Khodabakhch Attar
Khodabakhch Attar-Hamedani | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1917 Hamadan, Iran |
| Died | January 4, 1994 Ghangzhou, China |
| NSA member | North West Africa ???? - 1964 Hong Kong 1974 - ???? |
| ABM | Africa ???? - 1968 |
Khodabakhch Attar-Hamedani (1917 - January 4, 1994) was a Persian Bahá’í who was, with his family, the first pioneer to Algeria where he helped establish a Bahá’í community. He later pioneered to Hong Kong and mainland China.
Biography[edit]
Attarwas born in Hamadan, Iran, in 1917.[1] In his youth he wanted to study medicine however he became a merchant instead. He pioneered for the first time to a post within Iran in 1935. During the Second World War he married Monavar Rezvani in Rasht and they pioneered to the village of Khash where they had two sons, Abbas and Bijane. They later returned to Rasht and had two more sons, Behnouz and Behnam.[2]
In 1952 Attar pioneered to Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with his family and they were the first Bahá’ís in the country.[2] They were active teachers and contributed to the establishment of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Algiers in 1954 and several other Assemblies throughout the 1950's.[3] As of 1967 Attar was serving as an Auxiliary Board member when the National Spiritual Assembly of Algeria and Tunisia was formed,[4] however in November 1968 the government of Algeria instituted oppressive measures against the Faith and expelled all foreign Bahá’ís. Attar and his family moved to France, settling in Montpellier, after being deported.[3]
In 1972 the Attar's pioneered to China and after a few weeks they settled in Hong Kong. Attar was able to attend business fairs on mainland China and taught the Faith in Hong Kong associating with leaders of the Sikh, Taoist, Baptist, and Hindu communities. He was also an active member of the Hong Kong Lions Club, Toastmasters, and United Nations Association, and was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Hong Kong when it formed in 1974. In 1984 his son Bijane passed due to cancer. In 1986 the Attars donated a property to the Hong Kong Bahá’ís which became the communities Bahá’í centre.[3]
In 1991 Attar's wife passed away and in 1993 he moved to mainland China. He passed away in Guangzhou in 1994.[3] The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
"We were saddened to learnof the passing of beloved friend Mr. Khodabakhch Attar-Hamedani. His many years of dedicated services to the Cause of God, and his endeavours in the international arena for the progress of the Chinese people, will long be remembered. We will offer our fervent supplications in the Holy Shrines that Bahá’u’lláh's bountiful blessings and favours will surround him in the Abhá Kingdom."[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 104
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 105
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 106
- ↑ Baha'i News (1967). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 439, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
