunteered as pioneers. A thunderous applause greeted this announcement.

The third group, represented by G. Ramu, not only stressed the importance of pioneers, but laid emphasis on the individual’s responsibility of deputising others if he or she could not personally pioneer. As actions speak louder than words. . . . . . Ramu waved a hundred dollar cheque in front of the crowd, and amidst laughter and applause, proudly added that the Singapore friends were willing to contribute five hundred dollars for the ‎maintainance maintenance‎ of a pioneer in East Malaysia for three months! They also produced a pioneer! While this was going on, the first group got into a huddle again, and from among the aboriginal friends who were in this group, a volunteer arose to offer his services in Sarawak!

By the time the workshops came to a close, it was evident from the excitement, and the loving and friendly discussions, that friends had caught the spirit of Universal Participation.

An interesting comment made by Mr. Teoh of Singapore gave the final touch: “As any businessman knows, labour and capital must go together — And today we have seen pioneers arising to serve, and also money donated to finance them. What a practical approach to a spiritual problem!

Fig. 4 — Asli friends from Perak at the Summer School. Right at the back, Left to Right: Ravichandran, Kanagaratnam and Krishnan of the Asli Committee. (please see story page 33)

Fig. 5 — Counsellor Yankee Leong speaking to friends ‎inbetween in between‎ sessions. (Centre) Gopalakrishnan who came all the way from Labuan, Sabah. [Page 4]Fig. 6 — Auxiliary Board Member Uncle Leong Tat Chee and Auntie Leong (seated centre) with some of their family and grandchildren who attended Summer School 1970. Next to Uncle is Mary and Dr. Dharmalingam and their four sons, and beside Auntie are Lily and Inbum Chinniah and their children.

Other Activities

The overall programme arranged for Summer School, was as usual varied and interesting, a combination of talks, panel discussions and group participation.

A distinguished visitor who attended this Summer School was Professor Avaregan, from Italy. He was very pleased to witness the spirit of the youth and had special sessions for them.

Nasser Jaffari, pioneer from Thailand, was one of the happiest persons at the Summer School. He inspired the youth with tales of the early martyrs, or kept them in fits of laughter with his jokes.

There was a session with the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board Members. Counsellor Yankee Leong entertained the friends with stories of pioneering, and Board Member Leong Tat Chee called upon them to continue their deepening and maturing as Bahá’ís. Both these grand stalwarts of the Faith were given a tremendous applause! Both are grandfathers with large wonderful active families, many members of which were present at the Summer School. Mrs. Betty Fernandez, the youngest and newest Auxiliary Board Member, was making her first official appearance as a Board Member and very modestly had little to say "after the talks by the two spiritual pillars of Malaysia."

Betty, however, had plenty to say on a different occasion when she was on a panel of speakers, and the subject was the Bahá’í way of life. The other members of the panel were Mr. Nagaratnam, and Mr. Inbum Chinniah. Betty spoke about the high moral standard that was expected of the believers as "the new race of men." A Bahá’í was later heard to ‎commeni comment‎, "She really gave it to us straight! I felt my conscience prick very hard.... I'm glad I came to Summer School if it was just to hear that talk...."

Social evenings as usual were fun. Bahá’ís have a great capacity for enjoying themselves in addition to planning ways and means of carrying out their responsibilities. Under the stars, in groups big and small the friends gathered each evening and ripples of laughter rang out till deep into the night.

Early each morning, a whistle blew an optimistic call to get the friends out for physical jerks before breakfast. How successful this was, is a big question! But it was a brave new attempt....

The youth came into special prominence during an interesting and often amusing programme called "My experience as a Bahá’í." This was an NBYC session during which representatives from different areas were called upon to speak on highlights in their Bahá’í lives.

Fig. 7 — Inbum Chinniah (left) and Anthony Louis (centre) amused by comments of Francis Singam attending his first Summer School. [Page 5]Perhaps the programme which caused the most excitement was a mammoth quiz competition that involved all the participants who were divided into five groups in the hall. It was planned and conducted by Isaac de Cruz. A selection of the questions are reprinted as a separate feature in this issue (see p. 18). A very significant point that emerged was that Bahá’ís in this early stage of the Faith have already become conscious of history. One was expected for example, to know not only the name of the first pioneer to Malaysia, but also the date of Dr. M.K. Fozdar’s arrival here! Another surprise question which was an eye-opener, was “Who was the only Malaysian to address the London Congress in Albert Hall in 1963?” Answer — Deraoh Leman, an aborigine from Kampong Chang, Perak. (Deraoh’s teen-age daughter was recently married in a Bahá’í ceremony in her kampong.)

The programme and the arrangements for this biggest Summer School were all done by the Area Teaching Committee of Negri Sembilan in whose territory it was. A quiet efficient group of hardworking friends, they earned the gratitude of the whole community for a magnificent job, magnificently done. Pauline and Isaac de Cruz were also given a big hand for having undertaken the catering for the whole Summer School.

The A.T.C. of Negri Sembilan

Fig. 8 — Left to Right: Mr. Rama Naidu, Mr. N. Nagendran (secretary), Mr. S. Satanam (chairman), Mrs. Lily Ng, Mr. T. K. Kannan, Mr. Rajaratnam, Mr. Singam. (Missing from picture) Mr. K. Rajah, Mr. G. A. Naidu (vice-chairman).

Mr. Feridoun Missaghian, Auxiliary Board Member from Laos has requested us to publish the following tribute:

Dr. Manuchehr ‎Zabir Zabih‎, a dedicated Bahá’í teacher and pioneer passed to the Abhá Kingdom in August 1970. Dr. Zabih had a great share in the progress of the Cause in Laos, even though he never went there himself. A dynamic and learned teacher, he travelled through Europe extensively on the instructions of beloved Guardian. A number of young Persians left Iran inspired by Dr. ‎Zabir Zabih‎ and some of these youths are known to many Malaysians — A Beizayee, F. Faridian, Hushang Shayeg (former pioneer to Thailand) H. Maani to Australia and Feridoun ‎Misshagian Missaghian‎ to Laos. There were many others who went to India and Africa through his encouragement. He also contributed the total amount for the Bahá’í Centre of Sayaboury in Laos, and was a constant source of inspiration to the pioneers everywhere.

Dr. Zabih and his wife were pioneering in Spain, when he passed away.

Blessed is the man that hath turned his face towards God, and walked steadfastly in His Love, until his soul hath winged its flight unto God, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Most Powerful, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Bahá’u’lláh

[Page 6]Fig. 9 — Belle and Sidney Dean.

‎its it’s‎ a small Bahá’í World...

Four years ago we were on our way "out" of Asia not dreaming that we would return to a pioneering post this way. Now here we are — back again to experience a bit of the greatness of the Bahá’ís of Malaysia. The last time, when we flew into Penang, (about June 1960) we visited Taiping, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Malacca, and flew out from Singapore. We had a day or so with the Sundrams, Vasudevan, Yankee Leong and Leong Tat Chee, and an hour with so many of the other wonderful Bahá’ís. Now we are doing a "repeat" — except that now Chellie, Vasu and Yankee are Counsellors, and dear Leong Tat Chee has been ill enough to have the whole nation pray for his recovery.

After our last visit in Malaya we spent a year in Taiwan, where we had the great pleasure of working with Kit Yin Kiang, Malaysia’s dedicated pioneer in Taipei. We were also in the Philippines, and still cherish a photo taken with dear Yankee in Manila — (again that golden thread invisibly uniting our Bahá’í lives). On our return to Hawaii, we were enabled to do our pilgrimage. What a wonderful experience! but that is another story — Once the pioneering bug bites you, it is difficult to stay home, and that brings us "full circle" back to South East Asia.

Thailand, Singapore, Djakarta, East Malaysia, where will we find our post? Just when we think we’ve found guidance, something changes! and even now we are not sure where we will be able to be of most value in the Nine Year Plan. But one gets busy doing something for the Faith, and the questions look after themselves.

It’s a small Bahá’í world — How many the friends we have met, and again bid farewell! The meeting of new family is always fun, but sometimes it is difficult to say good-bye, when it seems unlikely that we will ever meet again. But time and again our paths re-cross; there is another conference — and the other Bahá’í has made the unexpected trip too. And so once again the world-wide greetings! "If you go to Manila, give them my love." "Say hello to my friends in Bangkok" "Be sure to look up Orpha in Macau — oh, is she in the ‎Phillipines Philippines‎ now? give her my love". Yes, the Faith holds many surprises, permitting us to meet again our dear friends in another year, another land.

And what a joy to meet in person, those souls about whom we have heard so many stories — whose pioneering feats are a marvel, whose book we have admired. And the Hands! Those wonderful and holy souls; what an honour to spend time with them, for one day, they will be no more.

This, we feel, is the wonder of our age. We are too late to be participants in the Heroic Age, or to have met the Master or the beloved Guardian. We are also too early to be citizens of the Golden Age promised in the Writings. We are, however, active members of the Formative Age; and this stage of development allows us a unique opportunity to know personally, many of the active workers in our beloved Cause. We are of the age that can develop a real feel for the world-wide family.

It’s a small — and very wonderful — Bahá’í world!

• * * * *

Malaysia is indeed happy to welcome once again this much travelled pioneering couple, Belle and Sidney Dean. During the past few months they have made themselves available to many communities for firesides and public talks.

Belle and Sid are now in Singapore at the request of the National Assembly, helping the friends with preparations for the gigantic Oceanic Conference of the South China Seas. — Ed. [Page 7]

Inauguration of the Bahá’í Society of the University of Singapore

There were a thousand things to do or so it seemed to the three lone Bahá’í students at the Singapore University working excitedly for the grand inauguration of the Bahá’í Society scheduled for the 12th of September 1970. Studies were momentarily forgotten by Nita Sundram, Ng Moi Yin and Henry Ong, as they worried about banners, invitations, catering and general arrangements for their big event.

There were four thousand invitations to be addressed and distributed, and the three friends were deeply touched and very grateful to their fellow students who rallied round and helped. As the invitations were distributed, there was a general air of curiosity on the campus, because some students received their cards before the others. It was common to hear these comments:—

"Hey, have you received an invitation to this Bahá’í Society thing? I just received one yesterday."

"No, what’s it all about? . . . . . how come you’re so special? Why wasn’t I invited?"

Soon everyone received a card and then they wondered how the Society had so much money!

The great day dawned at last. A few minutes before the scheduled hour of the programme, the nervous Bahá’í students wondered if anyone was going to turn up at all — then the crowd began to trickle in, and soon there were almost a hundred guests at the New Lecture Theatre Four.

Mrs. Elizabeth Gibson of the USA, now resident in Kuala Lumpur, flew down to be the guest speaker for the occasion. There were also representatives of the Inter-College Bahá’í Societies Council and the National Bahá’í Youth Council from the federal capital, and a few members of the Singapore community.

Mr. Amarjit Singh, a non-Bahá’í member of the Bahá’í Society was the very able master of ceremonies, and Mrs. Patricia Wong, the University representative.

After Nita Sundram’s inaugural address as the Chairman of the Bahá’í Society, the official presentation of Bahá’í books to the Library was made by the Secretary, Ng Moi Yin. Mrs. Wong graciously received the books on behalf of the Librarian.

The inauguration made news not only on the University campus but throughout the island as it was reported in the national newspapers, the Straits Times, the Singapore Herald and the Eastern Sun.

