Danish Ali, scion of a Bahá’í pioneer family in India, moved to what is now Bangladesh as a young man, served the Faith there for decades, and was a founding member of its National Spiritual Assembly.
He passed away October 30, 2013, in Winnetka, Illinois. He was 86.
In a letter of tribute, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote, “Having exerted his energies in promotion of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and its ideals throughout his long and productive life—most notably as one of the first pioneers from India to Bangladesh prior to the Ten Year Crusade—one is assured that his illumined soul is receiving a warm and joyous reception in the next world as his noble services are hailed by the Concourse on High.”
Born in 1927 in Bihar, northern India, Danish was the son of Ahmad Ali, a physician who was highly involved in the welfare of those living in his area. Danish learned to survive in hardship as his mother, Rahima, died young in an accident and his grandmother, Sitabia, cared for him while also serving as a provider of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Danish was largely taught about the Bahá’í Faith by his grandfather, Arastoo Ali. He later heard, from the Hand of the Cause Ṭarázu’lláh Samandarí, the story of how his grandfather met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa in 1909 around the time of interment of the Báb’s remains on Mount Carmel.
After his grandfather’s passing, Danish—along with his wife, Ainul Nessa, and his father—responded to a call for homefront pioneers in 1946 by moving to Dhaka, in what was then India, on the advice of an Auxiliary Board member. The family remained there as India was partitioned and that city became part of Pakistan in 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971.
After a few years holding odd jobs, in 1955 he was hired by the USAID mission. He established and managed its Communication and Records division until his retirement in 1985, and his duties included handling classified assignments. Along the way he received numerous awards and commendations from the U.S. government.
Upon Bangladesh’s independence, its National Spiritual Assembly was organized in 1972. Danish was elected and served as chair for many years.
In 1986 he moved to the United States and served as a consultant for USAID missions for a few months. After attending the ceremony for the opening of the Terraces at Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in 2001, he settled near family members in Winnetka.
“He loved to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship, loved to tell stories, listen music, making new friends,” his daughter notes, adding that when hospitalized for his final illness he would introduce the Bahá’í Faith to visitors. His outstanding qualities included optimism, generosity, encouragement, joy in spreading good news, and always acting to strengthen unity at all levels. Often at the dinner table he would be heard to ask, “Everybody happy?”
Danish Ali’s survivors include his wife, Ainul Nessa Ali; three daughters, Nargis, Nasim and Shamim; two sons, Akram and Parviz; and nine grandchildren—all Bahá’ís.
From The American Baha'i January 2014
He passed away October 30, 2013, in Winnetka, Illinois. He was 86.
In a letter of tribute, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote, “Having exerted his energies in promotion of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and its ideals throughout his long and productive life—most notably as one of the first pioneers from India to Bangladesh prior to the Ten Year Crusade—one is assured that his illumined soul is receiving a warm and joyous reception in the next world as his noble services are hailed by the Concourse on High.”
Born in 1927 in Bihar, northern India, Danish was the son of Ahmad Ali, a physician who was highly involved in the welfare of those living in his area. Danish learned to survive in hardship as his mother, Rahima, died young in an accident and his grandmother, Sitabia, cared for him while also serving as a provider of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Danish was largely taught about the Bahá’í Faith by his grandfather, Arastoo Ali. He later heard, from the Hand of the Cause Ṭarázu’lláh Samandarí, the story of how his grandfather met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa in 1909 around the time of interment of the Báb’s remains on Mount Carmel.
After his grandfather’s passing, Danish—along with his wife, Ainul Nessa, and his father—responded to a call for homefront pioneers in 1946 by moving to Dhaka, in what was then India, on the advice of an Auxiliary Board member. The family remained there as India was partitioned and that city became part of Pakistan in 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971.
After a few years holding odd jobs, in 1955 he was hired by the USAID mission. He established and managed its Communication and Records division until his retirement in 1985, and his duties included handling classified assignments. Along the way he received numerous awards and commendations from the U.S. government.
Upon Bangladesh’s independence, its National Spiritual Assembly was organized in 1972. Danish was elected and served as chair for many years.
In 1986 he moved to the United States and served as a consultant for USAID missions for a few months. After attending the ceremony for the opening of the Terraces at Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in 2001, he settled near family members in Winnetka.
“He loved to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship, loved to tell stories, listen music, making new friends,” his daughter notes, adding that when hospitalized for his final illness he would introduce the Bahá’í Faith to visitors. His outstanding qualities included optimism, generosity, encouragement, joy in spreading good news, and always acting to strengthen unity at all levels. Often at the dinner table he would be heard to ask, “Everybody happy?”
Danish Ali’s survivors include his wife, Ainul Nessa Ali; three daughters, Nargis, Nasim and Shamim; two sons, Akram and Parviz; and nine grandchildren—all Bahá’ís.
