Arriving in Mysore on the morning of the 5th, they checked in to the Modern Hotel . Soon after, they went in search of a suitable bungalow for the women mandali to stay in. They found one and, after renting it, Baba returned to Meherabad five days later. Preparations soon began for their departure to Mysore.
Gulmai and her daughter Piroja were called to Meherabad on 22 January. Baba wished them to stay at Meherabad, but a few days later told them to remain at Khushru Quarters. Chanji arrived on the 24th for the day, and Baba discussed his travel plans with him, Vishnu and others. On the 28th, Masaji arrived from Nasik, contrary to Baba's instructions sent by telegram. Baba was furious and sent him back to Nasik forthwith.
On 30 January 1936, Baba left at 6:00 A.M. by bus for Poona with Mehera, Mani, Naja, Khorshed, Soonamasi, Walu and Indu Subnis (Waman's daughter). Vishnu and some of the mandali had left before them, in a separate bus with the luggage. Chanji, Chhagan, Kalemama, Bhausaheb Mehendarge and Bhagirath proceeded to Poona by train. Adi Sr., Pendu, Jalbhai and Gustadji drove with Tukaram in a new Ford.1 The rest of the mandali stayed at Meherabad.
As always, the men mandali were not allowed near the women. So in Poona, Baba himself carried the women's luggage to their reserved compartment at the end of the train. They all departed Poona and Baba instructed Chanji and Chhagan to leave their compartment and be present on the platform at every stop, so that if Baba needed anything they could easily procure it for him.
Arriving in Mysore at 7:15 on the night of the 31st, they went directly to the bungalow owned by Mr. B. Ramanna at Vani Vilas Mohalla. It was later called, irreverently, Bala (Headache) Bungalow . While in Mysore, the men stayed nearby at Shri Kanthaya's bungalow in Vontikoppal. Adi Sr., Pendu and Jalbhai arrived late in the evening of the 2nd. They went to the famous Mysore Zoo with Baba on the 4th. Jalbhai was to stay in Mysore, and Adi and Pendu returned to Meherabad on the 5th by train.
Footnotes
- 1.Tukaram Kamble was the young man, formerly in the Meher Ashram, who had been living under Baba's guidance and who had been trained as a driver in Nasik. Other boys from the school had remained in contact with Baba and had also become drivers, among them Bhau Cheema, Shankar and Subedar.