The first thing he mentioned was that he had begun acquiring land in northern India near Rishikesh. He had given this work to Keki Desai of Delhi, who had been in Baba's contact for seven years. Keki was called to Meherazad on the 9th to discuss the matter.1 Kaikobad, who was too old and weak to accompany Baba, would be sent to stay with Keki, from October until the land was purchased. He was then to stay on it and await Baba's arrival.
Baba stated that the place in North India would be the center of his future life of helplessness. Ramjoo and Dhake were asked to devise a plan whereby the land near Rishikesh, when purchased in the name of any one or two of the Yeswalas, could be taken over under a legal deed in such a way that, in the end, the land would neither belong to nor revert to Baba, or any of his people.
The new center of the New Life was to be reached on foot not later than November 1950.
Before starting out for the north, however, Baba stated, "I will first march to Aurangabad on 16 October with all the Yeswalas, and spend the first period of two and a half months in Khuldabad and Paithan. Khuldabad is where Sai Baba began his spiritual life."
But thereafter Baba changed this idea about going to Khuldabad, and decided instead to proceed on foot from Ahmednagar to Ghodnadi, and from there to go by bus to Belgaum and stay on Vishnu's relatives' land.
Regarding the property at Belgaum, Baba observed, "The place already has a small house in which the ladies will be able to remain, and the rest of the space is more than enough for the men to live under the sky. There is also a good well containing nice drinking water. Belgaum will also provide me with the opportunity of getting those accompanying me used to the future life of service, begging, helplessness and so forth, involved under the conditions."
Baba instructed Padri to construct a four-wheeled, caravan-like vehicle drawn by oxen, and have it delivered to Belgaum by the 15th of December. The caravan would provide the four women with minimal shelter for the foot journey to the north.
After the final meeting, Baba continued to warn the men to be alert, urging them to follow all the conditions.
Footnotes
- 1.Keki Desai was the one who had won the Blue Bus in the lottery and had given it back to Baba. He spent the night at Meherazad and left for Delhi on the 10 th.