Masheed Iqani Koirala

Masheed Iqani Koirala
Born	April 17, 1949 Tehran, Iran
Died	October 24, 1986 Kathmandu, Nepal
NSA member	Nepal 1986
ABM	Asia 1972 - 1986

Masheed Iqani Koirala (April 17, 1949 - October 24, 1986) was a Persian Bahá’í who served as an Auxiliary Board member and National Spiritual Assembly member in Nepal.

Biography

Koirala was born Mahshíd Íqání in Tehran in 1949. She was born into a Bahá’í family and was eager to pioneer from an early age asking her parents for permission while in school and asking Hand of the Cause ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan to encourage her parents to grant permission. After completing her schooling she was able to pioneer moving to the Philippines to complete university studies in mass communication in 1967. She was forced to return to Iran in 1971 when violence on her campus lead to the university being closed down.

In September 1971 Koirala moved to New Delhi, India, to complete postgraduate studies in journalism. She met fellow student Bharat Koirala who she introduced to the Faith and they married in April 1972 then flew to Nepal just three days later with ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan. She worked in education after arriving in Nepal, ultimately becoming a school principal, and was also was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member traveling the country extensively to visit local communities and teach the Faith.

Koirala was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Nepal in 1986 stepping down as Auxiliary Board member to serve on the body. On October 24 that year she delivered a talk at a fireside held at the National Bahá’í Centre of Nepal and became short of breath a few minutes after completing the talk. She was taken to hospital but passed away. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after her passing:

GRIEVED NEWS UNTIMELY PASSING DEAR HANDMAIDEN BAHA'U'LLAH MASHID KOIRALA. HER EXEMPLARY PIONEERING SPIRIT, STEADFASTNESS DEVOTION AND LOVING NATURE ALL INSTRUMENTAL WINNING MANY HEARTS ACHIEVING VICTORIES NEPAL UNFORGETTABLE. EXTEND HEARTFELT SYMPATHY HER NOBLE FAMILY FRIENDS NEPAL. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS. WE ARDENTLY PRAY SACRED THRESHOLD PROGRESS HER SOUL ABHA KINGDOM.