Baha�is Celebrate Founder�s 200th Anniversary

Baboki Kayawe | Monday October 30, 2017 15:19

Baha’u’llah, an Arabic word meaning the Glory of God-as explained by followers, was born in the city of Tehran, Persia in 1817.

His teachings are centred on oneness  of the human race and universal peace as contained in one of his  widely quoted statements at the celebrations held at the National Baha’i Centre; “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”.

At the event, the religious leader was hailed for his remarkable intellect despite lack of formal education.

One of the acclaimed Baha’i followers in the country, Lally Warren, who took to the podium to narrate Baha’u’llah’s faith journey, said he was known as “the father of the poor” in the city of Tehran. Warren, who has translated huge bodies of Baha’i literature into Setswana, further said the world could transform for the better if Baha’u’llah’s teachings were taken heed of, and put into practice.

“He is one whose teachings hold the key to overcoming challenges facing humanity today,” she said.

Warren added that urgent needs of this age demanded oneness of humanity and the realisation that all religions are but one.

She said the Baha’i doctrine, through revolution and social interaction could eliminate prejudice, and combat racism. She cautioned that as long as oneness of religion and the fact that there is a single God continue to be ignored, religious hatred and fanaticism would continue to fuel terrorism.

His teachings, though a blueprint for morality and humaneness however, landed him in prison and exile.  Chief guest of honour at the celebration, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi commended the celebration for coming at a point where “at certain moments in our lives humanity goes out of the window”.

She said lack of morality is a serious concern, as society no longer discern between good and bad.

Still at the celebration, Meena Rawhani, who is secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Botswana, called on people to seize the 200th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s appearance “to find who he was and what he represents”. 

She said the celebrations, which have been ongoing over the course of the last month globally, have seen a myriad of artistic and cultural expressions, songs, audio-visual presentations and literature. Velvet voiced Samia Anderson, soothed attendants’ souls, and spoke to their spirits as she performed songs of oneness as well as praise to Baha’u’llah.