Faredoon Nawrosjee Driver, known universally as "Padri," was one of Meher Baba's earliest and most steadfast disciples, serving the Master from 1922 until Baba's passing in 1969—a continuous relationship spanning nearly half a century. Born on November 29, 1903, in Poona, India, Padri came from a Zoroastrian Irani family with significant connections to Meher Baba's own circle.

Padri's family tree intertwined remarkably with Meher Baba's mandali. His mother, Freiny Sohrab Irani (also known as Freiny Masi, born 1874), was the elder sister of Daulat, who was Mehera's mother—making Padri and Mehera, Meher Baba's foremost woman disciple, cousins. Freiny's younger brother was Colonel Merwan Sohrab Irani, who for almost 35 years spread hostile propaganda against Baba. These family connections meant that Padri's destiny was intertwined with Meher Baba's mission from the earliest days.

Padri was one of four children born to Nowroj Driver and Freiny. His siblings included Rusi (the eldest, one of Baba's schoolmates, who studied engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and lived in America for the rest of his life), Keki, and Homi. He received his education at Poona Camp Government English School.

Meher Baba gave Faredoon the nickname "Padri" (which means "priest" or "padre") because of his lanky, priest-like stature. This nickname, like many that Baba bestowed on his disciples, would become the name by which he was known throughout the Baba community worldwide.

In 1922, at the age of eighteen, Padri began living with and serving Meher Baba at Manzil-e-Meem, Baba's first ashram in Bombay. This early commitment placed him among the original group of disciples who witnessed and participated in the formative years of Baba's work. Originally trained as a garage mechanic, Padri brought practical skills that would prove invaluable in the challenging physical conditions of ashram life.

When Meher Baba moved his ashram to Ahmednagar district and established Meherabad, Padri was among those who followed. Baba designated Padri as one of the four "pillars" of Meherabad—a recognition of his fundamental importance to the functioning and maintenance of this sacred place that would become the site of Meher Baba's Samadhi (tomb-shrine).

Over time, Padri developed another crucial role: he studied and became a doctor of homeopathy, treating local villagers in the area surrounding Meherabad. This service to the community reflected Baba's emphasis on selfless service as a path of spiritual development. Padri's homeopathic practice became well-known in the region, and he continued this healing work for decades.

Padri's character was marked by a no-nonsense approach to spirituality. He emphasized obedience to the Master above all else and had little patience for ostentatious sentimentality. His most famous quote captures this practical, grounded approach to the spiritual path: "Love is for the saints and the masts, not for the likes of us!" This statement, rather than denying the importance of love, actually expressed deep humility—Padri saw his role as simply following his Master's orders faithfully, leaving the heights of divine love to those more spiritually advanced.

One story illustrates both Padri's close relationship with fellow mandali member Pendu and his commitment to obedience. When Baba discovered that Padri had allowed relatives of his servants Nana and Tani to visit Meherabad despite a ban on outsiders, Baba had Pendu confront Padri about this violation. Although Pendu and Padri were close friends, Pendu put all his heart into scolding Padri as Baba wished, demonstrating that even personal friendships must be subordinate to the Master's instructions. The incident also showed that Baba's discipline extended to every detail of ashram life—Tani's bathing in the mandali bathroom and Nana's thrashing yard in Meherabad were both issues addressed. Baba instructed Padri to stop these privileges but not dismiss the servants.

After Meher Baba's passing in January 1969, Padri continued his devoted service at Meherabad, guiding pilgrims and maintaining the sacred atmosphere of the place he had helped build. He would show visitors around Baba's Samadhi, sharing stories and maintaining the connection between Baba and those who came seeking Him.

In 1974 and 1975, Steven Hein videotaped Padri and other mandali members, preserving precious footage of their memories and teachings. These "Mandali Moments" videos, filmed at Meherabad in January 1975 (often with Australian pilgrims), were later converted to professional quality and remain valuable historical documents of this era.

On March 13, 1982, at the age of seventy-eight, Padri passed away at Meherabad—the place he had served for six decades. His body was laid to rest at Lower Meherabad, within sight of the Samadhi of his Beloved Master. The grave inscription confirms his birth date as November 29, 1903.

Padri's legacy endures in the physical structures he helped build and maintain at Meherabad, in the villagers whose ailments he treated, in the pilgrims he guided to the Samadhi, and in the example he set of simple, unwavering obedience to the Master. His approach to discipleship—practical, humble, and focused entirely on following orders rather than seeking spiritual experiences—represents one authentic path of surrender to the Avatar.