If a Nehru or Nariman shaves or cuts a poor Untouchable's hair, the press and the public hail them as saviors of mankind.1 But a [Meher] Baba or Upasni Maharaj doing the same work silently in secluded spots would neither be noticed nor appreciated — rather ridiculed and overlooked. On the contrary, they would be criticized! Such is the world, going after glamour and outward show, and giving undue importance to ordinary things because they are being done by individuals who in the public's eyes are great.
Norina and Elizabeth further discussed the idea of establishing a center and told Baba, "For ourselves, it is not necessary; but it will be necessary for the other Western women who will be coming."
Baba replied at length:
Yes, I know. You are not thinking of yourselves. You are supremely happy as you are. Kitty cooks, Norina types, Rano paints and does other work, Elizabeth writes and is engaged in various chores. I also know that you will go on living like this willingly in whatever circumstances I keep you. You do not like the show and regular routine of ceremonies, et cetera, as in other ashrams, and only wish to be near and with me.
It is also true that many women in the West want to come to stay with me and share in my work, and for them a center is necessary for the purpose of their work and as a means to my work. There is no center for the women who are going to come here to stay. Although we have Meherabad, there is no arrangement for anyone wishing to come and stay there. Besides, for other reasons also, Meherabad is unsuitable and inconvenient. It is dry due to lack of rain. It is desolate and the heat makes living there difficult throughout the year. No one, especially the Westerners, will be able to stay and work there during the summer. Too much heat saps the energy, so much so that even my old mandali are now tired, dull and not as enthusiastic as before — rather I find them void of any feelings at all! Moreover, scarcity of water is a constant problem and serious handicap there. Even if I wish, I cannot spend on development at Meherabad as there is no guarantee of finding water. And without water we cannot do anything.
Footnotes
- 1.Khurshed F. Nariman was a legendary leader of the Congress party and the mayor of Bombay from 1935–36. During his term, he espoused the cause of the common man, visited slums and markets, and strove to remove mass illiteracy. "Nariman Point" in Bombay is named after him.