. . . . And when it was all over, three tired happy members of the Bahá’í Society rejoiced with their colleagues from Malaysia, that they had been privileged to assist in bringing the message of Bahá’u’lláh to a whole generation of students in the University of Singapore.

Fig. 10 — After the talks, the students gathered in groups asking questions.

Fig. 11 — Students and Bahá’ís during the tea-reception at the Inauguration. [Page 8]

A BROKEN-WINGED BIRD JETS TO MALAYA

Elizabeth Gibson

IN THE TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN ‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed a prayer for the Western States of America that begins, “O my God, O my God, this is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow....”. For the past four years I had been living in the Western state of California and had recited this prayer daily.

So what happens to a broken-winged bird when she finds she is to jet across the vast Pacific to join the Malaysian Bahá’í Community for two years?

Let me say first of all that the jet trip at almost six hundred miles an hour, at altitudes of over twenty five thousand feet, was like taxiing down the runway, in comparison to the feeling of spiritual acceleration I have received in the past month from being among the friends here!

And what a time to arrive!

• Just in time to share the bounty of the inauguration of the Bahá’í Society at the University of Singapore. Here I saw proof of what the careful plans, prayers, publicity and cooperation of three dedicated Bahá’í youth could do, in awakening their campus to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.
• Just in time to attend the first regional youth conference held in Kuala Lumpur. Such spirit! Such a desire to awaken fellow youth to their spiritual destiny.
• Just in time to be present at the first Proclamation Seminar for the Public Information officers and staff.
• Just in time to be invited to the first World Peace Day Proclamation event celebrated in Malaysia arranged by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Petaling Jaya.

And how did the Malaysian Bahá’í family take to its Western sister? — such happy faces — with a sincere love for Bahá’u’lláh — love that breaks through liquid brown eyes, spreads warmly over the face, and finally emits in a delicious variety of accents that are so sorely needed to solve the needs of the time.

Such a body of followers! So energetic. Pulsating through Malaysia giving spiritual life.

Did you know that there are almost as many Bahá’ís here as in the whole of the United States? And in less than two decades after Uncle Yankee planted the Standard of Bahá’u’lláh in this land. With this record of past and present victories, I marvel to think of what this community is going to do in proclamation, expansion and consolidation in the near future.

And what a future it will be!

Indeed I feel it is like a spiritual rocket which has been carefully assembled since the 1958 Singapore Conference, and is now on the launching pad ready for the countdown.... Blast off time is the 1971 Oceanic Conference of the South China Seas in Singapore!!! (Don’t be surprised if you see a broken-winged bird trying to stow away.)

Fig. 12 — Elizabeth Gibson speaking at the inauguration of the Bahá’í Society of the University of Singapore. Beside her is Nita Sundram, chairman of the Society. [Page 9]

Malaya welcomed them...

When a letter arrives with the words "I shall be passing through Penang and will be happy to assist in the teaching...." Penang generally alerts Butterworth across in the mainland, and if time permits, Alor Star up north, and the visitor will be lucky if he or she gets a bit of sightseeing squeezed in between a tight schedule of Bahá’í running around!

The same procedure takes place when a Bahá’í passes through the federal capital. The guests are usually shuttled between the Petaling Jaya friends and the Kuala Lumpur community and if there are a few days to stretch, Seremban and Malacca await their arrival with eager anticipation.

Mrs. Anita Graves from Wyoming, U.S.A., passing through the East after pilgrimage, wrote to Penang saying that the Fatheazams had strongly urged her to include Malaysia in her tour. Her brief letter had included the interesting information that she was a fourth generation Bahá’í and would be happy to be of service. With that kind of background, no stone was left unturned, and on arrival, she was whisked off to Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam for well-publicised meetings after which she was passed on to Sungei Patani where she visited an estate community, then up north to Alor Star for further firesides. Back in Penang, an exhausted Anita was finally allowed to rest.

Anita was very thrilled to have witnessed nine declarations spread out between Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, Alor Star and Penang during her brief stop-over in North Malaya. She was also impressed with the spirit of the local Bahá’ís who were working excitedly to fulfil the goals of Operation Kamal, a three month plan of the NSA for teaching and consolidation. Anita took note of the idea to present to her State Goals Committee back home.

P.S. Anita later confessed that having fallen ill in Bangkok, she was planning to do nothing but laze on the beach in Penang. She had certainly not expected to be caught up in such a whirlpool of activity!

Fig. 13 — Mrs. Anita Graves (centre) with a few friends from Butterworth, Prai and Bukit Mertajam.

A number of pioneers have passed through the country these last few months.

Professor Avaregan, a veteran pioneer from Europe included a tour of Malaya in his itinerary through the East on a special mission for the Universal House of Justice. This learned teacher was in Malaya twelve years ago and was most happy to renew acquaintance with many old Bahá’ís. His special interest on this trip was the youth. Brimming with knowledge and a burning desire to share it, Prof. Avaregan was frustrated by the limitations of language, as his French and Persian accent, made comprehension of his English rather difficult. Finally, he resorted to writing down his talks and these were cyclostyled and made available to everybody.

Belle and Sidney Dean came to Malaysia from Hawaii to await confirmation about their next posting (see pg. 6) Dr. Dean has a special interest here as his new book "Bahá’í Talks for All Occasions" is being published by the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia.

(see over) [Page 10]Fig. 14 — Pioneers — youth and veterans. (Photographed at the Summer School) Left to Right (back row), Nasser Jafari of Iran, now in Thailand, Yin Hong Shuen who served in Ceylon, Prof. Avaregan, visiting from Italy. (Front Row) — Lean Beng Liew (returned from Solomons off to Laos) Counsellor and veteran pioneer, Yankee Leong, and young Francis Ng of Seremban, who has volunteered to pioneer. (Francis is Yankee’s grandson).

Malaysia is often host to pioneers who have to travel down from Thailand in order to renew their visas in Penang.

Nasser Jafari from Songkla made extensive use of his visit here by travelling throughout the country. So impressed was he with the spirit of the friends that he wrote back enthusiastically to Iran — quote “I found hundreds of souls like shining stars in the sky of His Cause in Malaysia. . . . reflecting the light of the Greatest Name like a glittering mirror into so many other lands.”

Carmen Rabena, a young pioneer from the Philippines who has been serving in ‎Chengmai Chiang Mai‎ in Northern Thailand, was another pioneer who came to renew her visa in Penang. While there, she visited many Northern Communities and also renewed her spirit before returning. . . .

The world is but one family, and relatives in Malaysia are waiting with hospitality and Bahá’í love for anyone who cares to drop in.

---

Announcing a new pocket-sized prayer book

The National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia is pleased to announce the publication of a unique small prayer book of selected authenticated prayers of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Indexed for use for all Bahá’í occasions, the prayers are listed under convenient headings for quick reference. The first line of every prayer is printed in the table of contents for easy identification.

The selection includes:

• prayers for spiritual growth, assistance, teaching, meetings,
• for special occasions such as Intercalary Days, Fasting, ‎Nawruz Naw-Rúz‎ and Marriage;
• prayers for children, youth, journey, healing;
• and the Tablet of Ahmad.
• Included also is a special prayer for non-believers from Prayers and Meditations of Bahá’u’lláh.

Although pocket-sized, this beautiful little book contains over fifty prayers (size 5” by 3¾”) Its pure white textured cover is protected by a clear plastic slip-on jacket.

Price: $1-00 (Malaysian) Foreign 70 cts. (U.S.) inclusive of postage.

Please address all orders to: Publishing Trust of Malaysia, 32, Jalan Angsana, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [Page 11]

Letter from a new Bahá’í

"....I have just become a Bahá’í — and I can’t think why I didn’t declare a long time ago! Soon after signing up I was lucky to be able to attend the Summer School in Green Acre with Hong and little Phaik Shu who is just three years old. We had such a wonderful time there. Would you believe it if I said that it was like living in paradise that week? The people were so loving and friendly and helpful. Oh it was just marvellous!

Green Acre is in a very small town called Elliot, Maine. It has 250 acres of land, not all developed. There is a big two storey building, the ground floor of which is used as an office, dining room, recreation and discussion room. The first and second floors are for the "students". There is a very special room at one end of the second floor called the "‘Abdu’l-Bahá Room" where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá actually stayed when he visited Green Acre.

OF SUMMER SCHOOL GREEN ACRE, U.S.A.

There are a few cottages down the road which have been converted to school rooms for children of different age groups — the pre-schoolers, the big kids and the in-betweens.

The programmes for the school were very well organised and were changed every week. When we were there, the theme was "How can a true believer remain silent?"

Four members were elected to form a co-ordinating committee at the beginning of each week. Their job was to help the Council to look after the affairs of the students for that week.

After devotions each morning, the children went to school and the adults gathered in groups for discussions. There was also a deepening class for new Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. I learned so much in the discussion group. Green Acre has a well-stocked Bahá’í library, and two persons from each group volunteered to do research on the following day’s topic. The group leaders were very well-informed and made our stay not only enjoyable, but also an educational experience.

Classes were held on the Guardian every afternoon, and in the evenings there were special programmes like slide shows and concerts — also an inspirational talk by a well-known speaker on the theme of the week. When we were there, the speaker was Dr. Dwight Allen who is the Dean of the School of Education, University of ‎Massachusettes Massachusetts‎. He is also the National treasurer.

Phaik Shu attended a class for preschoolers supervised by two high school girls. She loved it so much that she didn’t want to return to us after school....

We enjoy receiving the Malaysian Bahá’í News and hearing about activities back home. I don’t know when we will be returning; in the meantime, we are very privileged to be serving the Faith in our community here in the States.

With Bahá’í love, Siew Kian

Foo Hong Tatt was a Bahá’í from Malaysia who went to the States about two years ago to further his art studies. He was joined by his young wife Siew Kian and tiny baby Phaik Shu from Penang. We are very happy to hear of her declaration, and to be able to share her excitement and news of the Green Acre Summer School. Impressions of a Summer School in another land are always of interest, more so, when the writer is Malaysian — Ed. [Page 12]

MALAYSIAN ROUNDUP

MALACCA

Titled proudly “The Pioneer,” Malacca’s own newsletter has been consistently filled with news of activities that range from reports of 19 Day Feasts to an impressive number of conferences, both local and state-wide, and public talks on special occasions with guest speakers from neighbouring states.

Fig. 15 — Malacca children at the Sunday Bahá’í Classes. Back row extreme right, Miss Keh Ai Leen who conducts the classes.

The youth committee has put out its own newsletter “Venturer,” and the youth are working hard to fulfil their own goals.

Many new declarations are reported and one of the new believers, Ng Ting Kee, has pioneered to Thailand on his own steam, and obtained a job to support himself. Reports have been received of the good work he is doing there.

NEGRI SEMBILAN

Women’s Day in Seremban

The Centre was decorated and filled with flowers, and pictures of famous Bahá’í ladies for a programme in keeping with “Women’s Day.” Included in the short talks by different women speakers was an account by Mrs. Yong of her recent trip to Hong Kong, where she is hoping to pioneer.

Bahau Bahá’í News

The newsletter of the active Bahau LSA is published in English, Telugu, Tamil and Orissa, to cater for the needs of the various estate communities in Negri.

Fig. 16 — Some of the friends at the Women’s Conference in Seremban, who came from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Petaling Jaya.

SELANGOR

The Centres of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya have both been the scene of much high-powered Bahá’í activity which has had repercussions all over the country. The Hazira is brimming with busy youths working on different projects.

