With regard to the teaching outline you had enclosed, Shoghi Effendi has read it with interest and appreciation and wishes me to assure you of his whole-hearted approval. The method you have adopted for the training of Baha'i teachers is, indeed, very similar to the one used by the American friends. It is very thorough, yet clear and highly effective. The Guardian trusts that the believers in India and Burma will make full use of your Assembly's suggestions and directions, and in this way help in inaugurating a new and effective teaching campaign throughout India and Burma.
July 8, 1935
Registration of L.S.A. of Karachi
He has been particularly pleased and encouraged to receive the copy of the Certificate of Registration of the Karachi Baha'i Assembly, and is eagerly awaiting for the registration papers of the Delhi and Rangoon Spiritual Assemblies. He hopes that the N.S.A. will expedite the matter of legalizing all the Local Assemblies of India and Burma and in this way insure the stability of the administrative institutions of the Cause in these two countries.
August 12, 1935
Formation of an Assembly in Lahore
He is pleased to learn of the possibility of establishing an Assembly in Lahore in the near future. He would urge you, and through you your fellow-members in the N.S.A., to make a special effort to bring about such a formation as soon as conditions are found to be favourable. He hopes that the establishment of a local Assembly in so important and central a town in India will greatly help the expansion of the Faith, and will consolidate the foundations of its institutions throughout that country.
October 17, 1935 Historic Step in Development of Administrative Order
He wishes me to congratulate you, and through you your fellow-members in the N.S.A., for the steps you have taken for the registration of the Delhi, Calcutta, Rangoon and other local Assemblies. He hopes that by the end of the year six out of the eight Assemblies will be duly registered.
Needless to say that the obtention of such an official recognition from the authorities is an historic step in the development of the Administrative Order of the Faith throughout India and Burma, and one which shall greatly enhance its prestige, and consolidate its position in the eyes of the public. May Baha'u'llah continue to guide and assist your efforts for the fulfilment of this task.
The Guardian is also very much gratified to learn that the N.S.A. is considering the possibility of establishing a local Assembly in Lucknow.
He trusts that in Jaunpur too an Assembly will be formed very soon, and that through these two valuable additions to the list of local Baha'i Assemblies, the administrative work of the Cause in India will make further and steady advancement.
In connection with the Teaching School which the N.S.A. is planning to start, the Guardian wishes me to express his approval, as well as his appreciation of this important action taken by your Assembly for the extension of their teaching work. He is also very pleased at the news of the teaching tour undertaken by Prof. Pritam Singh throughout Northern India and Bengal. He is praying for the success of this trip, and cherishes the hope that it may serve to bring into the Cause people of capacity and of true spiritual vision.
Circulation of Abdu'l-Baha's Photographs
Regarding the use of Abdu'l-Baha's photographs; Shoghi Effendi sees no objection to their circulation. He would, however, suggest that the Paris photograph be used, as well as the American reproduction of it, printed on yellow paper with a quotation from the Kitab-i-Ahd at the bottom.
Splendid Initiative
[From the Guardian:]
My heart swells with pride and gratitude as I witness, in rapid succession and with ever-increasing dearness, the evidences of the splendid initiative, the unwavering determination and solidarity which have characterized your accomplishments in recent months. The National Assembly of India and Burma may be said to have resuscitated our Cause and its institutions throughout the length and breadth of that land. A mighty power whose source is centred in Baha'u'llah Himself is copiously flowing through and permeating the various organs of the Administrative Order of His Faith in both India and Burma. You and your collaborators stand on the threshold of unparalleled achievements. I cannot but congratulate you on the start you have made and on your choice of the path, which, after so many trials and vicissitudes, you are so confidently treading. Persevere, and be happy and thankful to Baha'u'llah.
November 15, 1935
Baha'i Holidays must be Observed
The Guardian ... feels truly delighted at the news of the splendid meetings that were held in Bombay in honour of the anniversary of the birthday of His Holiness Baha'u'llah. This fresh evidence of the loyalty and devotion with which the Bombay friends are upholding the institutions of the Faith is highly gratifying and encouraging to him, indeed.
But he cannot but deplore the fact that some of the believers are reluctant to observe, as strictly as they should, the Feasts and anniversaries prescribed by the Cause. This attitude, which may be justified in certain exceptional circumstances, is fraught with incalculable dangers and harm to the community, and will, if allowed to persist, seriously endanger its influence and prestige in the public eye.
Unity of action, in matters of so vital an importance as the observance of Baha'i holidays, is essential. It is the responsibility of the N.S.A. to remind and urge the friends to faithfully carry out all such laws and precepts of the Cause, the enforcement of which does not constitute an open violation of the laws of their country.
[From the Guardian:]
The striking evidences of renewed Baha'i activity throughout India and Burma, the recent manifestations of loyalty, solidarity and self-sacrifice on the part of individuals, groups and Assemblies in both the teaching and administrative spheres of Baha'i service, rejoice my heart and revive and enliven my hopes for the future of that land. The friends in India and Burma have made a splendid start. They have laid a firm foundation within the framework of the administrative order of our Faith. They have weathered manifold and distressing difficulties and successfully surmounted formidable obstacles. A new era is opening before them. I have no doubt that they will rise to the height of the occasion, and will prove themselves worthy of their high destiny.
November 22, 1935
Effective Publicity Throughout India
He feels greatly rejoiced at the important steps you have taken for giving the Cause a wide and effective publicity throughout India. He has read with much interest the newspaper clipping which you had enclosed, and sincerely hopes that your masterly sketch of the history and teachings of the Cause will serve to attract leading personalities among the Indian public to the Faith.
Regarding the publication of the Hindi, Sindhi and Bengali translations of "Baha'u'llah and the New Era," the Guardian very much appreciates your N.S.A.'s response to his call for speeding up the printing of these works which, he hopes, will, when widely circulated throughout the country open a new era of unprecedented teaching activity not only in India and Burma, but also in Ceylon and other neighbouring countries.
January 3, 1936
He feels really proud of you and of your distinguished and able co-workers in the National Assembly for the unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are labouring for the consolidation of the Administration throughout India and Burma. He is convinced that your sustained and collective efforts in this connection will soon result in ushering in a new era in the history of the Cause in that country.
Correspondence with the Guardian
The N.S.A. should, indeed, advise the believers to lessen their correspondence with the Guardian. But under no circumstances it can prevent them from writing to him. For this is a sacred right and a supreme privilege which every believer can rightly claim to possess, as through it alone he can get in direct touch with his Guardian. If individuals feel, after the advice of the N.S.A. to lessen correspondence, an inner urge to write to the Guardian they should not be prevented or discouraged.
"New-Era" in Sindhi & Bengali Printed
Shoghi Effendi is delighted to learn that the Sindhi and the Bengali translations of the "New Era" have been already sent to the press. He hopes that the Hindi version will also be completed very soon. He is also very pleased that the N.S.A. is taking the necessary steps for presenting to the authorities the pamphlet regarding various laws and ordinances of the Cause on matters of personal status. He sincerely hopes that the bill you are planning to submit to the government will be approved. He is eagerly awaiting to read the text himself.