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Sidhu Kamble

Sidhu Kamble

Sidhu Daulat Kamble

Caretaker of Mohammed Mast; worked in the hospital and looked after guests

c. 1901 โ€“ 23 October 1975

Biography

Sidhu Daulat Kamble was a resident of Arangaon village near Meherabad. In May 1924, at the age of 23, he was looking for work in Ahmednagar when he heard that "a great man" had settled near his village. He came to Meherabad for Meher Baba's darshan and found the Master playing cricket with the men near the Post Office building. Baba called him over and asked about his background.

Baba arranged a job for Sidhu in Bombay, working in a theatrical company, and ordered him not to visit for one year. While in Bombay, Sidhu was instructed to regularly visit Tipu Baba, a saint and the chargeman of Bombay. After one year, Baba called Sidhu back to live at Meherabad, promising to provide for him and his wife.

When Baba asked Sidhu what work he would do, Sidhu replied, "Whatever you tell me to do." Baba then tested him: "Would you even work as a sweeper and clean the toilets?" Sidhu hesitated, and Baba said, "Don't worry. If you won't do such work, I will do it." Baba then walked to the hospital, found a patient who had soiled his bed, and began cleaning it himself. Sidhu felt deeply ashamed, realizing that if the Master could do such lowly work, he could do it too.

After this pivotal episode, Baba included Sidhu as a permanent member of the mandali, assigning him the duty of laundering the patients' clothes and keeping the hospital immaculate. Over the decades, Sidhu served in various capacities โ€” working at the mast ashram, serving as nightwatchman near Baba, and most notably caring for Mohammed Mast, a God-intoxicated soul whom Baba kept at Meherabad.

Sidhu was married to Radhabai, and they had children, but tragically all their children died. Despite personal sorrow, Sidhu remained devoted to Baba's service throughout his life. Sidhu died on 23 October 1975.

Photo Gallery(8 photos)

Life Timeline

1924

First met Meher Baba at Meherabad in May, at age 23

1924

Sent by Baba to work in a theatrical company in Bombay

1925

Returned to Meherabad and became a permanent mandali member

1925

Assigned duty of laundering patients' clothes and maintaining the hospital

1929

Among the eleven men chosen to accompany Baba on his journey to Persia

1930

Looking after Mastan, the first mast kept by Baba at Meherabad (there since 1925)

1938

Engaged in work related to the mast ashram at Meherabad

1943

In April brings Mohammed Mast to Bhilar for Baba's work; on 28 April comes face to face with a tiger in the jungle

1945

In May, at the Meherabad meeting, Baba says that no japa can be compared to Sidhu's services

1949

Before the New Life, the masts Ali Shah and Mohammed are put in his care at Meherabad

1955

On 16 November, Baba folds his hands to him while introducing the mandali to the Telugu sahavas group

1969

On 7 February, the last day of darshan before Baba's body is interred, leads Mohammed Mast up to the Tomb with Padri

1975

Died on 23 October 1975

Quotes

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Don't worry. If you won't do such work, I will do it. Don't worry. If any patient makes a mess in his bed, I will clean it. You need not bother.

โ€” Meherabad, 1925: Sidhu hesitated when asked whether he would even clean toilets, and Baba went to the hospital and began cleaning a patient's soiled bed himself

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I am sorry; I truly am merciless. I didn't know what I was doing. Sometimes it happens. If you ever find me behaving like this again, remind me about it.

โ€” Meherabad, 1930, after sending Sidhu by bicycle to Ahmednagar in the noon heat and then having him brought back by truck

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This won't do! Don't make excuses. You are at fault, and there is only one way you can be forgiven. I will bow down to you.

โ€” 1947: Baba scolded Sidhu for letting a boy into his room, though Baba himself had called the boy in, and then laid his head on Sidhu's feet

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Where is the sweet I gave you? โ€ฆ You shameless idiot! When the children have not had any, you have already finished your share? Vomit it up!

โ€” Meherabad, September 1927: Baba gave Sidhu a little from a parcel of sweets and sent him to gather the school boys. On the way Sidhu ate his share, and when Baba asked, he innocently said so.

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Why did you break my order? โ€ฆ I had told you to send Genu away immediately, as soon as the taxi arrived. Why inform me you have done otherwise?

โ€” Meherabad, February 1929: the Meher Ashram boy Genu was gravely ill, and Baba had ordered that he be sent home with his father as soon as the taxi came. Sidhu and Pesu instead persuaded the father to keep him there, and came happily to tell Baba.

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Why didn't you catch the pig and bring him to me?

