Javan Gutosi
Javan Gutosi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1916 Tome, South Bugisu, Uganda |
| Died | May 7, 1978 Uganda |
| NSA member | Central & East Africa 1957 - ???? Uganda & Central Africa ???? - ???? |
| ABM | Africa 1974 - 1978 |
Javan Gutos, known as Gutosi, (1916 - May 7, 1978) was a Ugandan Bahá’í who assisted with the establishment and development of the Bahá’í community of Uganda.
Biography[edit]
Gutosi was born into a Christian family of the Buta clan in Tome Village in the South Bugisu district of Uganda. He was the third of ten children in his family and assisted caring for his brothers and worked for his father as a goat herder in his youth. He received an education at Nabumali Intermediary School and in 1936 he began attending King's College Budo however in 1937 he completed his schooling and was unable to attend university.[1]
Gutosi moved to Kenya after completing his schooling and worked for East African Railways and Harbours becoming a station master before leaving the company in 1947. He then began working for the Bugisu Coffee Union in Uganda. In 1953 he first encountered the Bahá’í Faith in Mbale, accepted the religion, and was elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Mbale that year. At some point he began working for Aziz Yazdi's International Products company.[2]
Gutosi was an active member of the Ugandan Bahá’í community serving on several local and national committees and his home became a focal point for Bahá’í activity in the country.[2] In 1957 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Central & East Africa.[3] In 1962 he established a farm and began working as a farmer in Busamaga and he was ultimately appointed a Parish Chief for his area by the Mbale Municipal Council.[2]
Gutosi was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda & Central Africa which was established in 1964 and he was appointed an Auxiliary Board member for Protection in 1974. His area of jurisdiction was initially the Eastern, Karamoja, Northern, and Nile provinces of Uganda however additional appointments to the Board over time allowed for his jurisdiction to become smaller. He continued to serve as Board member despite his health beginning to fail towards the end of his life and he passed away in 1978.[2]
The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
. . . HEARTS FILLED SORROW NEWS PASSING DEVOTED PROMOTER FAITH JAVAN GUTOSI CONVEY LOVING SYMPATHY HIS BEREAVED FAMILY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1981). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 17 (1976-1979), Pg(s) 455. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1981). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 17 (1976-1979), Pg(s) 456. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (July 1957). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 317, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
