1. 1975. Navjote of a Converted Zoroastrian Bahai, The. Maneckji Nuserwanji Dhalla, Gool Sohrab H. J. Rustomji, trans, Behram Sohrab H. J. Rustomji, trans. . Overview of the Faith, and the author's interactions with Bahá'ís in the early 1900s. (Navjote is the initiation ceremony where a child receives his/her ceremonial garments and first performs the Zoroastrian ritual.) Biographies.

1. 1889-00-00 — Bahá'u'lláh instructed Jamal Effendi, a Persian scholar of noble birth and high rank, to proceed to India and acquaint its people with the Bahá'í teachings. He arrived in Bombay in 1872, (sources differ on the date), and proceeded to travel throughout the country. Despite the language difficulty he managed to convey the teachings to many distinguished people. Jamal Effendi's vast knowledge, eloquent tongue and unfailing courtesy attracted many persons to him, and he was the guest of a number of prominent Indians of high standing. At innumerable meetings and discussions Jamal Effendi outlined Bahá'u'lláh's teachings for the upliftment of mankind and many recognized the truth of his words and embraced the Cause. It was not until 1880 that Jamal Effendi's strenuous efforts produced permanent results. In that year the first Bahá'í group was formed at Bombay and from there the Faith spread rapidly to Poona, Calcutta, Karachi and Delhi where Local Spiritual Assemblies were eventually established. [BW18p246]
2. 1906-11-10 —
   Harlan Ober and Hooper Harris sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey for Naples and 'Akká on their teaching trip to India at the behest of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. (Tablet 12 March, 1906) Dr. William Moore, brother of Lua Getsinger, had been chosen to accompany Hooper Harris but he died unexpectedly. Harlan did not have the means for such a trip but Lua Getsinger loaned him the necessary funds. [BW13p868]
   • During their three days stopover in 'Akká 'Abdu'l-Bahá provided no instructions but promised them that "Whenever difficult questions or problems come to you, turn your hearts to the heart of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and you will receive help." They found that they were astonished with some of their own answers to questions put to them during the trip. [BW13p869]
   • Later 'Abdu'l-Bahá told Harlan, "Serve the people, speak in the meetings, love them in reality not through politeness, embrace them as I have embraced you. Even if you should never speak great good will be accomplished." This was to become Harlan's creed for teaching the Faith. [BW13p869]
   • They traveled across India, teaching the Faith, with Persian Bahá'ís Ibn-i-Abhar and Mírzá Mahmúd. See BFA266–71 for details of the trip. [Bahaipedia]
   • "Hooper Harris and Harlan Ober traveled, during no less than seven months, in India and Burma, visiting Bombay, Poona, Lahore, Calcutta, Rangoon and Mandalay." [GPB261]
   • 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent the "Tablet of Purity" to America with Hooper Harris on his return from Haifa and India. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p10]
3. 1943-05-02 —
   The passing of Narayanrao Rangnath (Shethji) Vakil (b. Navsari, 1866) in Poona. He was the first person from the Hindu community to identify himself with the Bahá'í activities in India and the first chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India and Burma. He learned of the Faith through Mírzá Mahram Isfáhání in about 1908. [BW9p637-641]
   • For the story of his life see PH17–25.
4. 2006-07-15 — The Bahá'í Academy in Panchgani, India, entered into a formal agreement with one of India's top-ranked universities to offer specialized training in education for moral development to its students, faculty, and staff. [BWNS470]

1. 1987-01-23 — The death of Gol Aidun (b.12 March 1930 in Poona (now Pune) India)) in an accident involving a train near Pune, India. She was buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery in Pune, Maharashtra, India. [Find a grave].
   She, with her husband Jamshid and their three children, Laila, Seema and Vahíd as well as their grandchildren, had recently attended the opening ceremonies of the Lotus Temple in New Delhi. They were visiting relatives in Pune. She had boarded the train to return to New Delhi to volunteer as a guide at the Temple.
   The tribute from the Universal House of Justice read...:
   DEEPLY GRIEVED UNTIMELY PASSING DEAR WIFE GOL WHILE TRAVELING IN INDIA. HER KINDLY SPIRIT, GREAT ZEAL IN TEACHING INCLUDING MANY JOURNEYS BEHALF BELOVED FAITH, HER HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON PERSONS AND TOPICS OF CAUSE MAKE HER LOSS IRREPARABLE. EXTEND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES ALL MEMBERS FAMILY. ASSURE FERVENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER ILLUMTNED SOUL WORLDS GOD.
   
   Note: some examples of her historical research referred to above are: She recounted the relationship of Manakji Limji Hataria, an historical figure in the Zoroastrian community, with the Bahá'í Faith at the ABS conference in 1981 (Bahá'í Studies Notebook 1:1 (1980), 47-62) and at the ABS gathering in 1980 she made a presentation on the life and works of Mishkín-Qalam, the famous Bahá'í calligrapher. "Manekji Limji Hataria and the Bahá'í Faith," (Published in Bahá'í Studies Notebook, 1.1 (December 1980). This latter address is available on Spotify.
   She also delivered an unpublished paper at the New England Regional Conference of the Association for Baha'i Studies, 1982 titled "Mishkin Qalam, The Great Calligrapher and Humorist.". [Bibliography of a paper titles Mishkí Qalam by Vahid Rafati.]

   Note: Mention of her is also made in Ripples from the Rupununi, a biography of her husband Jamshid, by Brian H Cameron.

   A short biography written by her daughter Laila Aidun Eiriksson can be found in Bahá'í World XX p860-863.

   Gol and her family relocated from Winnipeg to Brandon in November of 1965 and by Ridván 1970 the inauguration local assembly was formed. [History of the Bahá'í Faith in Brandon]

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