November 24. On this date in 1953, Khodadad Fozdar arrived to the Andaman Islands, for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.

 

November 24. On this date in 1953, Khodadad Fozdar arrived to the Andaman Islands, for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.

Khodadad Fozdar was born in 1898. He was of Parsi-Zoroastrian descent.

Khodadad married Shirin in 1925, she was already a Bahá'í and he declared soon after the marriage, which resulted in his alienation from his mother and other family members. In 1928 he was appointed the Medical Officer of India's State Railways. In 1935 he visited Europe, and both he and Shirin went on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land on their way back to India. He taught some people about the Faith while travelling to Palestine who decided they would also meet with Shoghi Effendi, and the Guardian assured the Fozdar's that they were protected by God.

In the 1930's Dr. Fozdar was working at a hospital in Ajmer. In January 1938 Khodadad and Shirin visited Colombo, Sri Lanka, with Martha Root for ten days. The Fozdar's spoke at a local Parsi club. Shirin continued with Martha onto Mysore and Bangalore while Khodadad returned to Ajmer.

He left his position with the Railway company in 1950 and he and Shirin pioneered to Singapore, then apart of Malaya, and he opened a medical practice. He also worked at the General Hospital at Johore Bahru while living in Singapore, and he and Shirin later established a free school for underprivileged women.

They began a teaching campaign and Shirin delivered talks for several women's organizations. Their son, John Fozdar, joined them in Singapore upon the completion of his medical degree. Travel throughout Malaya was restricted when they first arrived, but in 1953 Shirin was able to give talks in Malacca, Seremban and Kuala Lumpur.

On November 24, 1953, Dr. Fozdar pioneered to the Andaman Islands, fulfilling a goal of the Ten Year Crusade set by Shoghi Effendi, for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. Four people became Bahá'ís in the Andamans due to Khodadad's efforts, however he had to return to Singapore after only four months as he was not able to secure permission to remain in the territory. He pioneered within Malaya to Malacca after returning. On December 26, his son Minoo Fozdar arrived to the Nicobar Islands, for which he was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.

In 1957 both Dr. Fozdar and Shirin were elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia at the first South East Asia Convention held in Djakarta, Indonesia. Fozdar Khodad was survived by his wife; three sons. Jamshed, John, and Minoo; and two daughters.