Not known at the time, there was a hidden purpose in postponing the Nagpur programs. There Baba had to catch a fish in his net, but the "fish" was not in Nagpur at the time. So Baba traveled the 300 miles back to Meherazad, and then left again for Saoner after four days!
Readers may be interested to know who this fish was. It was none other than the author — Vir Singh (Bhau) Kalchuri.1 Born in 1927, Bhau was 26, simultaneously studying for his master's degree in public administration, and for a law degree. He was also doing research in chemistry for a master of science degree. At that time, Bhau had no special interest in spirituality, and in truth, did not understand what it was. Still, he was a devotional soul, and considering this and his studious tendencies, his colleagues and professors had nicknamed him Punditji . Daily he recited prayers with all his heart, but beyond that he knew nothing.
However, two months before Baba's arrival in Nagpur, Bhau became restless and lost interest in his college studies. He went to Segaon, Mahatma Gandhi's ashram near Wardha, but was not happy there. Returning to Nagpur, he went to a Ramakrishna ashram, but there too he was disappointed. Thinking he would become a renunciant and live for the rest of his life in the Himalayas, Bhau wrote to a swami in Rishikesh, and the swami called him to Rishikesh on 9 January 1953. Bhau decided to inform his family, and relieve himself of all worldly burdens before joining the swami's ashram.
In the meantime, he had read in the newspapers that Meher Baba was to come to Nagpur. He had never heard the name so did not think it would be worthwhile to wait for him. So, on 25 December Bhau left Nagpur to meet his family, who resided 80 miles away. Clearing up matters for his wife and daughter, Bhau returned to Nagpur on the 30th. There he learned, again from the newspapers, that Baba was to give darshan in Saoner on the 31st. He was surprised, as he was under the impression that Meher Baba had come and gone. He did not know that Baba's programs had been postponed. So, because there was still some time left before he was to journey to Rishikesh, he considered taking Baba's darshan at Saoner. His sister Nira, Gaharwar whom he occasionally visited, lived in Saoner with her husband and was known to many people there.
Footnotes
- 1.Vir Singh was his given name, but he was called Bhau, which means brother.