Unity in Diversity – the Central Theme of the Baha'i Faith

Towards this end, the Baha'is of India are actively engaged in seeking the betterment of society through the pursuit of processes of individual and social transformation. They are thus engaged, in consort with men, women, children and youth from the larger society, in a collective learning enterprise. The guidance and resources for all these activities are channelled through Baha’i governing councils at the local, regional and national levels. At present, there are seventeen regional and about 600 local councils functioning harmoniously in a spirit of non-adversarial consultation under the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, which is the apex body looking after the affairs of the Indian Baha'i community. Through these efforts and in collaboration with a number of like-minded organisations, the Baha'is of India are learning to address the grave challenges facing present day society such as the prevalence of caste and class prejudice, gender inequality, communal disharmony, illiteracy, lack of education, violence, poverty, corruption and moral degradation. It is the fervent hope and aspiration of the Baha’i community in India to see their dear nation grow in material and spiritual prosperity, to see that the bonds of unity between the thousands of ethnic and religious communities living within its borders grows, that its people not only excel in the acquisition of scientific knowledge but also become renowned for their moral character and for qualities such as love, justice, compassion, equality and rectitude of conduct and that India makes its own distinct contribution to the advancement of world civilization.

Creating a Culture of Social Action

The experience and learning of the Baha'is of India lends credence to the fact that human beings are born noble and that it is the word of God which is endowed with that regenerative power- understanding of which helps one to engage in an enduring path of spiritual and social transformation.  The activities that drive this process are:

• meetings that strengthen the devotional character of the community;

• classes that nurture the tender hearts and minds of children;

• groups that channel the surging energies of junior youth;

• circle of study, open to all, that enable people of varied backgrounds to advance on equal footing and explore the application of the teachings to their individual and collective lives.

The Baha'i-inspired schools and other socio-economic development institutions in India have been recognised worldwide for their contribution towards the promotion of value based universal education, the enhancement of the status of women and the initiation of community development projects.