Masanghatwala Baba was a subtle-conscious sadhu residing in a cremation ground. It was claimed he had been in that particular location for at least the past 35 years, and had resided there before the cremation ground was built. When the municipality went to construct the cremation ground, they had to build it around Masanghatwala, because he refused to evacuate the premises and they feared the repercussions of harassing a holy man. This sadhu always kept a fire burning, and had three pets: a cat, a dog and a cow, which he would feed in that order before eating his food.
On Saturday, 28 February 1942, Chanji and Don (who was visiting on leave from the army) brought Baba up to date about the current world predicament of violence spreading nearly everywhere. After hearing their reports, Baba commented about Japan and its intention to take over India. (They had just read in the newspapers about Japan's invasions of Java and Burma.) Baba stated:
India is in grave danger. Unless it unites and makes a common effort, it will be isolated from China and Britain. This is Japan's war strategy and that is why they are executing invasions on Burma. If Rangoon and Java fall — which is a probability — the next target will be India. If the British government gives India political freedom as it wants — which they will have to give — Indians should arise and awaken a spirit to fight [against] the invading Japanese.
Roosevelt can supply any number of bombers, but where to land them? The Pacific is too distant and with no base to land [all being occupied by the Japanese], America's bombers have been lying idle. If they could be utilized now — in India — to fight the Japanese, the Japanese would not be able to stand up to them. Because India and China combined would smash Japan.
It is a question, however, if India will rise to the occasion and show that fighting spirit which she has lost due to being out of touch. The British government kept the nation docile; all the warlike spirit was subdued and lost during a century and a half of British occupation. Then again, when the people were aroused to political awakening, the philosophy of non-violence propagated by Gandhi crushed what little spirit was aroused. Consequently, it will now be very difficult and a [hard] task indeed to arouse it again, even if we did have weapons.
And unless permanent leaders like Nehru, [Abdul Kalam] Azad and others come into power, travel around and arouse that spirit once again, Japan will land at important points and cities and capture all war materials, weapons, supplies of oil, food, et cetera, and cripple India.