Vishnu accompanied them. On the 13th, Adi's sister Piroja had an interview with Baba. Goma Ganesh Pathak, a former teacher of the Meher Ashram, saw Baba the same day with Kaka Chinchorkar. Pathak sought Baba's financial help to proceed to England for further studies, but Baba later told Vishnu to tactfully refuse him. Two days later, Tyebali also requested Baba's monetary assistance, and Baba agreed to help to a limited extent.
Ramjoo met Baba on 14 January, and the next day, Freiny and her children, who had been visiting, returned to Nasik. Freiny's husband, Rustom, met Baba at Khushru Quarters a week later, at 5:00 P.M. on 22 January, and at Meherabad the following day. Rustom was staying in Bombay, where he was working on his film project. Baba was very pleased with the successful progress of Rustom's film, which Ramjoo had seen and praised to Baba. Baba assured Rustom of his financial help in two of his further ventures (through a gift from Elizabeth), and agreed to come to Bombay to support Rustom's distribution efforts.1
Kaka Chinchorkar had Baba's darshan again on 27 January 1938 and thanked him for his blessing. Chinchorkar had been elected the President of the Ahmednagar Municipality in an election held the previous day.
Baba came down the hill on Sunday, 30 January with Norina, Kitty and Rano, and took them to the Mad Ashram. Memo and Adi Jr. were visiting and they went along, as well.
Baba had sent Kalemama to Panchgani to lease a bungalow for himself and the women mandali, as he intended shifting there for the upcoming hot summer months. (Panchgani has a much cooler climate than Meherabad during March, April, and May.)
Baba himself went to Panchgani along with Adi Sr. and Gajanand on Wednesday, 2 February 1938. They arrived in Poona at 9:00 A.M. and, joined by Chanji, proceeded to Panchgani, arriving at noon. There, Kalemama showed Baba the different bungalows he had inspected. Baba chose one and made all arrangements for shifting there in March with the women. Baba also visited his cave in Tiger Valley where Pleader was staying. Baba ordered Pleader to go on pilgrimage to Benares and remain there for eight months, begging for his food along his way, and to fast for a certain period.2
Baba then visited the Hindu High School where he met with the boys of the school and spent the night. He returned to Meherabad the following day.
Footnotes
- 1.The title of the film Rustom produced and directed (using the pseudonym of Rukesh) was Nigah-e-Kamil (The Perfect Man). It was shot near Gangapur Falls, Nasik. The story revolves around the court intrigue of a poisoned king, a villainous prime minister and a heroic, spiritual prince. "The message and mysticism of the East with an appeal to the heart... A saint's message of plain living and high thinking woven round the court intrigue of a state. Thrills and excitement of a tiger hunt in thick jungles."
- 2.Baba further ordered Pleader to sit on a particular bridge in Benares where Upasni Maharaj had once sat, and not to move from the spot, even if he were ordered to do so by the police; if he were physically moved, he should not resist, but later return quietly to the spot.