Intro
Zandra was semi famous in the USA for answering questions and pretending to be a Muslim Mystic. He appeared in 100’s of American newspapers from roughly 1925 to 1940. In 1929-1930, the Ahmadiyya Movement alleged that he had converted to Ahmadiyya (See ROR, Sep-Oct-1930). However, this was short lived and what seems to be a publicity stunt, by 1934, he was back to being “ask Zandra” and made lots of money doing it. Zandra told “The Riverside Daily Press” of Wed, Jul 10, 1929 ·Page 9 that his father was white British Army officer, and Zandra was born on the banks of the Benares River in India.
In Feb-1930, via “The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News” of Tue, Feb 18, 1930 ·Page 2, Zandra is mentioned as a convert to Qadianism and his new name is Mohammed Basheer and Haider Ali is named as his private secretary. This is G.A. Zandra. Mohammed Basheer aka Zandra has tentative plans to build a mosque, he lives at 1723 North Whitley Avenue, Hollywood, Ca. Mohammed Basheer aka Zandra alleges that there are 100’s of Moslems in Southern California. However, this is pending the approval of Sufi M.R. Bengalee (the only official Ahmadiyya Maulvi in the USA in 1930), which was stated by the private secretary of Mohammed Basheer, a man named Haider Ali. Dr. Bengalee is currently in New Orleans and will return to Los Angeles on a lecture tour in March. The proposed Mosque in Los Angeles will be like the Ahmadiyya temples in Berlin and England.
The Los Angeles Times of Feb-18-1930 reports that an Ahmadi missioner named Mohammed Basheer was living in Hollywood (Los Angeles area, Southern California) and desired to build a mosque there to serve the immigrant Muslim community. His views on converting non-Muslims are not mentioned, nor is his Ahmadi sectarian affiliation (Qadiani or Lahori). See “Mosque of Islam May Rise Here,” Los Angeles Times, February 18, 1930, A3 (See Bowen, A History of Conversion to Islam in the United States, Volume 1, White American Muslims before 1975, page 287). This was also reported in the Los Angeles Evening Post Record of Feb-18-1930 (see scan in the below) and Lincoln Nebraska State Journal of 2-27-1930 (see scans in the below).
Mohammed Basheer alleged to have live at 1723 Whitley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Interestingly, he mentioned Moorish architecture. This is important because of the connections of the Ahmadiyya Movement and Noble Drew Ali and Moorish Science Temple. Mohammed Basheer also alleged that 100’s of Muslims (Indian’s, Japanese, Chinese, Phillipino’s, Persians, Syrian’s and Egyptians) are willing to work together to get a mosque built. He also alleged that there were 226 million Muslims in the world and that the Koran was translated into 40 languages.
In July-1930, Hoffert claims that there was only 12 white Ahmadi’s in Chicago and 80-90 across the USA and specifically a Mr. G.A. Zandra (Zandra is a Greek name for a woman, short for Alexandra) in Hollywood, California. Hoffert alleges that G.A. Zandra has been lecturing for 12 years on “inspirational psychology” in larger cities of America. Hoffert alleges that in Jan-1930, Zandra wrote about lecturing over the radio and thinks he will get converts to Qadianism through the radio. Hoffert even direct quoted Zandra aka Mohammed Basheer as saying in 1929: “‘My conversion to Islam, the true faith, has given me the inspiration to establish a Hollywood Study Center…you must realize that I have been a profound student of the Al Koran and consequently it is my sincere desire to so as much as I can to stimulate interest in our beloved Ahmadiyya Movement and by organizing a local study group composed of some of the most intellectual motion picture professional people, I know that many can be converted to our cause”. (See Review of Religions, Sep-Oct-1930 edition).
Continue reading “Who was Mr. G.A. Zandra? Convert to Qadianism in 1929?”