“The Rising Sun” is the name of the LBYC’s news-sheet, and its regular issues feature the youth of Kuala Lumpur, who appear to be quite active in their own sphere, running sports teams, organising firesides, study classes, and social get-togethers. A very happy announcement in the September issue was the news of a member pioneering to Sarawak — R. Krishnan, who has been an active Asli teacher.

Fig. 17 — At Krishnan’s farewell party in Kuala Lumpur, September, 1970. [Page 13]Malaysian Roundup continued

KEDAH

Excerpts from the Kedah-Perlis Newsletter

“The month of July witnessed a flurry of activities and changes and no less than fifteen believers are reported to have declared in the states of Kedah and Perlis. Responsibilities have changed hands in the Alor Star Library and Bookshop; the Information Service has been established and a public talk was held with Professor Avaregan as the guest speaker. We hope that this healthy tempo will be kept up.”

The next newsletter reported a few more declarations, a successful Women’s Conference, the first in the state, regular children’s classes and steady youth activities. The month of October saw a further upsurge in teaching activities and the Kedah-Perlis Bahá’í News proudly reported that thirty new friends had joined the ranks of believers. These declarations were not from mass conversion areas but were spread out all over the state which showed that the Bahá’ís had really gone out teaching.... Quote: “Patani Para — most wonderful news — after four years of inactivity, two active young men got moving. One was D. Arumugam from Labi and the other was Maheswaran, a non-Bahá’í! Maheswaran began to feel the power of Bahá’í prayers and together they began teaching the Faith. A meeting was organised on Oct. 17th. Sixty five people turned up and nine declared! Patani Para is now so full of life that ten of them hired taxis to attend the U.N. Day celebration in Alor Star.”

The Kedah Perlis ATC delegated to Mr. Chong Boo Haw, the gigantic task of arranging a ‎charted chartered‎ bus to Singapore for the Oceanic Conference. This operation involved a great deal of running around and fixing up, but it was eventually done and the price per person from Alor Star to Singapore and back, a distance of over a thousand miles with five days ‎accomodation accommodation‎ thrown in, was the incredibly low figure of $38/- Kedah has set the pace and other ATCs in the country are busy inquiring about similar fantastic rates.

Fig. 18 — Mr. Yin Hong Shuen, the young Director of Information is seen explaining statistics at a recent Seminar on Proclamation conducted in Kuala Lumpur for Information Officers from all over the country.

PENANG AND BUTTERWORTH

Shared efforts lead to increased results and the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Penang and Butterworth have had much pleasure in including invitations to each other’s community for special occasions.

The Island News finds its way to many Bahá’ís on the mainland and the Berita Bahá’í of Butterworth is eagerly looked forward to by readers not only up North but far and wide where friends have asked to be placed on the mailing list.

Highlights of B’worth activities include an account of a whole-day deepening session, carefully planned in conference style. Over sixty friends attended it and a quiz contest between neighbouring teams, was won by the young Butterworth group.

The Bahá’ís of Butterworth and Prai seriously called upon divine assistance through a prayer circle in opening up the goal town of Bukit Mertajam. After just two firesides, there were more than nine declared believers including a lovely couple, Mr. and Mrs. Thiagarajah who have offered their home for meetings.

The Bahá’í Centre of Butterworth is on the Malaysian trunk road and a large prominent signboard acts as a silent teacher. Inside the Centre which is the home of the Chairman, Dr. Sreenivasan, the teaching is not silent! No one in fact can leave the place without knowing about the Faith.... [Page 14]

SARAWAK

With the arrival of Malaysian pioneers Lim Boon Huat, Rajan and Kuppusamy, for the first time in the history of Sarawak, youth committees have been formed in Kuching, Sibu, Kg. Lebore and Marudi. Also Bahá’í Societies have been formed in Tanjong Lobang College in Miri and the Limbang Secondary School. We shall be hearing more about these young societies as they are all active committees.

First Summer School in Kuching

On the 8th and 9th of August, a Summer School was arranged in Kuching with the theme, “Youth and Religion.” The talks and sessions inspired a new surge of activity both among Bahá’í youth and the enquirers, many of whom are now steadies at the regular youth gatherings.

Fig. 19 — The three groups of youth who joined together for an all-day-all-night picnic at Bako National Park.

The Bako Picnic

On the eve of Malaysia Day, while the whole of Kuching was busy with decorations for the National celebration, one small group of twenty eight youth loaded their long-boat and set off for the Bako National Park.

They were actually three separate groups who joined together for this picnic — the Bahá’í Youths, Groovy 5 and the Peace Lovers. After a very enjoyable all-night session of games and jokes, songs and dances, they spent the day playing football on the beach — oh the energy of youth!

The end result of this picnic was the successful proclamation that the Faith is not merely a set of spiritual rules, but a ‎having {{{2}}}‎ dynamic way of life. Four out of the group have already become Bahá’ís and all of them are looking forward to further joint activities.

Fig. 20 — Native youth of Mukah with pioneer Kuppusamy. On the left is Edmund Anggu and on the right, Lunyong.

New Channels

Penghulu Maniam, the back bone of Iban longhouse teaching, is busy as ever all over the second Division of Sarawak. A new channel has opened up through secondary schools which have invited Bahá’í speakers to address the students. This is progressing dramatically especially in the Limbang Area, where Krishnan and Rusi Irani from Brunei are giving a hand.

Kuppusamy reports that two enthusiastic Iban youth, Edmund Anggu and Lunyong Ak Asun have gone all out to make the teaching trips interesting by acting out short plays which give the Bahá’í message visually.

A good group of Ibans from East Malaysia are planning to attend the Oceanic Conference in Singapore.

Fig. 21 — The Bahá’ís of Rh. Masam a longhouse in Sarawak, East Malaysia. [Page 15]

Regional Youth Convention-Central Zone

“What good would a boxer be without his arms?” asked Inbum Chinniah, our popular National Secretary, looking anything but a tough boxer, as he flexed his arms to illustrate the point. He was addressing a sea of young Bahá’ís — over eighty of them jam-packed in the hall of the Hazira, on the opening night of the first regional youth convention. Said Inbum — “Our National Assembly has been praised around the world. If our Assembly is good, it is because we have some of the best youths in the world. Our youths are like the arms of a boxer; without his arms what good would a boxer be? Likewise, this N.S.A. depends on you. You are our strength.”

The National Bahá’í Youth Council had been given the responsibility of organising three separate regional conventions (for South, Central and North) during the year. The first of these, for the Central Zone, was being held on the 12th and 13th of September 1970. The N.B.Y.C. had risen to the task with vigour and enthusiasm, and the result was a magnificent spirit-filled two-day convention, organised thoughtfully to cover a diverse number of subjects and moods. Among the subjects covered during the Convention, were “The Covenant”, a talk by Dr. Sidney Dean (see p. 25), “Bahá’í Code of Conduct” by Miss Mamata Paul, and “Obligations of a Bahá’í” by the National Treasurer, Mr. K. Rajah.

Mr. Yin Hong Shuen, the young Director of Information, conducted a well-planned proclamation workshop.

Then there was a special appeal for pioneers by Theenathayalu of the N.B.Y.C. Just before he began speaking, he quietly appealed to Mr. Inbum Chinniah to stand by to take over from him as he felt incapable of doing justice to such an important subject. However, the spirit of pioneering so moved him as he spoke, that after the first few minutes, Inbum sat back comfortably with a relaxed smile, as the young speaker eloquently poured forth on the subject.

Arumugam, chairman of the N.B.Y.C., who is himself about to pioneer, rounded up the session with a call for volunteers. The following youths submitted their names:— Govinden of Malacca, Manogaran, Chandrasekran and R. Krishnan of Kuala Lumpur. (R. Krishnan has since left for his pioneering post in Sarawak.) A number of youths also volunteered for short-term travel-teaching.

The second day of the Convention was devoted to planning a mammoth teaching and proclamation campaign leading to the Oceanic Conference.

The regional youth convention ended on a note of joyful exuberance. The Youth Council had prepared a very nice little booklet made up of selected quotations, short stories and tidbits from here and there, which they called “The Council’s Gift” and every participant was presented with a copy.

But the greatest gift they gave, was in fact the confidence, faith and dedicated effort which they, the youth, had presented to the Malaysian community.

Members of the NBYC 1970-71

Fig. 22 — From left to right (front row) Yin Thing Sih (treasurer), A.P. Arumugam (chairman), Theenathayalu (Editor ‘Unity’), Kantha Kumar (asst. secretary).

(Back row) Lum Meng Chew, T.K. Lee (vice-chairman), A. Govindasamy (secretary). [Page 16]

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SINGAPORE

They may be few, they may be new — but the Bahá’ís of Singapore have in their own way been keeping the home-fires burning. Gleaned from the ATC newsletters are the following news briefs:

Professor Avaregan, a veteran pioneer from Italy spent some time in Singapore and held deepening sessions with the friends.

Singapore’s National Day in August, was celebrated in a big way. First they had a children’s party with games and prizes and plenty to eat. Then on August 30th at the beautifully illuminated Centre a barbeque party was held and more than fifty friends gathered to enjoy the satay, nyonya-mee and chicken roasted over hot charcoal.

The secretary reports, “In the midst of our celebration, a guest from Kuala Lumpur, Stanley Yan Hon Kee decided to sign up....” The function was reported in the local newspaper under the heading “Bahá’í Party — the Bahá’ís of Singapore celebrate National Day at the Bahá’í Centre.”

Proclamation

The tempo of activity in Singapore was stepped up through a steady stream of Malaysian visitors who came over to help with pre-conference proclamation. The National Co-ordinating Unit has been responsible for maintaining this flow of volunteers from the mainland.

VISITORS GALORE

The Singapore Bahá’ís have been in the envious position of being able to meet with ever so many visitors from all over the world who have stopped over briefly to say hello to the friends.

Over the past few months, the visitors have included Mrs. Ching Yuen Tung from Sandakan who was in Singapore to see her two sons off to U.K.

From Australia ‎enroute en route‎ to India were Capt. and Mrs. Williams and their two sons. Capt. Williams is an Air India pilot.

Another exciting meeting was with Dr. and Mrs. Gulick who were pioneers for many years in Africa during the days of the Guardian. Dr. Gulick is a distinguished leader in the field of education in America. Mrs. Bahia Gulick is a famous Bahá’í in her own rights. A teacher by profession, she speaks Arabic, Persian, French, German, English and Kurdish. (see p. 27 “The Road to Marivan.”)

From Indonesia and East Malaysia came Mr. and Mrs. Punjabi and son, and Auxiliary Board Member Grete Fozdar and children; also Mr. Minoo Fozdar from Brunei. They all met at the Centre one night in August. The Punjabis spoke of their visit to Bangkok, Hongkong and Manila, and mentioned how much they enjoyed travelling and meeting Bahá’ís. Mrs. Fozdar immediately invited them to include Kuching on their next itinerary!

In October, the long-awaited Bruss family arrived. They were interviewed ‎at at at‎ the Airport by the press, and their story appeared in the Singapore Herald.

The 19 Day Feast of Ilm was truly a Hawaiian night at the Singapore Hazira, for in addition to Ernie and Barbara Bruss and the four boys, there were another three Bahá’ís from Hawaii that night — Dr. and Mrs. Dean and a visitor, Mr. Angus Trent, a pilot with Aloha Airways.

Between the hellos and the farewells of the Bahá’í visitors passing through Singapore, many friendships have been enriched. [Page 17]

NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBOURS

LAOS

The Hazira of Luang Prabang was bright with the colour of vivid native costumes when the hilltribe Bahá’ís from nine different localities gathered for a local conference.

