Sírús Naráqí

Dr. Sírús Naráqí
Born	September 30, 1942 Iran
Died	August 18, 2004 Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
Counsellor	Australasia 1985 - 2004

Dr. Sírús Naráqí, CBE (September 30, 1942 - August 18 2004) was a Persian Bahá'í who served as a Continental Counsellor for Australasia. In his career he was a medical doctor who contributed to medical care in Papua New Guinea both as a physician and as an academic.

Biography

Dr. Naráqí was born in Iran. He achieved academic success in his youth, placing first in the Country in his university entrance examinations. He studied medicine in Iran, and in 1969 he moved to America and undertook postgraduate training at the University of Illinois. He was named best attending physician and best teacher of the year at the Universities Teaching Hospital. He then worked as a consultant physician and academic in the United States for a time.

In 1977 he moved to Papua New Guinea, so that he could use his medical expertise to assist the disadvantaged, and he worked there lecturing in medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea. In 1977 a tragedy occurred where thirty-three residents of Hanuabada drank methol alcohol. Thirty were hospitalized with four losing their lives and two becoming seriously ill, and Dr. Naráqí issued a warning detailing the dangers of the substance. He also made a statement which included the following:

"In general one has to avoid any type of alcohol because no alcohol is safe. Public health and the news media should run an intermittent campaign against alcohol of any sort and methol alcohol in particular."

In 1978 he wrote an editorial on the dangers of methol alcohol which was published in the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal, and excerpts were also published in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier for the general public. He departed Papua New Guinea in 1979.

Dr. Naráqí returned to Papua New Guinea in 1983 and was appointed Chair of Medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea, and he lived in the Country with his family for the next fifteen years. He led research projects on malaria, snake bites and meningitis at the University which achieved international recognition. He also worked as a specialist in internal medicine while living in Papua New Guinea, and ensured that local undergraduate and postgraduate students were trained in order to reduce the countries reliance on expatriate physicians. Papua New Guineas first medical professor, Sir Isi Kevau, was trained by him.

In 1985 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia by the Universal House of Justice for a five year term. He was reappointed in 1990, 1995, and 2000.

In 1998 he moved to Australia where he was appointed a Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, and as Associate Dean of Nepean Hospital in Penrith. He also co-founded the Nepean Research Foundation in 1998. In 1999 he was awarded the title of Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, on the recommendation of the Papua New Guinea government, in recognition of his service to medicine in the country.

He became ill in 2002, which caused his passing in 2004. His funeral was held in Mona Vale, Sydney, and was attended by over 700. After his passing he was honored with a symposium held by his medical colleagues at the University of Sydney, and by statements from the Universal House of Justice and former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Julius Chan.

Family

In 1969 Dr. Naráqí married Mitra, with the wedding taking place at the House of Worship in Wilmette. They had four children, Ladan, Naysan, Anisa, and Gulita.

His son, Naysan, is editor of Bahá'í Blog.

References

• Bahá'í World News Service Obituary