The men and women mandali residing at Meherabad had been brought by buses, and the occasion was a truly joyous one.
Baba unlocked the door of the new building with a silver key, and Mehera and Gulmai performed his arti. Azad means free or relaxed, and Baba named the place Meherazad.
This message, dictated by Baba, was read by Adi Sr., who then garlanded Sarosh and Mahiboob:
In the history of Meherazad at Pimpalgaon, Sarosh has played a prominent part. In the beginning, the original structure was wholly financed by him. For the present building, Baba has paid Rs.20,000; Adi Jr. supplied wood up to Rs.15,000; and the rest of the money was put in by Sarosh.
In the actual building of Meherazad, in the past and the present, Mahiboob has played the chief part; and the [water] piping and the engineering work is the result of the untiring work of Padri.
We have decided to move in to Meherazad on the 15th [September] and are sure that Mahiboob and party will see to it.
For the entire arrangement of today's opening up of the new building of Meherazad Ashram, Kaka and Rusi [Pop] are mostly responsible. Kaka, has with the help of Rusi, labored all of last night, without rest or sleep, looking after carefully all the details required for the occasion.
Baba gives you all his blessings, which not only you but the whole world will be needing in the near future.
At one point, Kaka delivered a short speech in English which was relayed over a microphone from the men's side. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his unique style of erudition. After light refreshments, everyone left for his home at one o'clock.
The next evening, Baba took the mandali for a tea party at Kolgaon, an hour away. He was driven there by Adi Sr., with Ghani and Khak Saheb. The Meherabad mandali came in a bus supplied by Sarosh and driven by Eruch. Everyone had a good time and they returned at 11:00 P.M.
Although Jean and Delia were happy to be back in India, they were feeling the pain of separation at being kept at Meherabad instead of with Mehera, Mani and the other women in Ahmednagar. After the housewarming at Meherazad, Baba called them to Pop's house to stay, and they felt much happier. Kaka was cooking separately for the Westerners living at Pop's and Baba was sending them to the Ice Factory Bungalow for their meals, while he ate with the Eastern women at Pop's.