Elizabeth Patterson arrived from America in Bombay on 15 February, on the Conte Verde . Her dog Kippy, who had stayed with Irene Billo in Switzerland while Elizabeth was in America, accompanied her to India. Adi Sr., Chanji, Goher and Arnavaz met her, and Adi drove her to Meherabad. Nonny arrived two days later on the SS Reliance and was also met by Chanji. She too was brought to Meherabad in time for the birthday celebrations, and both began living on the hill with the other women mandali.
It was not always easy for these Westerners to leave their friends and family to join Baba in India, especially when their families did not follow Baba. Elizabeth's mother Bess (who had met Baba in 1932) wrote her a wonderful, encouraging note, stating:
If it were not your happiness and your complete conviction that takes you so far, but instead some stern duty - or sacrifice we should really mourn - but since you are following the light of your spirit, my spirit will keep its little candle burning bright until I see you again.1 But I want you to know that your months with us have been a joy and comfort. You have been so thoughtful and kind - gentle and sweet, I cannot but see the lovely results of your association with Baba and his ministry of illuminating love.
The joyous feeling that permeated the atmosphere at Meherabad on Saturday, 19 February 1938, as the lovers began arriving for the three-day celebration, cannot even be compared with what heaven has to offer! In heaven there is only happiness, but in Meherabad during these three days, there was spiritual joy! Wine was flowing freely once again, and almost 500 lovers from Bombay, Poona, Ahmednagar, Nasik, Navsari, Nagpur and other towns and cities, gathered to quench their thirst.
More than 200 came from Bombay, including Naoroji and Bachamai Dadachanji, and their children Arnavaz, Nargis, Homa, Dara and Roda, and Goher (who was living with them); Alamai Katrak, Kharmen Masi, Bachamai's sister Soonamasi Engineer, with her six-year-old daughter Dolly (Dastoor); Dina Talati with her two daughters Jeroo and Perviz; Amina Jaffer, Khatija Abdulla, Meherbai Merchant and Alu Khambatta. Memo, of course, never missed such occasions, and Gulmai was a constant visitor to Meherabad from her home in Ahmednagar. Pilamai and her daughter Silla came, as did Vishnu's mother Kakubai.
Footnotes
- 1.22 January 1938; An Informal History of the Simeon B. Chapin Family.