โ€” Satara, June 1947: Baba told Sidhu to send Adi Sr. to him the instant he arrived. Sidhu gave the message, but the hungry Adi sat down to lunch first, and Baba blamed Sidhu.

โ€œ

You people sleep while I keep awake! Have you no shame?

โ€” On the train during the Andhra tour, February 1954: at night, when the train halted at a station, Baba sent for Pendu, Bhau and Sidhu and reproved them.

โ€œ

You may suffer from TB [tuberculosis].

โ€” Meherabad Sahavas, November 1958: Baba casually gestured this to Sidhu in the hall. Sidhu misunderstood the sign and brought him tea, and when Baba asked who had sent for it, Sidhu said Baba himself had, which made Baba chuckle heartily.

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What are you people doing here? โ€ฆ Have you joined me only to enjoy life?

โ€” Meherabad, July 1938: Baba arrived with Adi Sr. and found Pendu, Vishnu and Sidhu sitting together.

โ€œ

Have you pigs any shame? You enjoy at others' expense and eat ghee! You should remember that the expenses for the sahavas have been donated by others.

โ€” Meherabad Sahavas, November 1955: when Aloba innocently told Baba they had had a very good lunch with rice, curry, papad, ghee and pickle, Baba called Pendu, Padri, Vishnu, Sidhu and Bhau.

Notable Stories

"If you won't do such work, I will do it"

When Sidhu returned to Meherabad in 1925 after a year's work in Bombay, Baba told him he could stay only on condition that he ask no questions, ask for no wages and do whatever work he was given. Sidhu agreed. Then Baba asked, "Would you even work as a sweeper and clean the toilets?" Sidhu hesitated. Baba said, "Don't worry. If you won't do such work, I will do it," and walked to the hospital, where a patient had soiled his bed, and began to clean it himself. Sidhu felt ashamed, realizing that if the Master could do such work, so could he. Baba later made him a permanent member of the mandali, in charge of the patients' laundry and the cleanliness of the hospital.

The sweets

At Meherabad in 1927 a large parcel of sweets arrived. Baba gave Sidhu a small portion and asked him to gather the boys; on the way Sidhu ate his share. When he returned, Baba asked where the sweet was, and Sidhu innocently said he had eaten it. Baba exclaimed that he had finished his share before the children had had any and told him to vomit it up. Sidhu at once put two fingers in his mouth, and Baba laughed and stopped him, saying he had only been joking.

The errand in the noon sun

In the summer of 1930 Baba told Sidhu to go to Ahmednagar at once and fetch the mail and telegrams. Sidhu decided to wait until the heat lessened. When Baba found him still there, Sidhu said, "The sun is so strong, Baba. I will go after a little while." Baba rebuked him, and Sidhu set off by bicycle, thinking Baba had no compassion. Shortly afterwards Baba sent Kalingad in a truck to bring him back and told him, "I am sorry; I truly am merciless. I didn't know what I was doing. Sometimes it happens. If you ever find me behaving like this again, remind me about it." Sidhu asked Baba's forgiveness for not obeying him.

The tiger at Bhilar

In April 1943 Sidhu brought Mohammed Mast to Bhilar so that Baba could work with him; caring for Mohammed was to be his main duty for the rest of his life. On the night of 28 April Sidhu went out into the jungle, which was infested with tigers, and a tiger came right up to him out of the dark, its eyes burning. He wanted to shout Baba's name, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, and he fainted. At that very moment Baba sent Krishna with a message for him, and on learning he was not in his room told the mandali to search the jungle. Chhagan, Nilu, Vishnu and Masaji went out with clubs and lanterns, and the tiger ran off. An hour later Sidhu managed one halting sentence: "Baba ... saved ... me!"

Baba bows to Sidhu

In 1947, while Sidhu was keeping watch during Baba's seclusion, a local boy named Shelke brought a letter, and Baba himself signalled him to come in and dictated to him for a few minutes. Then Baba sent for Sidhu and upbraided him for letting anyone enter. "Baba, you yourself called him in," Sidhu pointed out. Baba scolded him for making excuses and said that there was only one way he could be forgiven: "I will bow down to you." Baba laid his head on Sidhu's feet and so forgave him. What the purpose of this divine pretext was, no one knew.

TB or tea?

During the 1958 Meherabad sahavas, Baba sipped a little water and casually gestured to Sidhu, "You may suffer from TB [tuberculosis]." A little later Sidhu brought in tea for Baba, and Baba asked who had sent for it. "You yourself told me to bring it," Sidhu replied. Baba had a hearty chuckle: Sidhu had taken his gesture about TB to be a call for tea.