Khodadad Fozdar
Dr. Khodadad Muncherji Fozdar (1898 - April 26, 1958)[1] was an Indian Bahá'í who was, with his wife Shirin, the first Bahá'í pioneer to Singapore, and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to the Andaman Islands.
Life[edit]
Khodadad was born in 1898. He was of Parsi-Zoroastrian descent.[2]
Khodadad married Shirin in 1925, she was already a Bahá'í and he declared soon after the marriage, which resulted in his alienation from his mother and other family members. In 1928 he was appointed the Medical Officer of India's State Railways. In 1935 he visited Europe, and both he and Shirin went on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land on their way back to India. He taught some people about the Faith while travelling to Palestine who decided they would also meet with Shoghi Effendi, and the Guardian assured the Fozdar's that they were protected by God.[3]
In the 1930's Dr. Fozdar was working at a hospital in Ajmer. In January 1938 Khodadad and Shirin visited Colombo, Sri Lanka, with Martha Root for ten days. The Fozdar's spoke at a local Parsi club. Shirin continued with Martha onto Mysore and Bangalore while Khodadad returned to Ajmer.[4]
He left his position with the Railway company in 1950 and he and Shirin pioneered to Singapore, then apart of Malaya, and he opened a medical practice.[5] He also worked at the General Hospital at Johore Bahru while living in Singapore, and he and Shirin later established a free school for underprivileged women.[6][7]
They began a teaching campaign and Shirin delivered talks for several women's organisations. Their son, John Fozdar, joined them in Singapore upon the completion of his medical degree.[8] Travel throughout Malaya was restricted when they first arrived, but in 1953 Shirin was able to give talks in Malacca, Seremban and Kuala Lumpur.[9]
In November, 1953, Dr. Fozdar pioneered to the Andaman Islands, fulfilling a goal of the Ten Year Crusade set by Shoghi Effendi, for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.[10] Four people became Bahá'ís in the Andamans due to Khodadads efforts, however he had to return to Singapore after only four months as he was not able to secure permission to remain in the territory. He pioneered within Malaya to Malacca after returning.[11][12]
In 1957 both Dr. Fozdar and Shirin were elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia at the first South East Asia Convention held in Djakarta, Indonesia.[13] He passed away the following year a few days before the second South East Asia Convention.[14]
Family[edit]
The Fozdar's had three sons. Jamshed, John, and Minoo, and two daughters, Zena and Mona.
References[edit]
- ↑ http://news.bahai.org/story/271/
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 1028. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 892. View as PDF.
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:BW_Vol8_Pt1.pdf&page=65
- ↑ Baha'i News (1951). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 249, Pg(s) 7-19 August 2018. View as PDF.
- ↑ http://www.religiousunity.org/BahArt/Shirin%20Fozdar.htm?i=1
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 893. View as PDF.
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:Baha%27i_News_248.pdf&page=8
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:MBN_Vol9_Issue4.pdf&page=10
- ↑ Baha'i News (1954). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 277, Pg(s) 7-19 August 2018. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 893. View as PDF.
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:MBN_Vol7_Issue1.pdf&page=7
- ↑ Baha'i News (1957). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 319, Pg(s) 5-19 August 2018. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1958). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 330, Pg(s) 8-19 August 2018. View as PDF.
