With regard to the formation of Baha'i Youth groups; the Guardian is most
pleased to hear of the satisfactory progress that has been accomplished
along this line, and of the extensive programme you have arranged for the
development of Baha'i Youth activity during the coming year. He wishes me
to express, in particular, his appreciation of the very warm response made
by six of these youth groups to the suggestion of the National Youth
Committee of America regarding the holding of special youth meetings on
the 26th of this month. He wishes you to assure them of his special
prayers for the success and confirmation of their efforts. Six-Year
Plan--Spontaneous Undertaking of Indian Baha'i Community
In connection with the Six-Year Plan initiated by your N.S.A.; the
Guardian cannot too highly praise this undertaking of unprecedented
magnitude which your Assembly has resolved to carry out. One year has
already elapsed since that Plan was first launched, and the task that will
have to be accomplished during the remaining five years is indeed immense,
and calls for no less than a combined and tremendous sacrificial effort by
every Assembly, group and individual believer throughout India and Burma.
But the friends should derive much encouragement at the realization that
their efforts for the prosecution of this Plan are, in a way, far more
meritorious than those which their fellow-believers in the American
Continent are exerting in connection with the Seven-Year Plan of the
American N.S.A.
Whereas this latter Plan, which, it should be fairly admitted, is the
largest enterprise of its kind ever undertaken by any national Baha'i
Community, has been conceived and formulated directly by the Guardian
himself, the Six-Year Plan adopted by the Indian N.S.A. has been initiated
solely through the efforts of the elected body of the national
representatives of the Indian and Burmese believers, and represents
therefore the spontaneous undertaking of the Indian Baha'i Community
itself, and as such is endowed with a special merit and a unique spiritual
potency. When successfully completed this Plan will constitute indeed an
abiding monument to the resourceful energy, the unstinted devotion, and
the unquenchable enthusiasm of the Indian Baha'is, from which future
generations of believers in that land will derive endless inspiration and
guidance.
In view of the paramount importance of this Six-Year Plan, and the urgency
which the friends must undoubtedly feel to carry it out as speedily and
efficiently as possible during the remaining five years, the Guardian
would advise that in the next Annual Convention meeting in Calcutta a
special session be devoted to the findings and consideration by all the
delegates and friends present of such policies and means as, in their
considered opinion, can best insure the speedy and timely completion of
this glorious undertaking.
The Guardian would particularly suggest that special stress be laid on the
necessity for pioneer teaching in those states and provinces in India and
Burma, where the Cause has not yet been introduced. Those believers who
have the means, and also the capacity to teach, should be encouraged, no
matter how great the sacrifice involved, to settle in these virgin
territories, until such time as a local assembly has been constituted, or
at least a group of firm believers formed that can safely and gradually
evolve into a firmly-organized and properly-functioning local assembly.
This policy of teaching by settlement which the Guardian has also advised
and indeed urged the American believers to adopt has been proved by
experience to be the most effective way of establishing the Faith in new
territories, and he therefore confidently recommends it for adoption by
your Assembly.