The same spiritual atmosphere prevailed when the Bahá’í community of Sayaboury had their local conference on the 19th of August. In fact, it was augmented by the presence of Mr. H. Avaregan, visiting pioneer from Italy. The three nights stay of this dedicated visitor resulted in an unexpected harvest in that remote town. Two villages declared their belief and another two are expected to accept the Faith soon.

Fig. 23 — Professor H. Avaregan visiting pioneer from Italy.

Mr. Avaregan addressed a group of Buddhist monks and novices in the largest Buddhist temple in Savannakhet. He spoke on the coming of the Maitre Buddha. It was a great sight, the stream of yellow-robed figures who filled the classroom to capacity and listened eagerly to the fascinating subject. Mr. Avaregan’s fluent French was a great asset. Many priests returned to the Hazira later for deepening sessions.

INDONESIA

Fig. 24 — Friends at the Summer School Bukit tinggi, Sumatra. Left to Right: Pak Salim of Matur, Sdr. Hasan from Padang, Mr. Panjabi, Djakarta, Sdr. Sardji from Mentawi Island.

In the cool of Bukit Tinggi in Sumatra, the home of Dr. and Mrs. Astani was the venue of a regional meeting for Bahá’ís from Mentawi, Djakarta, Padang and Matur. Not a Summer School in the elaborate sense of the word, but a summer school in spirit, this meeting was held at the end of August and attended by twenty friends. Vida and Helena Astani from England were home for the vacation and present on the occasion. A public meeting with Mr. Punjabi as the speaker, drew a crowd of about seventy.

Fig. 25 — The Astani sisters of Bukittinggi: (second row) with a young girl from Java and three little boys from Mentawi, (front row.) [Page 18]

Summer School Quiz

How would you rate?

Test your Bahá’í knowledge, then check the answers on page 28.

These questions below are selected from the quiz that was organised at the 1970 Summer School in Port Dickson. They indicate the high standard that was expected from the friends. Some of the very simple questions and some of the very difficult ones have not been included in this selection. There were about a hundred and fifty questions at the Summer School Quiz.

The Central Figures of the Faith

1. Who were the twin heralds of the pre-Bábí dispensation? 2. Exactly how many days after the Báb’s declaration did the enrolment of the remaining Letters of the Living take place? 3. Which Letter of the Living never attained the presence of the Báb? 4. What are the opening words of the Báb’s address to the Letters of the Living? 5. When and where was the Báb martyred? 6. In what year did Bahá’u’lláh receive the Revelation of God? 7. From where to where was Bahá’u’lláh’s first banishment? 8. Who was the 17 year-old bearer of Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablet to the Shah? 9. To whom did Bahá’u’lláh write this ‎prohesy prophecy‎ — “Your kingdom shall be thrown into confusion and your empire shall pass from your hands.” 10. “The sun of Bahá has set.” In what context did these words appear? 11. Name the years of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ministry. 12. Which were the first two countries in the West visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? 13. Who wrote the Tablets of the Divine Plan, and when? 14. Is Malaya mentioned in it?

Administration

1. What are the nine days of the year during which which work is forbidden? 2. On which holy days is it not necessary to abstain from work? 3. What does “Ayyám-i-Há” refer to? 4. According to Bahá’u’lláh, can there be more than nine members in an LSA? 5. On what day is the “greatest Bahá’í festival”? 6. Who elects the Universal House of Justice? 7. Was the institution of the LSA created by the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? 8. Was the institution of the NDF created by the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?

Bahá’í World Past and Present

1. Who was the first person to become a Bahá’í in the Western world? 2. Who was the first Malayan Bahá’í? 3. To how many countries had the Faith spread during the Báb’s ministry? 4. To how many countries had the Faith spread during ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ministry? 5. To how many countries had the Faith spread during ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ministry? 6. When did the first official pioneer to Malaysia arrive here? 7. Where and when was the first LSA in Malaya established? 8. Who was the only Malayan to address the London Congress? 9. When was the first NSA of Malaysia elected? [Page 19]

THAILAND

Fig. 26 — Mrs. Shirin Fozdar conducting the Bahá’í marriage of her grandson Vijay to Jane Blalock in Bangkok in August, 1970. The bride's mother, sister and brother all became Bahá’ís a few days later. The marriage took place at the bride's residence. Vijay is the eldest son of Jamshed and Parvati Fozdar.

Fig. 27 — A Malaysian pioneer, N. Perumal who is teaching in a technical college in Bangkok, is seen here with some of the students to whom he has given the Bahá’í message. Perumal is standing extreme left. Extreme right is a young Thai Bahá’í Noi Wong Salee and beside him is Yogachandra a pioneer from Ceylon.

Fig. 28 — The Santitham High School where many of the students and teachers are Bahá’ís was placed first in a provincial forensic tournament. The results were broadcast over regional radio and gave publicity to the Faith. The school was founded by Mrs. Shirin Fozdar. Photo shows the students with the headmaster Mr. Chalad Bromawongsanonda who is a member of the NSA of Thailand.

Fig. 29 — Yasothorn in Northern Thailand has acquired a new Bahá’í Centre. Photo shows a group of Thai Bahá’ís with Malaysian pioneer Machakalie, outside the Centre, August, 1970.

SOS FROM OUR NEIGHBOURS

The National Spiritual Assemblies of Brunei and Burma have appealed to Malaysia for pioneers.

Can you make it? Please contact the National Office for further details. [Page 20]

1001 MILES TO THE EAST COAST >>>>>>

Everybody has heard of the East Coast — but how many have ever been there? The National Co-ordinating Unit of the NSA decided one day that it was time they visited that lonely place, and saw for themselves the type of problems the isolated Bahá’ís face over there. On August 26th a team of four, made up of N.S.S. Seelan, Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Dean and Jeffrey Choong set out by car.

What a trip it was! Round and round the endless curves they drove — one good turn seemed to deserve another! ‎Finaliy finally‎ they made the little town of Temerloh, deep in the heart of mountainous Pahang. Temerloh may be of little significance on the map of Malaya, but to the Bahá’ís it is a special place, for that’s where the Thuraisingam family live.

The travellers arrived late and tired, having been delayed by a road block on the way, but they received a terrific welcome from the hospitable Thuraisingams, who had arranged a fireside for them. Hot cups of tea all round and twenty enquirers kept Dr. Dean busy. It was a lovely stop-over for the NCU team, and two declarations completed their joy. And who do you think was the happiest person there? Mrs. Thuraisingam! — for the two were her own children, Anthony and Philomena. In true Bahá’í spirit each member of this family is investigating the Faith individually. So far five have declared over the last two years. The first to accept Bahá’u’lláh was the eldest son, Francis, who was studying at the Technical College in Kuala Lumpur, and was then the active chairman of the Catholic Society of the College. Excited and enthusiastic about his new-found Faith, he took home tape recordings of William Sear’s talks, which he played to his reluctant family after Christmas dinner! Many weeks later after much soul-searching, and guided by a mystic dream, Mrs. Thuraisingam declared her Faith, and has since steadfastly kept the torch of Bahá’u’lláh burning in Temerloh.

Jerantut

Bumpity-bumpity-bump all the way to the next stop on the East Coast, which was the tiny town of Jerantut. "It’s easy to find anyone in Jerantut" was what everyone had said. But the visitors from the West Coast took a whole hour to locate ‎Chandrasekran Chandrasekaran‎! What a welcome he gave them when they eventually found him — "Oh, it’s great, great to see you! The NCU is really great! Oh, I’m so happy...." Chandra could hardly contain his excitement. He had arranged a public talk for the night. But it rained in sheets just before the meeting. However, friends and enquirers turned up in spite of the weather, and Dr. Dean was once again kept busy answering questions. Chandrasekaran was the happiest person that day for his room-mate Ramiah, declared himself as a Bahá’í.

Kuantan

In Kuantan (where the roads are good) the visiting team had the pleasure of meeting a Mr. Koh, whose story appeared some weeks ago in the NDF newsletter. Mr. Koh had wanted the book "God Passes By" but finding it was out of stock, he actually copied the whole book word for word — all 412 pages of it. The friends in Kuantan assured the NCU that they would almost surely have an LSA there next Ridvan.

Kuala Trengganu

Deeper and deeper up the rugged East Coast the visiting team jogged along till they reached Kuala Trengganu, the only town on this side of Malaya with a Local Spiritual Assembly. Home-front pioneers, Daisy and Kumara Das (formerly of Malacca) welcomed them with a big fireside attended by about 30 enquirers. A slide show and a stimulating session with Dr. Dean, carried right on into the early hours of the morning. There is hope of an LSA in Kemaman next year.

Kota Bharu and Back Home

A brief stop-over in Kelantan to visit Chandramati an isolated Bahá’í in Kota Bharu, completed the East Coast tour. Then four weary, happy Bahá’ís returned to Kuala Lumpur having covered over a thousand miles on their first trip to the other side of the peninsula. [Page 21]

PROCLAMATION TO THE LEADERS OF SARAWAK

Copies of Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation to the Kings were presented to three very important dignitaries in Sarawak. They were: The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Stephen Yong, the Speaker of Council Negri, Senator William Tan, J.M.N., C.B.E., and the Mayor of Kuching, Mr. Song Thian Cheok.

Fig. 30 — The Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Mr. Stephen Yong (seated right) with Dr. John Fozdar after the presentation of the Proclamation book.

Dr. John Fozdar and members of the Sarawak Administrative Committee made the official presentation in October 1970. Both the Bahá’ís and the books were warmly received by the dignitaries.

Fig. 31 — Presentation of the Proclamation book to Senator William Tan, Speaker of Council Negri Sarawak.

Radio Malaysia Sarawak, broadcast the news item in detail in its midday news release. The Sarawak Tribune published a report and photographs of the presentation.

Fig. 32 — The Mayor of Kuching, Mr. Song Thian Cheok and members of the Sarawak Administrative Committee at the presentation of Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation book October, 1970. Left to Right: Mr. Thinathayalam, Mr. Bobby Wee, Dr. John Fozdar, the Mayor, Mr. Song Thian Cheok and Mr. Among ak Ngangau. [Page 22]

Back Home and Off Again

Miss Lean Beng Liew, Malaysia’s young pioneer to the Solomon Islands returned home after two and a half years in Auki and Honiara in the Pacific Islands. She has barely caught her breath again, and is now getting ready to pioneer to Laos, one of the new goals given to Malaysia by the Universal House of Justice. We publish here, some of Beng Liew’s memories of her stay in the Solomons.

It seems like only yesterday that I left for the Solomons, and here I am, home again among the friends in Malaya.

Changes in the Hazira

It was wonderful being a pioneer in the Solomons, but it is also great to be back at the Hazira in Kuala Lumpur again. What a change I found when I returned. I could remember the time there were only about ten Bahá’ís at the Nineteen Day Feasts. Now I can hardly move around without bumping into active youth committee members and Hazira staff, all busy, busy working on some project or other. I am so excited to see all this change around here. The Hazira seems to be full of offices — NBYC on one side, Information office on the other, the National Bookshop, and the Publishing Trust to say nothing of the National Secretary’s room, and the typists and duplicating machines working all the time....

