Baba observed, "This is the treatment meted out to Indians, and it is tolerated because the people are poor. Otherwise, in Bengal, Madras and other provinces where people are nowadays conscious of their condition, they pay back the English in their own coins. This is the fault of the English. But India, like Egypt, will gain independence within 20 years.
"With all their faults and drawbacks, the British have some good points, too.1 They have done both much good and great harm. It had to happen. Some of the Indians have been born in England and some of the British are born in India. Curzon is now in India.
"I like the Americans best, and the Italians for their good hearts; then the English. The Germans are good. I don't care for the French [at that time], who are too gredy, or for the Persians, except the women are all right. The Arabs are the worst, lustful and treacherous."
Later Baba explained that nationalities are nothing in the higher planes, but as he is both human and divine, he was speaking from his human aspect.
" I see myself in all," he stated.
For the most part, it was Baba's strict order that no one go anywhere and leave him alone, but he permitted them to go sightseeing in Murree in groups of two. After going a long distance, Norina felt anxious and told Delia that she was going back to the hotel. Delia felt the same and both returned to their room. Baba saw them entering the hotel and sent for them.
He told Norina, "You were the only ones who felt that I wanted to speak to you. I had important spiritual matters to tell you, but the mood has gone now because none of you were here."
Kitty came a few minutes later and Baba reproved her, "You should have felt my need [to speak to you.]"
This was a warning to them to be always with Baba.
When the others returned, Baba had a long discussion with Norina and Elizabeth, planning for his future work in the West.
Headed for Kashmir, the group left Murree in taxis at six in the morning on Tuesday, 18 April 1933 and arrived in Srinagar that afternoon at five o'clock. As they traveled through the Himalayan region, there was a landslide on the road which had to be cleared before they could drive on. A man brought them water in a copper bowl, and Baba commented.
"It is a great privilege to bring water to a Perfect Master."
Footnotes
- 1.Lord George Curzon (1859–1925) was a former Viceroy of India who had overseen the renovation of the Taj Mahal.