This time there was a puncture, as well as a leaking radiator in one of the buses, which caused the engine to overheat. The roads, too, were generally unpaved and rough, which forced them to drive slowly. It was ten at night before they managed with difficulty to reach Dharwar and have dinner.1 Baba went for a walk around the town and they then went to a dak bungalow for the night. Raosaheb, Buasaheb, Chanji, and Chhagan shared the nightwatch.
The following day was the Hindu holiday of Maha Shivratri, and Baba permitted the men to sing his arti (both in Gujarati and Marathi). The two drivers and their helpers joined in. The group reached Hubli by way of Belgaum, where a cable from Aiyangar was waiting for them: "All devotees overjoyed. Pray come on 1st. Where should we come to receive you?" A reply was sent.
Baba arrived in Madras on Saturday, 1 March 1930. (K. J. Dastur was already there, as his health had not been good and he had preceded them from Arcot by train.) Baba was received with great love and reverence, and escorted to the Aiyangar family residence, Meher Bhavan , at 26 Brahmin Street in Saidapet, where they were to stay. C. V. Sampath Aiyangar, 53, was a prominent judge who had learned of Baba two years before, but this was his first meeting.
Very early the next morning, Baba visited the child welfare center where Aiyangar's daughter Lakshmi was doing volunteer social work. He bathed a child and distributed sweets. He then toured a nearby slum and entered the hut of a very poor woman. He asked for something to eat or drink, and the old woman, who had practically nothing, offered him some two-day old kanji (porridge) in an unclean tin vessel. Baba had a bit and then gave it to those of the Aiyangar family who had accompanied him, telling them to have it also.
"It is the elixir of life," he said smiling.
At about 7:30 A.M. Baba inaugurated a hall built by Aiyangar opposite his residence, which Baba had named Meher Asramam.2 Afterwards Baba planted a pipal sapling there, thus symbolizing that for generations to come people would find shelter under the cool shade of his love. The Aiyangar family was truly blessed. Baba's happiness filled not only their house, but their hearts as well.
In the afternoon he visited the homes of K. S. Srinivasan, Mudaliar Vadivelu and Ammal Pankajam .
A large function was held in Madras that evening at Goschen Hall. Dastur delivered a speech in an excited manner. In his fervor, he declared, "We, as Meher Baba's lovers, should be prepared to write his messages in our own blood! Let us kill ourselves in disseminating his divine message among the people!"
At this, Dhake (who had also met them in Madras) whispered to Baba, "Dastur doesn't weigh more than 90 pounds — he looks like he is suffering from anemia. How is he going to write your messages in his blood? He doesn't have enough !" Baba smiled but did not comment, and Dastur's speech was received with vociferous cheering.
Footnotes
- 1.Dharwar is also known as Dharwad.
- 2.Meher Asramam contained a reading room and a place for storing exercise equipment such as dumbbells for use of the poor and disadvantaged youth of Saidapet. There was an open area at the back for use as a playground.