I remember it was seventeen years ago when I was having tea with the mandali in the Mess Quarters. I told them all about this war, when and how it would happen. This war will bring complete destruction. America will not suffer any less. Her backbone will snap!
All 240 of the lovers, receiving Baba's message of the 21st, responded affirmatively to his call for obedience to his instructions for one year, starting from the 1st of August. On Sunday, 30 June Baba remarked:
In Ranchi, in July, I will instruct, individually, all the 240 who have signed. It will be the hardest test for those who have signed to obey me implicitly according to their ability, and for some the supreme test! Now, anyone who says no, leaves me for good without arguing. I want also Delia, Will, Mary and a few others to answer, but how?
I, too, shall suffer a lot physically. It will be hideous suffering. I will literally die physically. How? It will all come naturally as physical suffering. December will be the most important month of my seclusion.
Pappa Jessawala had been managing the mast ashram on the hill in Eruch's absence. On the 30th, Baba suddenly instructed Pappa to bring twelve men from the Mad Ashram at lower Meherabad. Baba cut their hair, gave them a bath and then fed Chatti Baba. On 2 July, Pappa was told to escort Phulwala back to his home at Belgaum. He was then to proceed to Rangoon, Burma, to find a suitable bungalow there for Baba, the women and men mandali.
During this period, Savak Kotwal's daughters Najoo and Hilla were sent to Secunderabad to study in one of the finest girls' schools in the country — the school attended by the children of the Nizam. Baidul's daughter Sarwar was sent with Gaimai to Bangalore, where she attended school.1 School fees for the three girls, and their living expenses, were paid by Baba. Meanwhile Soltoon, Nergiz Kotwal, her infant son Adi, and Nergiz's aunt Banubai stayed with the women mandali.
Baba left Meherabad for Ranchi on Wednesday, 3 July 1940, by train, at 3:30 P.M., with the men and women mandali, and three masts, Chatti Baba, Shariat Khan and Mohammed.
Footnotes
- 1.Prior to leaving Bangalore, a house for the Jessawalas had been rented there from May 1940 – March 1941, because of Meherwan's schooling.