HauHui School

The little island school in HauHui in the Solomon Islands, seems a long way off just now! And really when I look back, I can hardly believe that I have been there at all. How wonderful is our great Faith that can work such miracles. How did I actually happen to go there? It all started with a letter from the NSA of the Solomons, stating that a pioneer was needed who could teach in a school. I was just lucky that I was able to go. I worked for two years in a small, beautiful island in a simple village school that was developed through the dedicated efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson from Adelaide. It had started with just one nursery class but pupils kept trickling in and the LSA of HauHui got permission to extend the school. By the time I got there it was well established with four local teachers and five classrooms which we built with local timber and sago palm leaves. We included Bahá’í lessons in our daily curriculum and all the children participated in the Feast Days and the Bahá’í Holy Days. We tried to arouse parental interest by having a Parent Teachers Committee.

Solomon Islands

As in most other territories, there is a shortage of pioneers in the Solomons. The field is challenging as only three main islands are opened to the Faith. Many villages have heard of the Faith and ask for Bahá’í visitors.

When I left the Solomons, there were over a thousand believers on record and twenty two Local Spiritual Assemblies. A beautiful temple site overlooks the sea on top of a little hill about four miles from the capital city. In almost every community there is a Centre built by the believers themselves. The NSA also owns a little speedboat called Dawn-Breaker II which takes the friends from island to island on teaching trips.

Sometimes I long to go back to the Solomons which I consider my second home. But now there are new goals given to our National Assembly, and so I am waiting to go wherever the NSA wishes me to go. Anywhere is home for a Bahá’í pioneer, and I thank Bahá’u’lláh for allowing me this privilege.

Lean Beng Liew. [Page 23]A Malaysian Writes Home of

SUMMER SCHOOL IN WALES

Margaret Wilkins

How lucky can one get! I have just returned from the most marvellous experience of attending a ‎Baha'i Bahá’í‎ Summer School, which was something I had only heard about back home, but never been to.*

The Summer School was held in Wales at the Coleg Harlech which is a private college in Harlech and is a fantastic ten-storey building of modern architecture. The place was so beautiful that I feel very inadequate describing it. The College itself was in the side of a hill at the back of which was a stream which broke into a waterfall and ended in a sort of pond in the college grounds. In front was the railway track, the golf course, the sand dunes, and a beautiful, wide, clean beach beside the sea.

There were about one hundred and fifty ‎Baha'is Bahá’ís‎ at the college. Some stayed in caravans parked at the caravan site and some in boarding houses and hotels in the village at Harlech, because the accommodation at the College was booked solid. I was very lucky to get a room. The rooms were really lovely with wall to wall carpets, a large wardrobe, a wash basin and a writing table. The view from the window was breathtaking.

The Summer School lasted for two weeks and every moment of it was enjoyable. The day started at 7.45 a.m. when a bell would ring to wake us up. Breakfast was at 8.30 a.m. but usually we were in the dining room before that. ‎Baha'is Bahá’ís‎ are always hungry....

Then the programme of the day would begin at 9.30 a.m., usually a talk followed by discussion. Many people took down notes, others just sat and listened, but throughout the whole Summer School there was an atmosphere of participation for both young and old. The talks were serious and enjoyable with a general feeling of relaxation. Everyone was joking and laughing. In short everyone was happy.

I was so reluctant to leave, and in fact my roommate, Minon Eshiagh, and I were about the last to leave the Summer School. From there we went by train to Shrewsbury to help with a ‎Baha'i Bahá’í‎ exhibition. It was a fascinating experience with music by Seals and Croft of the USA and also local pop songs.

One learns so much by just being among ‎Baha'is Bahá’ís‎.

• Margaret left Malaysia a few weeks after she became a Bahá’í. (See Letters to the Ed. page 37)

This description of a Summer School in the British Isles, offers a delightful study in similarities and contrasts with the Summer School in Port Dickson, where accommodation was so cramped that many youths eventually slept on mats, but the atmosphere was exactly the same. — Ed.

Fig. 33 — Margaret Wilkins (extreme right) with a few friends at Summer School in Harlech Wales, August, 1970. [Page 24]

at the Women’s Conference, Kuala Lumpur

There is an old Indian story about the creation of woman. It goes something like this :

God first created the Earth and all its creatures, then God created Man. In the beginning Man was quite content, but as time wore on, he got lonely and asked God for a companion. Then God looked around and combined the fragrance of the rose with the sharpness of its thorns, the grace of the deer with the cunning of the fox, the quiet beauty of the swan with the incessant chatter of the magpie, the purring contentment of the cat with the swift fierceness of the tiger, the simplicity of the sparrow with the pride of the peacock, and the faithfulness of the dog with the mischief of the monkey. Out of this diversity, God created Woman and gave her to Man. At first Man was thrilled with this delightful companion, but soon he found he could not cope with such a complex creature! So he asked God to take her away; and God took her away. The days passed by and soon Man became lonely again and begged God to send back his companion, to which God replied, “Man! It appears that you cannot live with Woman, but you also cannot live without her — so you had better make up your mind!” And Man decided quickly that he wanted her back!

.... and from that very early beginning, when Woman realised that Man could not do without her, she has tried to get the upper hand!.... and Man has been desperately struggling to keep her under control ....... Now, thank God, Bahá’u’lláh has decreed that woman should be given equality!

With that story, Mrs. Shantha Sundram opened the Women’s Conference in Kuala Lumpur on October 4th 1970.

The Gibson home where it was held was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and every guest was presented with an orchid and a star-shaped name tag.

A panel of three speakers discussed the role of women in this new era. Mrs. Elizabeth Gibson dealt with the “Nature of Women,” Mrs. Lily Chinniah spoke on the “Bahá’í Concept of Child Education” and Mrs. Lily Ng’s subject was the “Equality of Women”.

A merry session of group singing was followed by a make-up demonstration by Mrs. Pauline d’Cruz. Before the evening was over, each participant was presented with a little souvenir booklet entitled “The Oneness of Mankind and the Equality of Man and Woman.” It was a happy successful conference.

Fig. 34 — Guests at the all-day Women’s Conference organised by the ladies of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, October, 1970.

Fig. 35 — Self-help at the delicious buffet luncheon served to over seventy-five guests at the Women’s Conference. [Page 25]

THE CORD THAT BINDS

From a talk on the Covenant by Dr. Sidney Dean at the Regional Youth Conference Sept. ’70.

A covenant is a solemn agreement, an undertaking or a promise. The Covenant is a conditional agreement between God and man. The Covenant is the "strong cord" which binds the creature, man, to the Creator, God. The Covenant is the educator of the minds, the spirits, the hearts and souls of men. Those who live and act according to the Divine Teachings are promised rewards, and those who disobey are made aware of their loss.

Let us form a mental picture for a moment to illustrate a very important truth about God’s Covenant. Suppose we picture a contract such as you might get when you purchase some item on an installment plan. The original, with your signature, is kept by the company and you get a carbon copy. It is a binding legal document. This is what it is like when you say you are a believer in, or a follower of God’s Messenger.

Now let us imagine that your copy of the contract has been taken by a child who wishes to practice with a set of coloured crayons. The child draws at random all over the paper, scratches out some parts with black crayon, underlines some portions with red crayon, adds words in a childish hand upon the contract. Can we believe that the changes made would be binding upon the company, or that it would change the original copy? Of course not! And so it is with God’s Covenant: nothing that man’s imagination can do will ever change a word of God’s Covenant.

Can mankind erase the changes it has made in the Agreement and return it to its original purity? Many people hope that this can be done, but it is not possible. The alterations which are man’s own interpretations have been so deeply etched in, that they have permanently defaced the contract. Only a new God-sent Representative has the authority to re-issue a new and clear Covenant. There is also another important aspect to think about, and that is, that mankind has little desire or capacity to give up his own ideas which have become traditional prejudices. Therefore, only God’s new Messenger can ever bring about unity, love and brotherhood; without Him, man can only use empty words.

Whether you believe or not

The Covenant of God exists quite independently of man’s belief or disbelief in its existence. Let us consider all the alternatives: if the Covenant doesn’t exist, then man’s belief in it is mere imagination, and so the entire area of right action and good behaviour becomes meaningless. If it exists, but one does not believe it exists, then clearly it will not cease to exist because of that lack of belief. These positions are the unhappy ones of the atheist, the humanist and the so-called free-thinker.

Again: if one expresses his belief in God’s Covenant by signing the contract, but does not live up to its provisions, then the promised rewards and benefits clearly would not apply. This is the sad position of most of the people of the world today; they are "followers" in name only.

However, if the one who signs the contract tries his best to live up to all its requirements, then he may hope to reap the promise of "eternal life". This is the only rational choice and it gives meaning to life. The other possibilities are merely differing forms of the same "fool’s paradise."

(Continued overleaf) [Page 26]

JUMPING SPIRITUAL HURDLES

Continuation of the Covenant by Dr. Sidney Dean (see pg. 25)

The Covenant of God is a vital, growing reality and not a dead, static thing!

The Covenant of God, like a high-jump bar, is progressively raised by God; and we must leap ever higher to clear the spiritual requirements.

Those who do not exert themselves sufficiently do not qualify. Those who are satisfied to jump over the old, lower spiritual requirements are playing a child's game.

Those who excuse themselves for their half-hearted attempts are toying with a liar's fate.

However much it may please the individual, there is not any spiritual growth in the practice of child's play or a life of excuses.

The Covenant of God calls forth the best in every man in every age. God knows His creation, its present capacities and its potentials. He knows when to raise the spiritual hurdle and just how much to raise it. But those who are caught in the traps of disbelief and self-forgiveness will find their spiritual muscles too weak to clear the bar set by God's Messenger in each age.

God created man as a ‎perfectable perfectible‎ reality. God placed within man the capacity to develop the divine qualities and attributes. God decreed the overall rate of development, and ordained a Teacher for each stage of growth. Those who obey the Teacher are educated in higher morals and are raised up spiritually. This is the purpose and meaning of the Covenant. To obey the Ancient Eternal Covenant of God is to obey the Lesser Covenant of the Manifestation of God during His Dispensation. And to obey the Lesser Covenant for that age is first to recognise Him and then to obey His Teachings: one without the other is not acceptable.

Step at a time

By deepening in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh one finds there are many aspects of "obedience to the Covenant" that are not at first obvious. This is divine wisdom also, for too much too fast would be a heavy burden for most of us. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, for instance, tells us that failure to pray morning and evening is failing to live up to the Covenant: and so we learn that the one obligatory prayer is a minimum and not the optimum!

One final note at this time: Covenant-breaking is likened unto leprosy, so we must recognise and avoid it. Covenant-breaking is when a believer turns against the Faith and does things that would damage the Cause. Covenant-breaking is a condition that can only be determined by the Universal House of Justice. Pray God most earnestly that none of us may fall victim to this worst-of-all conditions.

(Covenant-breaking is not to be confused with the loss of one's voting rights. Covenant-breaking affects the very soul of a believer and is a contagious spiritual disease. A Covenant-breaker ceases to be a believer and cannot even nominally identify himself with the Faith.)

____________________oooOOooo____________________

Nobody is assisted and confirmed save that soul who is firm. Consider it well that every soul who is firm in the Covenant is luminous, like unto a candle which emanates its light on those around it; while every wavering soul is an utter failure, frozen, lifeless, dead—yet moving.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá — The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh [Page 27]In July of this year, some of the Bahá’ís of Singapore had the great privilege of meeting two very distinguished Bahá’ís who happened to stop-over at the Hazira for a brief visit while they were passing through Singapore (see page 16). The visitors were Dr. Robert L. Gulick Jr. and his charming wife Bahia. Malaysian Bahá’í News is very honoured to have been sent the following story for publication. (Dr. Gulick is the author of the introductory message in “Seven Valleys and Four Valleys” and Bahia is the daughter of Shaykh Faraju’lláh to whom this article refers).

