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Mauritius

From Bahaipedia
 Mauritius
Bahá’í Oceanic Conference in Mauritius, 1970.
Location of Mauritius
National AssemblyMauritius
Statistics:
Total Population
 -  UN 2021[1] 1,298,915
Bahá'í pop.
 -  Bahá'í source 7,500[citation needed] 
 -  Non-Bahá'í source 23,242
History:
Firsts
 -  Local Bahá'í 1955, Foo Yong Yim-Lim 
 -  Pioneers 1953, Ottilie Rhein 
 -  Local Assembly 1956, Multiple 
 -  National Assembly 1972 
Official Website https://bahaimauritius.org/
Related media
Categories: Mauritius • People

The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean of the southeast coast of Africa. English and French are the major languages spoken and Hinduism and Christianity are the predominant religions.

The islands of Mauritius were first settled in the 17th Century by the Dutch and it was later colonized more permanently by France in with the vast majority of the islands population being African slaves settled by the French. In the 19th Century Mauritius became a British colony and it remained part of the British Empire until 1968 when it achieved independence.

The Bahá’í community was established in Mauritius in 1953. It was firmly consolidated throughout the 1960's and 1970's and by the 1990's the community was regularly participating in public events and remains active to the present day.

History[edit]

Establishment of the Bahá’í Community[edit]

A goal of the Ten Year Crusade inaugurated by Shoghi Effendi in 1953 was establishing the Bahá’í Faith in Mauritius. Ottilie Rhein was the first pioneer to Mauritius arriving in the country on November 11, 1953.[2] Rhein initially lived in Curepipe but after three months she moved to Phoenix and began hosting firesides with Foo Yong Yim-Lim declaring in February 1955 and becoming the first Mauritian Bahá’í.[3] Jalál Nakhjavání and Aziz Shayani visited the country during 1955 to assist Rhein and by October there had been a large number of declarations.[4]

In December 1955 Leland and Opal Jensen, American Bahá’ís who had pioneered to Reunion, joined Rhein in Mauritius when their visas for Reunion were declined,[5] and remained in the country until February 1957 with Leland speaking at firesides and several student and civic societies resulting in many declarations.[6] During the Jensen's time in Mauritius Ahmad Sohrab's group the Caravan of East and West which was opposed to the Bahá’í Administration attempted to establish itself in Mauritius and Leland facilitated several deepening's on the the importance of the Covenant.[6] The Jensen's themselves became Covenant-breakers in 1960, supporting the claims of Mason Remey, however their efforts to promote Remey to the Mauritian community through correspondence were largely unsuccessful.[6]

Ottilie Rhein's visa expired in spring 1956 and she moved to Kampala, Uganda,[7] but returned to Mauritius in 1957.[8] Rhein's visa expired again February 1958 and she left Mauritius permanently leaving Mauritius without any pioneers.[8][9] During the tenure of the early pioneers Bahá’í administration began to become established with Local Spiritual Assemblies of Beau Bassin & Rose Hill, Quatre Bones & Belle Rose, and Port Louis, forming in 1956,[10][11] and a Local Spiritual Assembly and Area Teaching Committee of Vacoas forming in 1957.[12]

While the Mauritius community was left without the support of any pioneers the local Bahá’ís continued to support the establishment of the Bahá’í community throughout the late 1950's successfully establishing Assemblies of Riche-en-Eau and Stanley in 1958,[13] and of Palmas and St. Pierre in 1959.[12][14] In 1960 the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States forwarded financial aid to the Bahá’í community of Mauritius after a hurricane caused significant damage on the island.[15]

As of 1963 eighteen Local Spiritual Assemblies and sixteen Bahá’í groups had been established with three Assemblies being incorporated and there were 1076 Bahá’ís in Mauritius.[9] In 1964 a National Spiritual Assembly of the Indian Ocean was established with its seat in Port Louis, Mauritius, which was responsible for administrating the Bahá’ís of Mauritius and several other nearby countries.[16]

Consolidation of the Bahá’í Community[edit]

In 1964 the Universal House of Justice launched a global Nine Year Plan and it assigned the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States the gal of assisting the Mauritian Bahá’ís with securing a building to serve as a teaching institute.[17] In 1966 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Indian Ocean was officially incorporated with the Mauritian government.[18]

In August 1970 a major international Bahá’í conference, dubbed an Oceanic Conference, was held in Mauritius which Hands of the Cause William Sears, Jalál Kháḍih, and Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir spoke at.[19] Sears noted the need for international pioneers and 212 Bahá’ís volunteered to pioneer as a result.[20] In 1972 the National Assembly of the Indian Ocean was dissolved and an independent National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritius was formed. Muhájir visited the country again in May, 1974, and assisted the National Spiritual Assembly in organizing a six-month intensive teaching project. In 1975 a periodical for Bahá’í children was established and Counselor Yankee Leong visited to assist with efforts to proclaim the Faith to the Chinese speaking population of Mauritius, which resulted in a Chinese Teaching Committee being established.[21]

