BAHA'U'LLAH AND THE NEW ERA

Cover page of the book

                         

                       INTRODUCTION

    This is a writing which I have borrowed from an early introductory books on Baha'i Faith by Dr. J. E. Esslemont (Indian edition of 1978 by Baha'i Publishing Trust). I gladly express my gratitude towards this personality for choosing to write such a great evidence on the present Baha'i faith and its fact. This book greatly deepen ones heart and mind to uphold a strong base of life and to fore-seek the unity of world as the magnet of attraction.

    During the time of 1914 there were no means to unfurl the motive of faith. Only conversation with friends, few pamphlets can serve as a channel of transmission. Dr. Esslemont came to know from friends who had met 'Abdu'l-Baha ("the servant of Baha"- elder son of Baha'u'llah), and then he was first acquainted with the Baha'i teachings. He said, " They impressed me as meeting the great needs of the modern world more fully and satisfactorily than any other presentation of religion which I had come across ". He at once struck by the comprehensiveness power and beauty with an impression of deepen and confirm.

    In seeking for fuller knowledge about the movement he soon conceived the idea of putting together the gist he learned in the form of a book, so that it might be easily available for others. When communication with Palestine was re-opened after the war, he wrote to 'Abdu'l-Baha and enclosed a copy of the first nine chapters of the book. He then received a very kind and encouraging reply, and a cordial invitation to visit Him in Haifa and to bring all of the manuscript with him. The invitation was gladly accepted, and he had the great privilege of spending two and a half months as the guest of 'Abdu'l-Baha during the winter of 1919-20. During this visit 'Abdu'l-Baha discussed the book with him on various occasions and gave several valuable suggestions for its improvement and proposed that, when the author revise the manuscript, he would have the whole of it translated to Persian so that He could read it through and amend or correct it where necessary. The revisal and translation were carried out as suggested, and 'Abdu'l-Baha found time, amid his busy life, to correct some three and a half chapters (Chapters I, II, V and part of III) before he passed away. It was a real matter of profound regret for Dr. Esslemont that 'Abdu'l-Baha was not able to complete the correction of the manuscript, as the value of the book would thereby have been greatly enhanced. However, the whole of the manuscript had been carefully revised by a community of National Baha'i Assembly of England, and its publication got approved. Regarding the transliteration of Arabic and Persian names and words the system adopted was recommended by Shoghi Effendi the GUARDIAN of Baha'i Faith.

   
    This is a continuous chapter wise writing.