CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 155 - 4 Jamál 168 BE - 1 May 2011 CE

 

IN MEMORIAM - JIMMY McGILLIGAN O.B.E.

 

Jimmy McGilligan

James 'Jimmy' McGilligan was well-known to the Friends in the Northern Ireland but especially in the North-West were he came from. He had travelled to India in 1986 to attend the opening of the Lotus Temple outside New Delhi. There he was invited to assist with drainage at one of the Bahá'í schools. He met Janak and they later married. Both of them devoted their life to the foundation and development of the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Indore. It was formerly called the Bahá'í Vocational Institute for Rural Women which educated girls from the villages to gain a wide range of skills including literacy, numeracy, first aid, and latterly IT skills. The effect of these girls on the life of their villages has been incalculable. It was in the field of solar power that Jimmy will be remembered especially. He developed the whole science of solar cooking and became well-known at the local university.

Those who had visited the Institute from Northern Ireland know first-hand the amazing work they have done, work which will be carried on into the future. It was only recently that both he and Janak decided to retire and pass the reins of the Institute to others. The periodic visits of Jimmy and Janak to visit family members in Northern Ireland were looked forward to with relish. It was with alarm we heard of Jimmy and Janak's road traffic accident on the 4th April. While Janak had suffered relatively minor injuries Jimmy's injuries were very severe. One of Jimmy's dreams was to purchase a small tractor to help with the arduous ploughing on the Institute land, previously done by hand. It was some Northern Irish friends who contributed significantly towards the realisation of that dream.

It was then with profound grief we heard of his untimely death in Gokuldas Hospital (Indore), on the night of April 21st 2011. The funeral took place on 23rd April to the Bahá'í Gulistan Cemetery. All those who knew and loved Jimmy will be keeping him in their thoughts and praying for his progress in the Abhá Kingdom. Our thoughts rest firmly with the many members of his family in Northern Ireland but especially and always with Janak his constant companion and co-worker at the Barli Institute.

KM

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Jimmy demonstrating the use of a solar cooker that he developed. Solar cookers use solar power, saving women the need to gather fuel for fires and saving trees in rural areas.

 

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