THE ROAD TO MARIVAN

Robert L. Gulick Jr.

What is Marivan? To the ordinary traveller, the name refers to a town of five or ten thousand inhabitants, situated in western Iran near the Iraqi frontier in Kurdistan. The place has over the years acquired a reputation as a smuggling center. Life is reasonably secure but property is another question.

To the Bahá’í, Marivan is something else, for it was in a village called Gilih in the surrounding hills that Shaykh Faraju’lláh Zaki al-Kurdi Marivani was born. His father, ‘Abdu’r-Rahim, was the village chief. As a youth, his dream was to attend the thousand-year-old Muslim university, al-Azhar, which he finally attained. While he was there he was introduced to the greatest of Bahá’í scholars, Mirza Abu’l-Fadl who attracted him to the Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to Shaykh Faraju’lláh as the “lamp lit by Mirza Abu’l-Fadl.” He became well known as a Bahá’í and began publishing “Luminous Gems” for which he was roundly denounced as an infidel.

The persecution continued and he was finally expelled from al-Azhar. After his expulsion, Shaykh Faraju’lláh started a bookstore and publishing house, the first publication being the Kitab-i-Iqan, followed by the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Kurdistan al-Ilmia, the name of the printing establishment, then issued History of the Martyrs of the City of Yazd, Tablet to Nasiri’d-Din Shah, Prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablet to Auguste Forel, Ishraqat, Words of Paradise, Tajalliyat, Bisharat, Lessons in Religion, and Lessons in Character. He was a painstaking editor and a model of energy and perseverance. Many of the books, including The Secret of Divine Civilization, were printed in Persian. He was the author of an Arabic pamphlet entitled Glad Tidings of a World Without War. In addition to the Bahá’í books, he published Islamic works and a history of Kurdistan.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá personally corrected the Arabic translation of the “‘Ishraqat,” but taught the Bahá’ís a lesson in the functioning of Bahá’í Assemblies when He directed Shaykh Faraju’lláh to submit his version to the Egyptian Assembly (Bahá’í Admin. p. 23)

Shaykh Faraju’lláh married a daughter of ‘Ali Naqi Shirazi. They had a son who died in early childhood and a daughter, Bahia, who was named after the Greatest Holy Leaf. This daughter, hailed by Shoghi Effendi as “the pride of men,” was destined to carry on her father’s work by serving the Faith in Africa, Asia, and America. She translated into Arabic and published George Townshend’s Promise of all Ages. She has also translated into Arabic the Persian Hidden Words and The Secret of Divine Civilization.

The author of this article struggled in vain to remove the remains of Shaykh Faraju’lláh, (who died on December 20, 1937), from Cairo to the Bahá’í Cemetery. After a quarter of a century, positive identification became dubious. Another idea as to how the great Shaykh Faraju’lláh should be remembered was that land should be contributed in Marivan for the erection of a Haziratu’l-Quds in his memory. [Page 28]

Road to Marivan (cont.)

Fig. 36 — Mrs. Bahia Gulick, daughter of Shaykh Faraju’llah, in Kurdish costume.

In 1970, the project moved forward. A Persian mining engineer graciously offered to take the author and his wife, the daughter of Shaykh Faraju’llah, across the Hamadan Bowl and on into Kurdistan. A succession of flat tires and other difficulties slowed down, but did not stop the procession. The generous Bahá’ís of Sanandaj helped in every way and even sent along a representative to be with us in Marivan. To the astonishment of all concerned, the desired tract of land was quickly and unanimously agreed upon and the funds for its purchase have been made available.

As we walked along the streets of Marivan, a friendly crowd gathered, excited to see the daughter of Shaykh Faraju’llah. One claimed to be her cousin. The police in this border town became curious and sent for us. Convinced of our good intentions, they served us tea and invited us to stay a month.

Back in Arizona, beautiful letters have been received from Marivan, from Bahá’ís and pre-Bahá’ís alike, with entreaties to come back and spend some time in the environs of Marivan among the stout-hearted, independent-minded, ‎hosnitable hospitable‎ Kurds. This is certainly one of the more promising regions of Iran and we beseech the Beloved to grant us once more the privilege of setting foot on its esteemed soil.

Fig. 37 — Kurds of Gilih, the village of Shaykh Faraju’llah near Marivan, Iran. Young man in white turban is Bahia’s cousin.

ANSWERS TO SUMMER SCHOOL QUIZ (see page 18)

Central Figures of the Faith

1. Shaykh Ahmad and Siyyid Kazim
2. 40 days
3. Tahirih
4. “O My Beloved friends, you are the bearers of the name of God in this day.” (Dawn-breakers, pg. 63)
5. 9th July — Noon, 1850, Tabriz.
6. 1852 (GPB, pg. 104)
7. From Tehran to Turkish Empire (Baghdad in Iraq)
8. Badi
9. To Napoleon III
10. Telegram to Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey
11. 1892—1921
12. France and England (1910)
13. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919
14. No — only the Straits Settlements.

Administration

1. 1st, 9th and 12th days of Ridvan
   Declaration of the Bab
   Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
   Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
   Birth of the Bab
   Martyrdom of the Bab
   Naw Ruz
2. Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Day of the Covenant
3. The Intercalary Days
4. Yes — (GBP pg. 331)
5. 21st. April (GPB, pg. 331)
6. Members of the National Assemblies of the world.
7. Bahá’u’lláh (pg. 39, Bahá’í Community)
8. Bab (Pr. of B. Admin. pg. 16)

Bahá’í World, Past and Present

1. Thornton Chase (GPB, pg. 288)
2. Yankee Leong
3. Two (Iraq and Persia)
4. Ten
5. Twenty
6. 26th May, 1950 (Dr. M.K. Fozdar)
7. Seremban, April, 1954
8. Deraoh Leman -Aborigine
9. April, 1964

[Page 29]

POW! WHAM! BOOM!

A Public Information Proclamation Seminar was in progress at the Petaling Jaya Bahá’í Centre. It was Sunday 20th September 1970. In walked Auxiliary Board Member Betty Fernandez. “Guess who just called me on the phone?.... Dr. Muhajer! and he’s in Kuala Lumpur — and he’s on his way here!”

In the words of contemporary cartoon characters: POW! WHAM! BOOM! What a charge of spiritual energy that announcement released into the room.

When the beloved Hand arrived, it was like a fragrant breeze. The friends told him their thoughts, hopes, and plans for the Singapore Oceanic Conference. He listened so attentively. When they had done, he commended them on their planning and efforts so far — then added “....but I have been reading some of the messages of the Guardian....” He dug into his briefcase to get the messages of Shoghi Effendi and told them that the written word would reach many more waiting souls at this stage of proclamation....

Dr. Muhajer continued by inspiring those present with the success of the Bahá’í pamphlet in Japan at Expo ’70 where thousands came into contact with the Faith through the written word.

He thrilled the listening friends with the exciting victories of the recent Bolivian and Mauritius Oceanic Conferences. He recounted how the Universal House of Justice had said that the Singapore Conference would surpass the previous conferences!

The friends were both elated and a bit scared, but he had them with their sights up, their confidence mounting and their resolve getting higher! “How many pamphlets did you plan to distribute?” he asked.

“Twenty thousand!” replied the National Co-ordinating Unit members proudly. How big that figure had seemed in their planning. “Twenty thousand?” queried Dr. Muhajer ever so gently, and made the figure sound like two thousand! “How about two hundred thousand in Singapore — and a similar number in Malaysia?” There was an audible gasp of incredulity —

Next the Hand inquired how many believers were going to attend from Malaysia. No one ventured a figure! “How about 1000?” he asked, “500 of whom should be new believers....” And so it went....

A Hand of the Cause of God had come to give the friends the direction and dynamic energy needed to make the conference a spiritual success. To quote the words of Elizabeth Gibson of the Co-ordinating Unit: “While sitting in the room with Dr. Muhajer, I couldn’t help reflecting on how the Hands move and talk and act with such ease and humility. But then they know and are showing us how to draw on that spiritual power beyond the ken of men — the power that Bahá’u’lláh released into the world.”

Fig. 38 — “How about increasing the number to two hundred thousand ‎pamplets pamphlets‎?” Dr. Muhajer with the friends in Kuala Lumpur discussing the Oceanic ‎Conferencc Conference‎. [Page 30]

A BREATH OF HAWAII

It all began with a letter to the National Assembly way back in May this year:

“Aloha from Hawaii....through the grace of God our family is making a round-the-world teaching (and learning) trip for the Faith. We are willing to hold firesides and public meetings and assist with deepenings. You are free to use us in whatever way you choose. We have four boys; Chip, (13) Jon, (11) Todd, (9), and Adam (5). They will assist us in teaching and are as excited as we are to be able to meet, talk and live with other peoples of the world....” The letter was signed by Barbara and Ernest Bruss of Maui, Hawaii.

From the day the letter arrived, the Malaysians were looking forward to this unusual teaching team, and when they finally got here the family was involved in a whirlpool of activity from one town to the next — It was a round of “firesides, public meetings and deepenings” and the globe-circling family certainly met, talked and lived with the peoples of Malaysia. Hot curries, bee hoon, fried rice, mah mee and chappatties — they not only had to cope with different environments but a variety of strange foods as well.

Everywhere they went, the friends loved them and enjoyed them. Their novel manner of presenting the Faith through enchanting colour slides of Hawaii related to Bahá’í principles, was a change from the usual firesides, and the way all the boys participated in the commentaries, fascinated the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í audiences.

Malaysians will be interested to learn that the island of Maui which is home for the Bruss family, is the same place that Harlan and Kim Lin lived before they pioneered to Ebeye in the Marshall Islands of the Pacific. In fact, Harlan was chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Makawao on their Island, and Kim Lin had given them a preview of what to expect in Malaysia.

Barbara and Ernie had only been Bahá’ís for a year and a half when they hesitantly made this decision to see the Bahá’í world. To give, is to receive — and they have enriched the communities wherever they have been, while taking with them precious memories of Bahá’í hospitality. Loving thoughts of the Malaysian friends go with this delightful family on their exciting journey around the world. One wonders how they are going to keep up with all their newly enlarged Family, especially with the fan mail that will surely be going to the junior charmers !

Fig. 39 — The Bruss family — left to right: Todd, Chip, John, Barbara, Adam, Ernest. [Page 31]

World Peace Day

Fig. 40 — Outside the Community Centre with Dr. Muhajer.

Fig. 41 — Counsellor Yan Kee Leong was in great form....

Fig. 42 — World Peace Day Sept. 20, 1970, Petaling Jaya.

Petaling Jaya stole a march on the other Malaysian communities by being the first to observe World Peace Day in a big way on September 20th, 1970.

And they received their reward by having a surprise visitor honour their gathering — none other than beloved Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhajer. A huge banner announcing the event was displayed prominently outside the University Campus and another one in front of the Balai Raya (Community Centre) of Petaling Jaya which had been booked for the function. Dr. Muhajer was not expected; he flew in tired and unannounced on the previous night. Quote: “It was nearly midnight as I landed in Kuala Lumpur and drove in a taxi along the deserted road toward my hotel. Suddenly I saw a banner with the words “World Peace Day” and I knew it was the work of the Bahá’ís! My tiredness vanished. Oh, how wonderful..!”

