Chahab ‘Alá'í
Chahab ‘Alá'í | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1911 Tihran, Iran |
| Died | November 4, 1996 Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France |
| NSA member | France 1958 - 1960 1967 - 1970 |
Chahabeddine ‘Alá'í (1911 - November 4, 1996) was a Persian Bahá’í who pioneered to Europe and served on the first National Spiritual Assembly of France.
Biography[edit]
‘Alá'í was born in Tihran in 1911. He was the ninth child of Muhammad Nazimu’l-Hukama and his mother was his third wife Mohtaram Khanum. After completing his school education in Iran he moved to France to attend university with the encouragement of Shoghi Effendi and completed degrees in Agricultural Engineering in 1933, Agricultural Industry Engineering in 1934, and Sugar Refinery Engineering in 1935. After completing his university studies he returned to Iran where he was appointed director general of all sugar factories in the country and founded a school with his financial resources.[1]
In 1952 ‘Alá'í moved to France to study sericulture and in 1958 he married Arlette Barbanson and was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of France when it was founded that year. He then returned to Iran where he oversaw the establishment of a sugar factory in Isfahan. In 1966 he returned to France and settled in Paris where he was appointed as director of the Maison del'Iran, a collection of Iranian art and gastronomy. In 1967 he was re-elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of France and in 1968 he served as chief teller at the Second International Convention during the election of the Universal House of Justice.[1]
In 1975 ‘Alá'í was awarded the Medal of the Legion of Honor of the Iranian Empire for his work as director of Maison del'Iran. He served as director until 1980 when he retired. Late in his life he pioneered within France to Le Cannet with his wife to help re-establish the Local Spiritual Assembly.[1]
On November 3, 1996, ‘Alá'í was admitted into the Saint-Julien-en-Genevois hospital and he passed away the following day.[2]
The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
"The Universal House of Justice is moved to convey to you, at this time of your grief, its loving condolences on the passing of your beloved father. His nobility of character coupled with his intense love for the Blessed Beauty, his steadfastness in the Cause and the devoted services he rendered to the communities of Iran and France are fondly remembered."[2]
