On the 1st of September 1939, the German army under Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. That day Baba began sending Adi Sr., Jalbhai, Elizabeth and Don, in turns, to a nearby shop which had a radio, to listen to any news of war. They were to report the latest news to Baba. This went on all day and into the night and continued the next day, until Adi Sr. and Jal Rusi (who was staying with the group in Bangalore) managed to rent a radio which could be kept at the Links and listened to every hour.
On the 1st, a telegram was received about the sudden death in Poona of Pesu Irani, one of Baba's early followers.
The mandali were taken aback when Baba laughed at the news, but he explained, "This is the end of what you call 'life,' but is it really the end of your worldly life? S uch a fine, young, strong fellow passing away so suddenly and unexpectedly ... So m any will die in the war, yet people weep and behave selfishly, as if they expect to live forever."
he 2nd, the topic came up again and Baba remarked, "Life is a series of experiences which need innumerable forms. Deat . Death is an interval in that one long life."
He then quipped, "And life, as I've said before, is wife, knife and strife!"
On Sunday, 3 September 1939, after listening to the world news at 5:30 P.M. and hearing Chamberlain's speech declaring war against Germany, Baba stated:
The blessed old man's speech has satisfied me. I am happy war is declared. I am relieved and feel greatly unburdened. In the suspense of indecision, I felt responsible. England at last kept her word. Chamberlain, though old and slow, is firm. This is evidenced when he said he won't rest until Hitler's power is crushed. Now it will be a fight against Germany and Nazism. It will be a long war.
Poor Mussolini — but he deserves it. Hitler is mad, but Mussolini is mean.
Now it will continue until the end, unless Germany gets frightened and says, "I won't fight," and withdraws. If it happens, the German people will cut Hitler and other [Nazi] leaders to pieces for leading them to destruction.
It is all my game. You see me sitting here quietly, but how can you know what I am doing quietly in this corner? Now all the world is excited.