And it was certainly wonderful for the Petaling Jaya Bahá’ís to have had the beloved Hand grace their function.... The Malay Mail splashed a lovely picture of a group at the tea party, and also published a good write-up on the function, which was attended by over seventy Bahá’ís and friends. [Page 32]From right out of the blue came a beautiful letter from a Bahá’í group of University students resident in the town of Manipal in South India. We share with you their heart-warming story with its step by step links with Malaysia, taken from the letter by Ong Teng Keat, secretary of the group.

Malaysians in Manipal

It was in 1967 that Kang Cheng Khey, a Bahá’í from Malaysia went to India and joined the Manipal Medical College. He was the only Bahá’í in Manipal. In 1968, Muthiah, another Malaysian joined him, and they were so happy to be together, as they had both come from Alor Star. Soon they heard that there was another Bahá’í in Manipal, an Iranian student, Qudrat Naini, who was studying at the Manipal Engineering College. The three got together and decided on a teaching programme.

Then three other Iranian students joined the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udipi. They were Mariam, Monira, and Mozhan, who owned a jeep. The friends piled into it, and set out on teaching trips to the surrounding areas.

In May 1970, Sree Ganesh, a Manipal medical student, returned home to Malaysia for the vacation. He was not a Bahá’í. When he reached Butterworth, he discovered that his brother, Dr. Sreenivasan had become a Bahá’í and a lively community had developed in Butterworth. Questions — answers — and more questions — finally Sree Ganesh declared himself a Bahá’í and returned to Manipal. Then in July 1970 came Ong Teng Keat, another Malaysian Bahá’í. It was as if Bahá’í youth formed one of Malaysia’s export commodities! There were now four Bahá’ís in Manipal, and Kang who had moved to Mangalore. They arranged a meeting together with an interested enquirer P. Sreedharan also of Malaysia.

As the time was ripe for proclamation in this collegiate town, they decided to send articles to the weekly newspaper. This publicity caused a general awakening which resulted in enquirers, critics and ‎ali all‎. Sreedharan declared himself a Bahá’í — the ‎firsi first‎ person to accept the Faith in Manipal.

An official proclamation programme was planned in October, and an invitation was sent to Counsellor Vasudevan to speak on the occasion. He was delighted to oblige... The conference hall was filled with more than a hundred people, and the question and answer session continued for hours after the function officially ended.

The next morning a further fireside was held in Sree Ganesh’s room and Chandrasekhar declared. Mr. Vasudevan then left for Mangalore with Kang, where a series of talks had been arranged. Another four friends declared there.

Later three more students, Sreenivas Prasad, Ittivarah Philipose and Jespal Singh also became Bahá’ís.

The light is shining bright in Manipal. The students have written to say that the Berita Bahá’í, the monthly newsletter from Butterworth, which goes regularly to Sree Ganesh, has been a source of inspiration to them and is used for deepening classes.

Needless to add, Malaysian youth at home are bursting with pride and pleasure and are eagerly awaiting further news reports from Manipal. [Page 33]

A Greenhorn Crosses the Main Range

A. Machambo

One hot afternoon in August, six enthusiastic young Bahá’ís set out across the Perak jungles to conquer the Main Range. Their mission — to teach the Faith to the jungle folk on the other side. I was the only one of the group who had no experience at all of jungle trekking and Asli work. Although the others, Isaac de Cruz, Kanagaratnam, Ravindran, C.S. Maniam and Krishnan had been on previous trips, this was the first time that any Bahá’í was attempting to cross the Main Range into Pahang. It was unknown, unexplored, uncontacted territory as far as the Bahá’ís were concerned, and was to be the most hazardous and toughest assignment yet. And here was I, a raw greenhorn accustomed only to office work at the Hazira gaily setting out on my first trip, blissfully ignorant of what was ahead. . . .

By evening we reached a little town called Sungkai, north of Trolak where we stayed the night. My companions were busy talking about their past experiences in the Asli areas. I simply sat open-mouthed and listened.

The next morning the sun was shining bright and beautiful as we began our trek. Very carefully, I checked my clothing from top to toe to see that there were no openings for leeches and mosquitoes to attack me. We met a few Asli Bahá’ís on the way and they sang out a gay Allah-u-Abhá as we passed.

The sun got hotter and hotter. Jungle noises surrounded us all the way. We walked and walked and walked. The track led deeper and deeper into the jungle and still our destination was nowhere in sight. . . . Then we came upon the home of an Asli Bahá’í, Bah Sidek. He called out Allah-u-Abhá, and got a guide for us.

We were all hungry, thirsty and completely exhausted, but we simply had to move on. When we thought we were almost there, our guide told us to hurry as it would take a good hour to reach Jernang, and if we didn’t get there by sunset we would have to spend the night in the jungle.

We hurried. We slipped. We fell. We got up and struggled on and on till we reached a beautiful large river the Sungei Sungkai. The lovely water was cold and clear — but we hadn’t reached our destination yet and so we plodded on. Ahead of us was a small hill. It felt like a mountain as we trudged up — and there at the top was paradise — the home of an Asli Bahá’í, where we could rest our weary limbs. We simply lay down on the ground and stretched. Bah Yok brought us water as he welcomed us to his jungle home. I marvelled at this Bah Yok. He was the penghulu or headman of this village, and he had attended the National Convention in Kuala Lumpur both last year and this year. I just could not get over the fact that the Aslis who came as delegates, had to walk so far to reach us, and as I thought of how little attention we gave them, the tears came into my eyes.

We spent the night at Bah Yok’s house where two or three families live. The only time to teach the Faith is at night when everyone is at home. So after a meal of tapioca and boiled fish we had a fireside with the non-Bahá’ís and a deepening session with the Bahá’ís.

The next morning, bright and cheerful, we left with a couple of guides to cross into Pahang jungle territory, hitherto unexplored by Bahá’ís. The guides told us the journey would be long and tough. How right they were! After miles of walking, our knees got weak and we felt like resting but we could not. This long trek leading to Kampong Jerjak was even more tedious than the last walk to Jernang. All of us said our prayers as we struggled through the slippery wet narrow jungle paths. All of a sudden someone would slip and fall into a hole, pick himself up and continue walking. Up hill and down we walked. And these hills were not like St. Paul’s Hill or St. John’s Hill in Malacca. They were real hills! — high and steep and covered with tall trees and thick wet undergrowth with thorns, leeches and goodness knows what other creepy crawly creatures.

When Maniam looked at the hills ahead, his eyes nearly popped out and he flatly refused to go further. But we had to. He slowed down and Isaac, Kana, Ravi, Krish [Page 34]and myself pushed on ahead. Then it happened — one person fell backwards and all of us went down like ninepins. Maniam with eyes popping out, fell with a loud smashing bang into the thick green bush.... Oh — what a fall that was!

We finally got across two hills and looked hopefully for signs of Kg. Jerjak. But our guides told us casually that we had to walk another two hours to reach it. Oh! All my confidence and strength suddenly seemed to evaporate. There was nothing to do but push on slowly. We had many more falls before we finally reached Kg. Jerjak.

Our flagging spirits were revived by a warm Bahá’í welcome, and after a dinner of boiled tapioca I went to sleep, while Ravi and Maniam took turns at teaching the Faith, and showing slides to the Aslis. The next morning we awoke to a breakfast of burnt tapioca (how long could we last on tapioca I wondered) But we ate it thankfully and left for Kampong Sooi.

Our guides told us that we had to cross the Perak-Pahang boundary into the Pahang jungles. I was frankly frightened at the prospect of more endless walking, but there was no turning back....

At Kg. Sooi we stayed at the home of an old penghulu, and he declared himself as a Bahá’í after hearing about the Faith that night. We had boiled tapioca for dinner. I felt weak just looking at the tapioca!

The night was cold. It was raining heavily and the wind howled on every side. We slept on the bamboo floor of the hut with no mats and no pillows. The wind pierced through our tired bones. I couldn’t stand the cold and stood up shivering all over. I glanced at my watch. It was 3-30 a.m. There was a tiny fire in the corner of the room just about to go out. I got some dry bamboo and slowly nursed the flames to life. Isaac, Maniam, Kana, Krishnan and Ravi quietly crawled around the fire and we huddled together and kept warm. The next morning we had more tapioca and set out again with our haversacks for Kampong Jelai.

This part of the journey was the toughest yet! It was to take seven hours over several high hills. The undergrowth was full of leeches which sucked our blood. We fell so many times that we lost count of them. They were painful falls into rough prickly rattan plants. We were all bruised and exhausted before we even got halfway. The guides kept reminding us that our final destination was many hills away. “There is no end of destination” grumbled Maniam as he pushed his weary body onward and upward.

I stopped for a while to pluck out a leech. The others moved on. Then suddenly I realized I was alone! I ran like a frightened animal. I could hear noises all round, but there was no one in sight. The jungle path I was running through, suddenly branched out in many directions! I started to say the Remover of Difficulties and walked ahead hopefully. Then I saw Isaac! He looked so hungry and pitiful. But wasn’t I glad to see him! We heard Maniam groaning with exhaustion and repeating Ya Baha-ul-Abha. Somehow we reached the top of the hill. White clouds floated just above our heads. It was 12 noon and we said the midday prayer.

The guides told us that Kg. Jelai was near and we were so happy that we ran down hill. We slipped and fell and ran again with no brakes on, crashing into trees and picking ourselves up and running on till we reached the bottom of the hill, then trudged on painfully till Kg. Jelai appeared on the horizon by six that evening. The Penghulu welcomed us with a tapioca dinner. (This time we didn’t grumble!) After the meal, while the others slept, Ravi and I stayed up and spoke to the kindly Penghulu about the Faith. He finally declared that he would like to be a Bahá’í, and the next morning he told his people — the whole kampong became Bahá’í!

Bahá’u’lláh had indeed blessed our journey.

Our return trip was even longer and more tiring — but though it was unending we eventually arrived safely in Kuala Lumpur after having spent seven days in the jungle.

Dear friends, when next you read or hear a report about Asli teaching, please remember the pioneers and the travelling teachers in your prayers. Their results may sound exciting but the jungle path to success is not strewn with roses....

Machambe, a member of the youth committee of Kuala Lumpur is well-known to Baha’is as the young manager of the National Book Shop. He has since decided to pioneer and will leave Malaya after the Oceanic Conference — Ed. [Page 35]

ANNOUNCING....

MARRIAGES

Kedah

Mr. Tan Keat Fong was married to Miss Lim Leong Sim in Alor Star at the Bahá’í Centre on 27-8-70. (Keat Fong was responsible for the formation of the Bahá’í Society of the Malayan Teacher’s College, Penang).

Mr. and Mrs. Leong Foo Cheong of Alor Star were married at the Bahá’í Centre on 29-8-70.

BIRTHS

Ceylon

To Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Peter, (pioneers to Ceylon from Malaysia) a girl, Shamira on 13-8-70.

Malacca

To Mr. and Mrs. S. Bhaskaran, a daughter, on 19-8-70.

Negri Sembilan

To Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Naidu of Bahau, a daughter on 23-8-70.

Kedah

To Mr. and Mrs. V. S. Maniam of Jitra a boy, Ravi, on 26-9-70.

To Mr. and Mrs. A. Maniam of Anak Bukit, a girl in October, 1970.

To Mr. and Mrs. Paul Peter David of Alor Star, a girl in October, 1970.

