wfn.org | BWNS -- Author introduced Baha'i Faith to a generation

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Author introduced Baha'i Faith to a generation
BRISBANE, Australia, 15 August 2004 (BWNS) -- Gloria Faizi introduced the
teachings of Baha'u'llah to a whole generation of inquirers through her
pocket-sized introduction to the Baha'i Faith.

First published in 1971, "The Baha'i Faith: An Introduction" is published in
21 languages. The inexpensive and easy-to-read book has sold more than
200,000
copies.

Right up until she passed away here aged 83, on 29 June 2004, Gloria Faizi
was
intent on using her literary gifts to tell people about Baha'u'llah.

Her book, "Baha'u'llah -- The Promised One" has just been published, its
initial draft dictated by her while ill in bed.

At the time of her death, she was writing her ninth book, a biography of her
late husband, Abu'l-Qasim Faizi (c. 1906-1980), a Hand of the Cause of God.

In a message of condolence to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of Australia, the Universal House of Justice said Gloria Faizi had "rendered
outstanding services to the Cause of Baha'u'llah throughout her life."

"Her distinguished record of accomplishment includes a number of books
translated into many languages which have proved most valuable in attracting
inquirers to the Faith and in conveying a deeper understanding of the Baha'i
teachings."

The Universal House of Justice said they remembered with appreciation "her
many contributions to the progress of the Baha'i communities, including her
pioneering in Bahrain with her illustrious husband, her work at the Baha'i
World Centre, and her devoted travels far and wide as a teacher of the
Cause."

Gloria Faizi was born into the Ala'i family, distinguished for its service to
the Faith. She met the head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, when she
accompanied
her father to the Holy Land as a child.

When she was 17, she married Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, and together they assisted
Baha'i communities in a remote rural area of Iran before settling in Bahrain
in the mid-1940s. Their two children, Naysan and May, were born during their
15 years there.

Family members heard no complaints about the conditions there from Mrs.
Faizi,
and it was only later that they learned of the extreme difficulties she and
her husband encountered in the early years -- initial unemployment,
malnourishment, the lack of relief from intense heat, discomfort, and
hostility. Over the years the couple were of great assistance and inspiration
to Baha'is in the region.

Later, Mr. Faizi's duties required them to move to the Holy Land. After Mr.
Faizi passed away, Mrs. Faizi lived for two more years in Haifa and then
moved
to India where she traveled widely in service to the Faith.

"Her love for India and the Indian community was immense," said a longtime
secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Mr. Ramnik Shah.

"Her great contribution to the development of the Faith in India was her
assistance in not only writing but supervising the printing of books and
booklets that were required for the proclamation and deepening of the Faith,"
Mr. Shah said.

Mrs. Faizi set up residential institute programs to teach and train Baha'is
in
Tamil Nadu and in Solan, in Himachal Pradesh.

In more recent years she was resident at the Rabbani School in Gwalior, where
her deep knowledge of the Baha'i Faith and her brilliance in communication
were demonstrated in memorable classes for both faculty and students.

A Fellow of the Institute of Linguists, Mrs. Faizi was fluent in Persian,
English, Arabic, French, and Turkish, and she had a working knowledge of
Hindi.

Her literary gifts enabled her to write not only her immensely popular
introductory book but also another best-seller, "Fire on the Mountain Top," a
collection of stories about early members of the Baha'i Faith.

More and more books were to pour from her pen. Among them was "Flowers of One
Garden," which is now being distributed to government educational
institutions
throughout India.

Meticulous to a high degree in everything she did, she would painstakingly
pore over her manuscripts until convinced they were free from faults.

She was in demand as a speaker and teacher of the Faith internationally.

In a eulogy delivered at her funeral, her literary assistant Vafa Fakhri said
Mrs. Faizi was a scholar, writer, and teacher to the end.

Mr. Fakhri referred to her "almost superhuman focus, determination and
perseverance", her "gentle and endearing sense of humor" and her vast
knowledge of the Baha'i Faith and other religions.

Gloria Faizi is survived by her two children, and  four grandchildren.