Ghani asked which of these three years would be the best for the mandali, and Baba readily replied:
"From June 1940 to June 1941 will be the best. It is for the circle principally. The time which I had been predicting and telling you all these years that 'It is coming' — has now come!"
Baba left Bangalore for South India on the Madras Express train at 7:20 P.M. on Thursday, 4 January 1940, accompanied by Kaka, Gustadji, Jal Kerawalla and Krishna. His destination and itinerary were not disclosed to the other mandali. They traveled first to Travancore and then to Trivandrum, where Baba contacted an old mast named Chinna Swami . He went on to Cape Comorin, Madurai and Trichur, contacting masts wherever he went, and returned to Bangalore (exhausted) six days later on the 10th, bringing Chinna Swami with him. During one journey, the train was so packed, Baba and the men had to enter a "ladies only" compartment. The conductor allowed them to stay only after Jal Kerawalla showed his District Magistrate's card.
The next day, Baba spoke informally with a few of the men about the problem of Parsis and spirituality. Baba made some significant remarks in regard to the Zoroastrians' utter ignorance of the Path, hence their childish arguments and behavior toward saints and spirituality, which he explained was not their fault.
Colonel Irani (a Zoroastrian) was rumored to be planning a visit to Bangalore. Baba hinted he would like the Colonel to come and see him, so that once and for all this problem of his opposition might cease.
"Then he and I both will feel at ease," Baba stated.
Explaining further, Baba took pity on the stubborn man:
It is not his fault, for he is a man of the world with military title, degrees and even money. Yet in spite of it all he is blind. Hindus have Vedanta; Islam has Sufism for spiritual enlightenment and understanding, besides saints and walis to go to and be guided by; whereas Parsis have none [of these]. The only stalwarts of their religion are their dasturs [priests] and the less said about them the better! The most shocking characters of some of these [dasturs] are open secrets. What religious or spiritual guidance could they possibly give?
In the absence of any enlightenment, what could we expect from such people? It is not their fault — they are to be pitied rather than blamed.