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Savak Kotwal

Savak Kotwal

Savak Dinshaw Kotwal

Worker in the mast ashram, Baba's night watchman, arrangements for mast tours

16 November 1904 โ€“ 7 June 1989
Bombay, India โ†’ Bombay, India

Biography

Savak Dinshaw Kotwal was born on 16 November 1904 in Bombay into a staunch Zoroastrian family. His father was Dinshaji; his mother Bachamai died in childbirth when he was four, and the new baby, his brother Soli, was raised by an aunt. From boyhood he looked to God for love, and as a young man he sought out saints, receiving the darshan of Upasni Maharaj, Narayan Maharaj and Hazrat Babajan.

In May 1928 he came to Meherabad wishing to join the ashram. In a private meeting on 1 June he told Meher Baba, "I desire God-realization in this birth." Baba answered, "Either long for God or for the world; you cannot have both!" Savak was married to Nergiz and had a baby daughter, Najoo, so Baba told him to visit every weekend. Baba also told him to stop visiting other holy men, but sent him to the great Bombay saint Tipu Baba with the message "The Emperor has sent me." In 1929 Nergiz, feeling neglected, came to confront Baba, who reassured her: "I have come to unite, not to divide. Even if you leave Savak, he will never leave you."

Several years passed before Savak was ready to surrender completely. In 1936 he helped bring masts and mad persons to Baba's ashram at Rahuri. Early in 1940 he quit his job in Bombay and announced that he would go off to the Himalayas. Baba called him to Bangalore and said, "If you find a better guru than me in the Himalayas, you may go; otherwise, come and stay with me." On 15 March 1940 Savak, Nergiz and their three children, Najoo, Hilla and Adi, joined Baba's ashram permanently, having sold all their possessions. Savak handed Baba the family's entire finances and Nergiz's jewelry, and Baba promised, "From today until the very end, I shall see to every one of your family's smallest needs, and to you I shall give the Ocean!"

Savak worked in the mast ashram at Meherabad, spent a period of enforced silence with Gustadji, Pleader and Swami Bhabananda in the caves at Ankai, and travelled with Baba on many mast tours, at times sent ahead to locate masts and make arrangements. His family lived for years in the Family Quarters near Arangaon. For many years he served as one of Baba's night watchmen. At the 1955 sahavas Baba said of him, "Since 1940, he and his family have dedicated themselves to me. Savak obeys me literally."

Failing health led Baba in June 1958 to allow him to stay with his family in Bombay. Savak died there on 7 June 1989, eighteen days after Mehera. In 1955 Baba had placed him on a list of men mandali to be buried at Meherabad "circumstances permitting", but Savak had never told his family of it, and Zoroastrian last rites were held at the Tower of Silence. His daughter Najoo told the family's story in the book He Gives the Ocean (2006).

Photo Gallery(11 photos)

Life Timeline

1904

Born on 16 November in Bombay into a Zoroastrian family

1928

Comes to Meherabad and has private interviews with Meher Baba, asking for God-realization

1929

Baba reassures his wife Nergiz; in September Savak asks Baba to make him his own

1936

Helps bring masts and mad persons to Baba's ashram at Rahuri

1940

On 15 March joins Baba's ashram permanently at Bangalore with his whole family; Baba promises to give him "the Ocean"

1940

Sent with Gustadji, Pleader and Swami Bhabananda to stay in silence in the caves at Ankai

1941

In January travels with Baba and Gustadji on a mast tour of Gujarat, Kathiawar and the Girnar Mountains; through 1941 and 1942 often goes ahead to find masts and lodgings

1954

In July his wife and children move to Bombay for the children's education, under Baba's direction; Savak joins Baba at Satara and shares the nightwatch with Krishna

1954

In September stays with the Western men on Meherabad Hill throughout their visit to see to their needs

1954

In Satara, Baba hands him a piece broken from the zero of the alphabet board, which Savak gives back

1955

At the Meherabad Sahavas Baba says Savak "obeys me literally"; he serves as Baba's night watchman

1958

Because of poor health, Baba permits him to stay with his family in Bombay

1961

In financial and health distress in Bombay, Baba calls him to Meherazad and reassures him; his son soon finds a good job

1989

Dies on 7 June in Bombay

Quotes

โ€œ

Tyagi Baba does not even have a whiff of spirituality in him. Leave him alone. Those who know the Emperor have no need to bow before the palace guards in order to gain entrance.

โ€” 1928: after meeting Baba, Savak still went on visiting other gurus and holy men

โ€œ

Dear Savak, I know how you long. . . . I know how you feel. I know what you think. Don't worry and leave everything to Me. . . .

โ€” 1939: Baba's signed reply to Savak's letter pouring out his longing to leave everything and stay with Baba (Bal Natu, Glimpses of the God-Man, Vol. V, p. 199)

โ€œ

From today until the very end, I shall see to every one of your family's smallest needs, and to you I shall give the Ocean!

โ€” March 1940, Bangalore: Savak had handed Baba the family's entire finances and Nergiz's jewelry

โ€œ

The Path is most difficult โ€ฆ Only heroes can tread it. It is better if you look before you leap. Think well before you ask this of me. โ€ฆ In this Path you must carry your life on your sleeves!

