Faḍl’ulláh Ástání
Dr. Faḍl’ulláh Ástání | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1917 Shíshván, Iran |
| Died | January 2, 2003 Bukittinggi, Indonesia |
| NSA member | Southeast Asia 1957 - 1958 |
Dr. Faḍl’ulláh Ástání Shíshván (March 21, 1917 - January 2, 2003) was a Persian Bahá’í who pioneered to Indonesia where he helped develop the Bahá’í community of the country.
Biography[edit]
Ástání was born in Shíshván in the Persian province of Azerbaijan in 1917. He studied medicine and began a career working in the medical field while in Persia. He married Lamieh Ahmadpour-Milani in 1944 and they had four daughters. They settled in Marághih where Ástání served on the Local Spiritual Assembly from 1949 to 1955.[1]
Ástání pioneered to Indonesia with his family in 1955 and he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Southeast Asia in 1957 serving on the body for a year. He established Bahá’í study classes, children's classes, and summer schools in Padang and Bukittingi and helped establish the Local Spiritual Assemblies of both towns and also the Local Spiritual Assembly of Sigli.[1]
In his professional career Ástání established himself in the medical field in Indonesia serving as director of the city health services of Sigli and director of a public hospital in the town. He also oversaw surgery at military and public hospitals in Sigli, Padang, and Bukittingi. He also worked as a Professor of anatomy at the Universitas Andalas. He was awarded several awards from governmental bodies in Indonesia for his services to medicine and his relationships with the authorities allowed him to assist the Bahá’í community when the religion began to be oppressed by the government in the 1970's.[1]
Ástání remained at his pioneer post and passed away in Bukittinggi, Indonesia, in 2003. In a message conveyed after his passing the Universal House of Justice praised his "magnificent example of unswerving conviction to the service of humanity."[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2004). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 31 (2002-2003), Pg(s) 274. View as PDF.
