I had no sleep at all during that period.
Thereafter when I started eating, it was vegetarian, and there was no fixed time for my meals. Frequently I would fast for a few days and at times for months. Then I would take either milk, weak tea or just water, but I continued to fast. Although remaining only on water, I would take foot journeys, walking 25 miles a day. And though I used to eat at times, it was not at any fixed time but only when I felt like it.
My mandali have also been eating only vegetarian food for years now. I would rarely make any of them fast on milk. However, once when you were in Yeravda Prison, I kept over 20 of my mandali fasting on just milk for two or three months, but none of them felt any discomfort.
A Parsi named Pleader has been living only on milk for the last two and a half years. He is quite healthy and happy. Not only does he live only on milk, but he is locked up in a room, not speaking with anyone and observing strict silence. He is also forbidden to read or write. Over and above that, he is deprived of my presence and company continuously as I am always on the move from place to place. Even in Nasik, I do not see him. During this period of two and a half years, I have hardly seen Pleader more than ten or twelve times. Still, when I inquire through someone about him, he indicates that he is happy.
Gandhi interjected, "It is nothing to remain on milk in seclusion; but it is very hard not to speak with anyone or not to read and write."
Baba nodded, then continued:
There is another devotee of mine named Dixit in Kolhapur at a school there. He has also been on milk for the last twelve years, though he takes bananas with it. He is quite fit and works all day. He is married and has a wife with whom he lives, yet he never touches her at all and practices a life of complete celibacy. It is quite astonishing to be a true brahmachari [celibate], yet married and living with one's wife. In all respects, the man is quite good. He has devoted his life to the service of the youth."
"I think I have received a letter from someone named Dixit," Gandhi said. "He must be the same. He asked me to meet Meher Baba Saheb as soon as possible; however, at the time I was occupied with other matters. I have kept his letter with me with a view to one day see to it."