โ€” Bombay, 9 September 1929, when Savak came and prayed to Baba to put him on the Path; Baba assured him he was under his nazar, then warned him

โ€œ

Clean this commode thoroughly, but remember: Don't let even a speck of excrement touch your hands. Use a brush. If even a speck touches you, you will turn into a leper!

โ€” Rajkot, January 1941, on the Kathiawar mast tour; still new in Baba's circle, Savak had secretly thought that eating Baba's excreta would bring him great progress on the Path, an idea taken from a book about Upasni Maharaj. Baba read his thought

โ€œ

Nergiz is gold, but she wastes it weeping without cause.

โ€” Meherabad, January 1943, after Baba allowed Savak's wife Nergiz to leave the women on the hill and live with him in the Family Quarters, telling her, "You may live with him, but live for me!"

โ€œ

Keep awake or both of us will fall into trouble!

โ€” Meherabad, November 1952, when the repetition of God's names went on continuously in the hut (Jhopdi) and Savak was among those given the night duty

โ€œ

Savak, now you look old!

โ€” Guruprasad, Poona, May 1961, teasing Savak when he came into the room with one of his teeth removed

Notable Stories

"To you I shall give the Ocean"

When Savak and his family arrived in Bangalore in March 1940 to stay with Baba for good, they had sold everything they owned. Savak placed an envelope with the family's entire finances and a box of Nergiz's jewelry before Baba. Baba was very pleased and said, "From today until the very end, I shall see to every one of your family's smallest needs, and to you I shall give the Ocean!" Nergiz, too, told Baba, "I now belong to you." Baba's promise later gave the title to Najoo Kotwal's book about her family.

A stone around his neck

During Baba's Andhra tour in February 1954 the party slept in boats on the river, and Savak was in charge of food and tea. Assuming Baba's breakfast had already been sent, he prepared food only for the mandali, and Baba went without. Highly displeased, Baba ordered his host Koduri, "Fasten a heavy stone around Savak's neck and throw him into the river!" Savak simply walked up to Koduri and said, "Please carry out Baba's order." Koduri had never met anyone so willing to die, and Baba then consoled him not to worry.

The piece of the zero

At Satara in 1954, shortly before Baba gave up the alphabet board, he said that if the dangling piece of its zero came off, many things would happen and it would be best for the world. He flung the board to Savak, and the piece came off. Baba gave it to Savak, saying, "Keep this most carefully until your last breath." That evening Baba asked where he had kept it; Savak said it was in his trunk; when Baba warned that it would "create great havoc," Savak offered to return it. Baba called him a fool for returning it, then smiled: "I wanted the piece, and Savak has given it voluntarily without my asking for it."

"The Emperor has sent me"

Even after meeting Meher Baba in 1928, Savak kept visiting gurus and holy men, among them one called Tyagi Baba. Baba told him that Tyagi Baba had not even a whiff of spirituality, and that those who know the Emperor need not bow before the palace guards. Yet Baba sent him to the great Bombay saint Tipu Baba with a single message: "The Emperor has sent me." Tipu Baba, who seldom spoke to anyone, at once replied, "Say Allah ho akbar, Allah ho akbar [God is great]! I give these blessings. Go now. The task is successfully completed." Baba then told Savak to visit Tipu Baba often but no other holy man. On one visit Savak hung a framed photograph of Meher Baba in the saint's room, and Tipu Baba exclaimed, "The whole world exists on Meher Baba's name!"

Not a speck on his hands

In January 1941, on a mast tour of Gujarat and Kathiawar with Baba and Gustadji, Savak was near Baba one day in Rajkot while Baba sat on a commode. Having read in a book that Upasni Maharaj had once performed such an act, Savak thought to himself: "If I eat Baba's excreta, I will surely make great progress on the Path." When Baba was through, he called Savak and warned him, "Clean this commode thoroughly, but remember: Don't let even a speck of excrement touch your hands. Use a brush. If even a speck touches you, you will turn into a leper!" Savak was dumbfounded. Baba had read his thoughts, and Savak learned that it was best to carry out the Master's wishes and not try to "gain" something on his own.

Rescued from despair

After Baba returned from America and Australia in 1958, Savak lived with his family in Bombay. By 1961 his health had deteriorated, he had no job, and it became ever harder to support Nergiz and their son Adi. Nergiz grew so desperate that she pleaded with Savak to commit suicide with her. On the very day they had decided to do it, a letter arrived from Adi K. Irani saying that Baba had been asking about their condition. Nergiz wrote everything in detail, and Adi sent them Rs.100, explaining that Baba was in seclusion. A few days later Baba called Savak to Meherazad, had him tell his troubles, assured him not to worry and gave him Rs.20. Soon after Savak returned to Bombay, his son found a good job paying Rs.300 a month.

External Links

Meher Baba Travels - Savak KotwalHe Gives the Ocean (Najoo Kotwal, 2006) - Avatar Meher Baba TrustGlimpses of the God-Man, Vol. V, Part 2 (Bal Natu): "Savak's Desperate Yearning to Be with Baba" - Avatar Meher Baba Trust