Allah-Kuli Kalantar
Allah-Kuli Kalantar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1899 Tehran, Iran |
| Died | August, 1979 Middletown, Connecticut, USA |
| NSA member | Central America 1957 - 1959 Colombia 1961 - 1964 |
Allah-Kuli Kalantar (c. 1899 - August, 1979) was a Persian Bahá’í who pioneered to Central and South America assisting with the development of the Bahá’í Faith in several countries.
Background[edit]
Kalantar was born into a Bahá’í family in Tehran, Iran, in 1899. He emigrated to the United States in his youth being taken to America by his uncle Ali Kuli Khan in 1914. He studied chemistry at the University of Utah, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois and worked as a chemist on the East Coast of the United States working for Shell Oil, Texaco, the Socony Vacuum Oil Company, and the Dupont Company. He later cofounded a Persian Art Center in New York with his uncle and became its manager.[1]
Kalantar married a New York Bahá’í, Emilie Moore,[2][3] and they had two sons, Alfred and Kenneth. In 1939 they pioneered to Delaware making them the first Bahá’ís to live in the state and they received praise from Shoghi Effendi in a joint cable addressed to several pioneers.[4] In 1955 after their sons had moved out of home to attend college they sold their home and pioneered to San Jose, Costa Rica. They later pioneered to Guadalajara, Mexico, and then settled in Manizales, Colombia. Kalantar was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia when it was established in 1961,[5] and he also served on several national and regional committees while living in South America.[1]
In 1965 the Kalantar's returned to the United States and settled in Meriden, Connecticut, and they were both elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Meriden when it was established in 1966.[3] Shortly after arriving back in North America Kalantar undertook an extensive travel teaching trip across Canada and the United States. He continued traveling to promote the Faith up until his passing in August, 1979. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW PASSING ABLE LIFETIME SERVANT CAUSE ALLAH-QULI KALANTAR. ASSURE WIDOW FAMILY PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL.[1]
In 1990 his papers were donated to the United States National Archives.[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The American Bahá’í (1980). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 11, Issue 5, pg(s) 21. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1942). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Wilmette, Ill. Volume 8 (1938-1940), Pg(s) 666. View as PDF.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Baha'i News (1966). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 424, Pg(s) 23. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1939). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 126, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1961). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 365, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ National Baha'i Review, No. 129, p 6
