Meanwhile, Dr. Ghani was called to Mahabaleshwar for a week, for the purpose of entertaining Baba with jokes and poetry, before Baba entered seclusion. Ghani was sent this poetic summons:
If you are well
Have no material loss
But entertain me
Will pay both-way fares
Do not give me pain
Talk of spiritual benefit
In January 1951, Ghani mailed Baba this humorous response:
Received your loving letter.1
A thousand thoughts & whatnot,
And Jal with dates a noting,
This atmosphere, I was pretty sure
Accepting all your orders
Hoping there are no blunders
I remain yours forever,
A. G. Munsiff
Baba's reply:
After carefully your letter noting,
Ghani had been called to Mahabaleshwar on 8 February, but he fell ill. He was then instructed to come for three days from the 12th, if he recovered. Baba wrote to him:
Well, cheer up, sonny.
Before beginning his seclusion in Mahabaleshwar, Baba said: "This seclusion, which is connected with my New Life oath and the desired final result, will be unique. It will be a partial seclusion and, unlike the Old Life seclusions, I will not confine myself to a small room for the entire day."
He then stated: "I will either emerge victorious in attaining New Life living, or die in the attempt."
Baba held a meeting on Monday, 12 February 1951, with his servant-companions. According to the Zoroastrian calendar, it was Baba's 57th birthday that day, but Baba permitted no celebration. At the meeting, Baba resolved the following decisions that were to be carried out by himself and the companions during his 100-day seclusion:
All the men are to continue to stay with Baba as Baba's servants until June 10, 1951.
From February 12, 1951, onwards, all servants are made free from the bindings of all the conditions of the New Life except that they all must obey the following standing orders:
1. Not to do lustful actions.
2. Not to create circumstances so that they invite homage to Baba.
3. Not to have any sort of contact or correspondence with the Old Life disciples of Baba.
4. Not to exchange clothes between themselves.
5. Not to accept money or food from anyone but may accept tea, cigarettes or paan from anyone.
6. To remind Baba when he promises anything to anyone, speaks ill of anyone, takes any false step, shows his greatness, gets excited or doubts his servants.
7. To obey day-to-day orders 100 percent.
8. To try their utmost to act so as to make Baba feel satisfied.
As Age observed, "In the New Life, Baba played the part of a devotee or seeker, and at the same time of a Spiritual Master. In the role of the seeker, human weaknesses and drawbacks were evident, and in that of a Master, his authority to issue orders to his servants to be completely obeyed was manifest."
Baba bowed down to the servant-companions that day and Padri photographed it. Padri returned to Ahmednagar two days later.
On Tuesday, 13 February 1951, a singer named Bawla Qawaal sang qawaalis before Baba.
Later that day, Baba informed his servant-companions, "I want to do very hard work for 40 days. From March 7, according to circumstances, I may work either in total darkness or in complete light, for which two Petromax lanterns have been purchased."
Footnotes
- 1.Ghani is referring to Indian prohibition laws, which were in effect then.