A milestone was reached this year as the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, the democratically elected body that administers and represents the Indian Bahá’í community celebrated the 100th year of its establishment.
To mark this occasion a gathering was held on the lawns of the iconic Bahá’í House of Worship also known as the “Lotus Temple” on the evening of 21 March 2024. The event was attended by over two hundred and fifty distinguished guests from government, diplomatic and other spheres of Indian society.
During the event, the message of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, to the National Spiritual Assembly of India was read out. Referring to the centenary of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Prime Minister indicated that “This is a momentous milestone in India’s vibrant landscape of religious diversity and inclusivity.” Acknowledging the “historical contribution” of the Bahá’ís in India, Mr. Modi emphasized in his message the community’s contributions “through its advocacy for gender equality, universal education, and grassroots community -building efforts…” He made particular reference to the Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi which, in his words, “has emerged as a universally acknowledged emblem of spiritual transformation” and a “symbol of inner peace and harmony.”
The guest of honour Dr. Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation shared his thoughts on this occasion. He mentioned that the essence of the Bahá’í faith is “all about justice” and that Bahá’ís have a “wide worldview” and that is why the people of India who have embraced diversity and stood for unity for millennia “easily connect with it.” The Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Ms. Nazneen Rowhani, in her address traced the evolution of the Bahá’í community in India and the role that the National Assembly has had to play in this over the last hundred years.
