Early in the morning of Monday, 16 Sept 1929, Baba was taken to Mount Poinsur (also known as Mandapeshwar Caves), where he saw a ruined Portuguese church, a Franciscan monastery, and a large orphanage. A statue of Jesus adorned the top of the church, which commanded a panoramic view of the surrounding hills.1 Baba ate lunch that day at Naoroji's house and served the meal to all who came.
Baba had succeeded in obtaining a Persian passport, but the thumbprint proved insufficient in acquiring a visa, which would be necessary to reenter British India on a Persian passport. The officer at the British Consulate declared that no application was valid without a properly endorsed signature. He added that they were free to proceed to Persia — but reentry into India would likely prove problematic.
Chanji explained the visa difficulty to Baba on the 16th, and Baba replied, "The greater the trouble, the better for all."
Baba then directed Chanji to keep trying to obtain a visa.
Baba left Bombay for Nasik that day to bid farewell to the women mandali and took with him copies of the photos taken at Russell Studio to give them. He returned to Bombay the next day and was informed of the latest developments. On 18 September, Rustom was assigned power of attorney on Baba's behalf during his absence.
The next day, Chanji made an appointment with the governor about Baba's case, but he had been warned that the chances of success were doubtful.
While Chanji was at the office, Baba suddenly remarked, "Everything should be completed today."
The visa problem, which had been dragging on for two weeks, was finally settled after Chanji's half-hour meeting with the governor. Traveling papers were issued and all arrangements were completed to sail for Persia the following day.
Meanwhile, Aga Ali's parents appeared on the scene, demanding to know Baba's intention concerning their son. Ali was in Quetta with Ali Akbar and Chhota Baba under Raosaheb's care. During the farewell darshan program for his many Bombay devotees, Baba patiently explained his current plans to Aga Ali's parents.
Before leaving, Baba ordered Ramjoo, Padri, Naval, Kaka Baria, Dastur, and Pleader to fast on only milk and to occupy one single room together at Meherabad. But later the order was changed and applied only to Pleader.
The other men were to fast on milk for one day only.
Footnotes
- 1.Carved out of solid rock, the caves at the base of this hillock date as far back as 750 AD. Built by Buddhists, worshiped by Hindus, fought over by the Portuguese and Marathas, they now stand unoccupied, still under dispute. All that remain are empty chambers, underground caverns filled with water, mutilated statues of Shiva and the remnants of a Christian cross carved on the wall outside. Legend has it that the Portuguese converted its sadhus and laid the first foundations of Christianity on the island of Salsette. The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception still stands today among the ruins of the previous monastery. Its parish, the oldest in Bombay, dates back 400 years.