In 1982 Bahá’í marriage was legally recognized by the government of Mauritius,[22] and as of 1983 every civil area in Mauritius had resident Bahá’ís.[23] Throughout the mid 1980's the Mauritian Bahá’í community used mobile institutes to deepen Bahá’í communities across the country,[24] used book exhibitions at fairs and agricultural shows to proclaim the Faith, and continued to provide international pioneers to support the work of the Faith abroad.[25] In 1985 Bahá’í youth of Mauritius organized a series of well-attended talks on topics relevant to youth to acknowledge the United Nations designation of 1985 as International Youth Year.[26]

In October 1985 the Promise of World Peace message of the Universal House of Justice was presented to the Governor-General of Mauritius,[27] and in September 1987 the Governor-General participated in the dedication of a new National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds for Mauritius.[28] In the late 1980's and early 1990's Bahá’í women's conferences to consult on achieving equality were held in Mauritius,[29] and the community conducted training sessions based on a manual prepared by the Bahá’í Office of Public Information to enhance its approach to public relations.[30]

Emergence from Obscurity[edit]

In 1992 the Centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh was commemorated at the University of Mauritius with the Prime Minister of the country attending and speaking at the gathering.[31] In 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritius was officially registered with the countries Ministry of the Environment and Quality of Life as a non-governmental organization for the purposes of conservation,[32] and a Bahá’í delegation had an audience with the President of the country.[33]

In 1995 the Bahá’í community of Mauritius collaborated with eight other religious groups to prepare a travelling exhibition on the concept of family which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Minister for Women of Mauritius,[34] and it collaborated with other religions again in 1997 in organizing a presentation on the human soul at the University of Mauritius.[35] In 1998 the Bahá’í community of Mauritius was invited to send a delegation to the third Conference of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians.[36]

In 2000 Mauritian Bahá’í children organized a peace celebration at the State House of Mauritius which was attended by the President,[37] and later in the year the National Spiritual Assembly held an interfaith prayer meeting at a Bahá’í Institute in Belle Rose which received radio and television coverage.[38] In January, 2002, the Bahá’í community of Mauritius lead a parade to celebrate World Religion Day.[39]

As of 2003 there were 100 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Mauritius and in December that year the 50th Anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith in Mauritius was celebrated at an event in Port Louis which was attended by the Vice-President.[40]

In 2022 local Bahá’í conferences were held across Mauritius to facilitate consultation on the Bahá’í communities activities.[41]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 704. View as PDF.
  3. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 94
  4. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 93
  5. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 75
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 76
  7. ↑ Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, George Ronald Press, London. p 129
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 95
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 60
  10. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 67
  11. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 68
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 62
  13. ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 338, Pg(s) 10. View as PDF.
  14. ↑ Edith Johnson & Lowell Johnson, Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa, National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa: Johannesburg, 2003, p 65
  15. ↑ Baha'i News (1960). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 353, Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  16. ↑ Baha'i News (1963). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 393, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  17. ↑ Baha'i News (1964). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 401, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
  18. ↑ Baha'i News (1966). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 429, Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
  19. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 299. View as PDF.
  20. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 96. View as PDF.
  21. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 153. View as PDF.
  22. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 108. View as PDF.
  23. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 106. View as PDF.
  24. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 150. View as PDF.
  25. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 149. View as PDF.
  26. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 147. View as PDF.
  27. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 340. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 258. View as PDF.
  29. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 162. View as PDF.
  30. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 144. View as PDF.
  31. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1993). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 21 (1992-1993), Pg(s) 125. View as PDF.
  32. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 22 (1993-1994), Pg(s) 98. View as PDF.
  33. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1996). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 23 (1994-1995), Pg(s) 85. View as PDF.
  34. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1996). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 23 (1994-1995), Pg(s) 61. View as PDF.
  35. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 25 (1996-1997), Pg(s) 80. View as PDF.
  36. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2000). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 27 (1998-1999), Pg(s) 86. View as PDF.
  37. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2001). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 28 (1999-2000), Pg(s) 54. View as PDF.
  38. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2002). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 29 (2000-2001), Pg(s) 67. View as PDF.
  39. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2003). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 30 (2001-2002), Pg(s) 95. View as PDF.
  40. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2005). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 32 (2003-2004), Pg(s) 53. View as PDF.
  41. ↑ https://news.bahai.org/story/1601/slideshow/52/


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