All this [activity of mine] you observe outwardly; but what I do inwardly, you can never know! For this reason I say, bear with me, bear all trouble and harassment, and continue doing as I say. I work through some medium, and the medium is necessary for my work. You will never be able to grasp it.
A girl may be most suitable from your point of view, but to me, she is not fit for my work. I want a proper medium for certain work, and so I have sent back those you brought. Bring me a chaste girl who has love and devotion, who has a pure heart.
The next day, he added, "The world has now reached a stage when a thorough overhaul of the entire working system and machinery is necessary, and this has already taken place through a change in duties assigned to walis."
Many Western women came in Baba's contact during the first foreign tour, and Baba wanted an Indian girl to take with him to the West as a medium for his work. Vishnu brought his cousin Yamuna Haldankar, called Indu , whom Baba approved of; but when it was time to leave, she was ill and had to stay behind.
On Sunday, 21 February 1932, Baba went to Bombay by car with Adi Sr., Gulmai, Ghani, and Kaka, while the other mandali followed by train.1
While Baba was in Bombay, Pilamai came there on 25 February with her daughter Silla. Pilamai was intending to stay in Nasik with the women mandali; she had been with Baba in Meherabad and Toka, and Baba had stayed at her home in Karachi several times. Eventually, Pilamai stayed with Baba for several years and fervently stuck to him until the last.
The search for a suitable young candidate to accompany Baba to the West continued. Another advertisement was placed in the Daily Mail, instructing anyone wishing to apply to go to the Majestic Hotel, where a room had been hired to interview them. Adi Sr. and Adi Jr. waited at the hotel, but no one turned up. Meanwhile Jalbhai, Pendu and Raosaheb went out in search of a good boy or girl and brought a few, but none was approved. Rustom was summoned from Nasik to aid in the search, with Beheram's help; Chanji contacted someone at the YMCA; Ghani was sent to Lonavla to look, but returned without anyone.
Footnotes
- 1.Chanji and Buasaheb went in advance to make arrangements for their stay at Manekji and Banubai's.