From The American Baha'i January 2014
Danish Ali, scion of a Bahá’í pioneer family in India, moved to what is now Bangladesh as a young man, served the Faith there for decades, and was a founding member of its National Spiritual Assembly.
He passed away October 30, 2013, in Winnetka, Illinois. He was 86.
In a letter of tribute, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote, “Having exerted his energies in promotion of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and its ideals throughout his long and productive life—most notably as one of the first pioneers from India to Bangladesh prior to the Ten Year Crusade—one is assured that his illumined soul is receiving a warm and joyous reception in the next world as his noble services are hailed by the Concourse on High.”
Born in 1927 in Bihar, northern India, Danish was the son of Ahmad Ali, a physician who was highly involved in the welfare of those living in his area. Danish learned to survive in hardship as his mother, Rahima, died young in an accident and his grandmother, Sitabia, cared for him while also serving as a provider of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Danish was largely taught about the Bahá’í Faith by his grandfather, Arastoo Ali. He later heard, from the Hand of the Cause Ṭarázu’lláh Samandarí, the story of how his grandfather met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa in 1909 around the time of interment of the Báb’s remains on Mount Carmel.
After his grandfather’s passing, Danish—along with his wife, Ainul Nessa, and his father—responded to a call for homefront pioneers in 1946 by moving to Dhaka, in what was then India, on the advice of an Auxiliary Board member. The family remained there as India was partitioned and that city became part of Pakistan in 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971.
After a few years holding odd jobs, in 1955 he was hired by the USAID mission. He established and managed its Communication and Records division until his retirement in 1985, and his duties included handling classified assignments. Along the way he received numerous awards and commendations from the U.S. government.
Upon Bangladesh’s independence, its National Spiritual Assembly was organized in 1972. Danish was elected and served as chair for many years.
In 1986 he moved to the United States and served as a consultant for USAID missions for a few months. After attending the ceremony for the opening of the Terraces at Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in 2001, he settled near family members in Winnetka.
“He loved to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship, loved to tell stories, listen music, making new friends,” his daughter notes, adding that when hospitalized for his final illness he would introduce the Bahá’í Faith to visitors. His outstanding qualities included optimism, generosity, encouragement, joy in spreading good news, and always acting to strengthen unity at all levels. Often at the dinner table he would be heard to ask, “Everybody happy?”
Danish Ali’s survivors include his wife, Ainul Nessa Ali; three daughters, Nargis, Nasim and Shamim; two sons, Akram and Parviz; and nine grandchildren—all Bahá’ís.
From The American Baha'i January 2014
He passed away October 30, 2013, in Winnetka, Illinois. He was 86.
In a letter of tribute, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote, “Having exerted his energies in promotion of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and its ideals throughout his long and productive life—most notably as one of the first pioneers from India to Bangladesh prior to the Ten Year Crusade—one is assured that his illumined soul is receiving a warm and joyous reception in the next world as his noble services are hailed by the Concourse on High.”
Born in 1927 in Bihar, northern India, Danish was the son of Ahmad Ali, a physician who was highly involved in the welfare of those living in his area. Danish learned to survive in hardship as his mother, Rahima, died young in an accident and his grandmother, Sitabia, cared for him while also serving as a provider of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Danish was largely taught about the Bahá’í Faith by his grandfather, Arastoo Ali. He later heard, from the Hand of the Cause Ṭarázu’lláh Samandarí, the story of how his grandfather met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa in 1909 around the time of interment of the Báb’s remains on Mount Carmel.
After his grandfather’s passing, Danish—along with his wife, Ainul Nessa, and his father—responded to a call for homefront pioneers in 1946 by moving to Dhaka, in what was then India, on the advice of an Auxiliary Board member. The family remained there as India was partitioned and that city became part of Pakistan in 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971.
After a few years holding odd jobs, in 1955 he was hired by the USAID mission. He established and managed its Communication and Records division until his retirement in 1985, and his duties included handling classified assignments. Along the way he received numerous awards and commendations from the U.S. government.
Upon Bangladesh’s independence, its National Spiritual Assembly was organized in 1972. Danish was elected and served as chair for many years.
In 1986 he moved to the United States and served as a consultant for USAID missions for a few months. After attending the ceremony for the opening of the Terraces at Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in 2001, he settled near family members in Winnetka.
“He loved to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship, loved to tell stories, listen music, making new friends,” his daughter notes, adding that when hospitalized for his final illness he would introduce the Bahá’í Faith to visitors. His outstanding qualities included optimism, generosity, encouragement, joy in spreading good news, and always acting to strengthen unity at all levels. Often at the dinner table he would be heard to ask, “Everybody happy?”
Danish Ali’s survivors include his wife, Ainul Nessa Ali; three daughters, Nargis, Nasim and Shamim; two sons, Akram and Parviz; and nine grandchildren—all Bahá’ís.
From The American Baha'i January 2014
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Beloved Husband, Father
Grandfather & Friend
The nine pointed star indicates that Mr. Ali was a member of the Baha'i Faith.
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