As for the Untouchability issue, I love the Untouchables. They are close to my heart. Recently, I summoned their leader Dr. Ambedkar and advised him what to do. I consider the orthodox Hindu attitude foolish, but there I leave it as I condemn no one and hate no one.
My religion? I belong to no religion and yet to every religion. Love is my principal agent. The Infinite One can be attained only through love and sincerity. I do not believe in dogmas and ceremonies. God can be realized in every phase of life — art, science, nature and beauty. That is my religion.
I have been silent for eight years. It is not a vow but it has been undertaken for spiritual reasons. Shortly, my mission of preaching will begin. My reason for starting in America is that America, being the most deeply engrossed in material things and suffering the most in consequence, is the soil on which a new spiritual rebirth will first take place. America requires only the guiding hand of a Master to redirect its material powers to the heights of spirituality.
Your Ceylon is a most beautiful country. I shall visit it again. I will be leaving for India soon and then I shall return here on my way to America via China and Honolulu.
Will I found an ashram here? Perhaps.
Baba, Kaka and Quentin returned to Colombo by the 27th of January.
Tod recorded that Baba was annoyed with another of his agents in Columbo, also an old man, who he said had "arranged things badly."
But the next day the agent was seen standing on the street opposite Baba's window making signs to Baba. Baba said everything had been put right.
Baba fasted and remained in seclusion in Columbo on the 29th, and the next day left for India by boat with Kaka. They traveled by train via Madras to Bombay, arriving on Thursday, 2 February 1933 and returned to Nasik late the same night.
Meanwhile, from Ceylon Quentin sailed back to England, as he had been instructed to escort to India those Western women whom Baba had invited. Chanji left Shanghai on 10 January, and met Vishnu, Jalbhai and Adi Jr. in Bombay on the 28th.
After staying in Nasik with the mandali for a few days, Baba returned to Bombay. On Friday, 10 February 1933, he abruptly decided on obtaining a British passport instead of a Persian one, and Adi Sr. was sent to the British Consulate to bring the necessary forms. Chanji filled out the forms and Baba's photograph was taken.
On the passport application, opposite the column denoting occupation, Chanji wrote: "Spiritual Teacher." Opposite visible distinguishing marks, Chanji wrote: "Scar in the center of eyebrows." The scar was from the stone thrown by Upasni Maharaj in 1914; it had left a permanent mark.