To Mr. and Mrs. Chong Boo Haw of Alor Star on the 30th of October ’70, at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Penang, a boy, Zohrab Aik Shuen. The Chinese characters for Aik Shuen mean “an advantage to proclaim,” a most appropriate name for the new Bahá’í, as people are sure to comment on the Persian name Zohrab, for a Chinese boy.

U.S.A.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael, a son, Ian, on 29-8-70 in California. (Mrs. Carmichael was formerly Amy Murugasan of Singapore).

Removal of Voting Rights*

The National Spiritual Assembly has deprived the following of their voting rights.

(a) Mr. E.A. Fernandez of Petaling Jaya.

(b) Mrs. Starlean Ooi of Petaling Jaya.

Mr. E.A. Fernandez has been removed from the membership of the National Spiritual Assembly.

• A Bahá’í against whom these administrative sanctions are imposed cannot attend Nineteen Day Feasts or other gatherings meant only for Bahá’ís and he or she cannot be used for teaching or other Bahá’í activities. His or her financial contributions are not to be accepted. He or she may attend meetings of the Bahá’í Holy Days and other gatherings which are open to the public.

[Page 36]

"HOW TO GET RICH"

The National Treasurer, Mr. A. Rajah, stood before the friends at the Summer School. His subject was How to Get Rich. He had a big smile on his face as he started with a seemingly innocent statement “I don’t know why I was chosen to speak on this subject!” As funds, or rather the lack of funds, had featured very prominently in many recent circulars, the treasurer’s opening remark triggered off a burst of laughter.

Mr. Rajah then proceeded to build up in quick sequence, the sick state of humanity today, the coming of the Divine Physician, the remedy which we have been given to cure our ailments and eventually — the payment due from us! The best things in life may be free, but money is needed to carry the healing Message to the world.... We live in a material world and though the cure is spiritual, it still takes material means to dispense the remedy to the sick. Bahá’ís are the only ones privileged to pay for this great service to humanity because Bahá’ís are the only ones who have knowledge of the divine medicine.

But how does all this make us rich? Well, it depends on what we mean by being rich. If we accept our full measure of the spiritual bounties showered on us, then we would most certainly be spiritually very rich — that’s one way of looking at it — the important way!

However, if you want to look at it materially, then the Holy Writings tell us that the more we give, the more we will receive. We must be like the fountain that is continually flowing and is being refilled from a hidden source. We must give without fear of poverty. Bahá’ís who have given very freely have testified to the fact that they have always been repaid many times ‎over’ over‎.

And that was the secret of how to get rich!

In short, if we feel that we don’t have enough material wealth today, it may be an idea to start giving away more of it in order to get rich!

“O my God! I ask Thee, by Thy most glorious Name to aid me in that which will cause the affairs of Thy servants to prosper, and Thy cities to flourish. Thou, indeed, hast power over all things!”

— Bahá’u’lláh

A vain man’s motto:—	win gold and wear it
A good man’s motto:—	win gold and share it
A profligate’s:—	win gold and spend it
A broker’s:—	win gold and lend it
A gambler’s:—	win gold and lose it
A wise man’s:—	win gold and use it

Of course every Bahá’í knows how he should use it!

$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$S

The National Fund is facing a deficit of nearly $10,000. This is a very critical state of affairs. If you have not sent in your contributions yet, please don’t delay — “....first the Kingdom of God, then all things will be added unto you....”

Address cheques and money orders to Malaysia Bahá’í Fund and post to the National Treasurer, Mr. K. Rajah, 70, Hose Road, Seremban.

$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$SOS$S [Page 37]

Greetings from London

.... London is such a lonely place for a newcomer. No one bothers about anyone else, except his own circle of friends, and even that I’m not sure! when I first arrived here, I was so tensed and frightened and lost until I met the Bahá’ís, then everything changed. What a contrast it is to be with the Bahá’ís — they are so loving and kind that you feel at home immediately.

You may be interested to know that Mr. Faizi’s son, Nesan, who got married recently, is a member of the Lambeth Community where I attend Nineteen Day Feasts. We have another Malaysian also in our small community of fourteen, Alex Alagappa of Penang, who sends his greetings to you. I met Vida Astani at the Centre in London. She had just been to Malaya on her way home to Sumatra, and had met Nita, Moi Yin and Henry and attended the inauguration of the Bahá’í Society of the Singapore University. She thinks the Malaysian Bahá’ís are fabulous — Ahem!

And guess who sends his love and greetings to the Malaysian friends from Cambridge? — Shehab Fatheazam. I was there for a Weekend School and Shehab said he was in Malaysia with his parents five years ago, and that he attended a summer school in Malacca. Needless to add he has many happy memories of that visit.

Sometimes I just can’t believe it. Here I am in London, thousands of miles away from home, and yet constantly meeting a stream of people who have friends in Malaysia, or who are going there. What a small world it really is — and how wonderful being a Bahá’í.

Fondest Greetings, Margaret

Margaret Wilkins of Ipoh, was a student at the Singapore University last year when she first heard of the Faith from Nita Sundram who had pioneered there. Margaret became a Bahá’í a few months later, and left for London to take up physiotherapy—Ed.

Greetings from Illinois, U.S.A.

...... My husband and I look forward to receiving the Malaysian Bahá’í News in Elmwood Park (a Chicago Suburb) and I am enclosing a subscription for my mother in Colorado who is also a Bahá’í.

I am presently studying medical technology at the University of Illinois and our newly formed Bahá’í Club has had the recent bounty of welcoming Bijan Beizayee to its fold. He is now our chairman. We have just held our first Bahá’í celebration on the campus, the ‎Comemmoration Commemoration‎ of Báb’s birthday. We find great joy and encouragement in our new club when we can share these experiences with young and devoted pioneers like Beizayee and through reading Bahá’í News magazines from the world community. We send love and greetings to your community and look forward to a year of your Bahá’í News.

Sonja Brook

Greetings from Christchurch, New Zealand

...... I was very happy to share the Malaysian Bahá’í News with the Bahá’ís of Christchurch. One of the friends, Mrs. Robinson, was most interested, as she used to be in Singapore and knew many of the Malaysian Bahá’ís.

Life in Christchurch is so different from back home; when I arrived first there were only three Bahá’ís including the pioneers here. Now there are twenty-three. This happened through announcements in the newspapers everyday informing people of the Faith.

At present there are three Bahá’ís including me at the Varsity here. It will be some time before we can have a Bahá’í Society in the University of Canterbury. I was very happy to meet another Bahá’í youth from Malaya, Lau Chee Hee of the Dunedin University; he came up to attend a conference here in Christchurch.

With Bahá’í love and greetings, R. Vijayasingam

Vijayasingam is the son of our National Treasurer, Mr. K. Rajah. He became a Bahá’í only after going to New Zealand — Ed. [Page 38]

Greetings from West Africa

I am a new pioneer from Mauritius to Upper Volta, West Africa. I thought Malaysia was an island in the Indian Ocean and frankly never took much interest in its people or culture. But recently I came across some copies of Malaysian Bahá’í News and have had great pleasure in reading of your activities. The Malaysian Bahá’í News is not only very interesting, the colours are lovely and the articles inspiring and I am now trying to adopt some of the teaching methods described in your stories. You all sound so lively and joyful; I hope that someday I may be able to come to your country. Meanwhile I would like to correspond with a Malaysian youth. I am twenty-six years old. My address is P.O. Box 977, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta, West Africa.

With Bahá’í Love, Krishna Nursoo

Appreciation from London

......Please accept this subscription from me for the Malaysian Bahá’í News. I have recently returned from Hong Kong where I spent a wonderful two months holiday with my father, Len Lewis. Whilst I was out there, I was able to see a few copies of your news magazine and because they were so beautiful, and conveyed the spirit which is now gripping the Far East, I would like to continue to share in the excitement of our rapidly expanding Faith.

It was my first visit to the East since I was very young, and it was wonderful to return to the land that I soon learned to love again. What struck me most was the universality of the Faith. I met Bahá’ís from all over the East, from mass-proclamation areas to the centres of the hardy few, yet the same spirit of oneness was evident and bountiful. Be they Malaysian, Filipino, Indonesian, Hawaiian, American, Japanese, Persian or even English — from any corner of the globe, the message of love and unity was the same.

So I ask you to convey to the friends in Malaysia our deepest love, and best wishes for speedy success in their goals.

Quenten Lewis

A Gift from Wisconsin, U.S.A.

It is indeed a delight to read the news from your country. We received six extra copies of the March and June issues. After noting that your budget for the year is $33,980 which apparently is a high figure to raise in Malaysia, this information was shared with the friends at a recent Wisconsin Institute and the extra copies were sold at a dollar each. It is with great happiness that I enclose a cheque for this toward achieving your goal.

Despite the distance between us, how fortunate and gratifying to know “We are as one soul in many bodies.” Best wishes to the friends and warmest loving greetings from Wisconsin.

Cordelia A. Norder Secretary, W. S. G. C.

It was indeed a lovely surprise to receive your letter and cheque. The extra copies were actually sent as a gift in the spirit of sharing Bahá’í news with others. How often one has heard the injunction, “Give, and you shall receive” — We must confess however, that we didn’t expect it to happen so literally and so generously! — Ed.

Calling from Canada

A one-year subscription to the Canadian Bahá’í News, is available by sending $4.00 (U.S.) to the Bahá’í News Committee 7290 Leslie Street, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. [Page 39]we’re hatching something BIG

OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SUPREME BODY, HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD, MR. ENOCH OLINGA.

Be there to feel “the magic enchantment of the spiritual love for which Mr. Olinga is the channel”.

The historic Oceanic Conference of the South China Seas is scheduled to be held in a historic place — The Victoria Memorial Hall in the heart of the city of Singapore.

Twelve years ago this same hall was the venue for a great Continental ‎Baha'i Bahá’í‎ Conference (one of a series of five) called by the beloved Guardian. That conference was also to have been held in Djakarta and was dramatically moved to Singapore due to unforeseen circumstances. Today, history has repeated itself and Indonesia’s loss is Malaysia’s gain....

THEN

The 1958 conference was arranged by the Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia, for at that time, Malaysia did not have a National Assembly, and there were only a few hundred believers in the whole region.

NOW

Today the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia has its finger on the pulse of a body of thousands of ‎Baha'is Bahá’ís‎ in East and West Malaysia and Singapore. And the heart of every believer is throbbing with excitement at the approach of the Oceanic Conference of the South China Seas.

We’re certainly hatching something big......

A wave of excitement which began as a little ripple, is reaching hurricane proportions throughout Malaysia, as the Oceanic Conference dates draw nearer. Every newsletter carries reminders....

Have you taken your leave?

Have you got your passports?

Has your community arranged for a chartered bus?

Alor Star has — Bahau has —

PLAN NOW — SAVE NOW — — GET READY — GET SET — GO —

No one can afford to miss this soul stirring love-radiating conference which has come to our very own doorstep.

Towards the Oceanic Conference

[Page 40]Malaysian Bahá’í News Vol:6 No.3 September-October 1970

See you at the

SINGAPORE

JAN. 1st 2nd 3rd 1971

---

Malaysian Bahá’í News, a quarterly magazine, is the official organ of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Malaysia — for circulation among Bahá’ís only.

Subscription. — $4 (Malaysian) $2 (U.S.) for one year:

---

Editor :	Shantha Sundram, 42, Peel Avenue, Penang.
Circulation :	Margaret Chan
Publishing Manager :	Dr. Chellie J. Sundram, 42, Peel Avenue, Penang.

Printed by The Ganesh Printing Works, 10, Penang Street, Penang.