Don had sent Baba's X-rays to Dr. Sir Reginald Watson-Jones in London (who had examined Baba in London in 1952). The famous doctor wrote back, stating that Baba's hip appeared dislocated, and unless it was operated upon, it would never be all right.
This was discussed on 24 July 1957, but Baba did not agree to the operation. He was perturbed with Don for not sending Sir Reginald all his medical reports at the beginning, as he had hinted he should. As a result, the dislocation in the hip had gone undetected for eight months. On the 25th, Baba dictated to Eruch these remarks in a letter to Don:
"If you had done so [sent Watson-Jones Baba's medical papers], I would not have suffered the unnecessary unbearable pain. You, doctors Chatterjee and Ketkar [of Ahmednagar], have made a mess of my case."
But on 5 August, when fresh X-rays were taken at Booth Hospital by Dr. Anderson, he pronounced that there was no dislocation.
Baba's special work commenced from Thursday, 1 August 1957. Adi, Dhake, Sidhu, Chhagan and Sadashiv Patil were called that day. Just before they were ready to start from Khushru Quarters, they received a note from Baba, stating that each man should take a bath before coming. Sidhu and Dhake had not had one that day, so they took a bath before leaving. They reached Meherazad at 9:15 A.M. Baba had come to the hall half an hour earlier. As they were to stay at Meherazad for several days, Sidhu, Chhagan and Dhake were given a room together, and Sadashiv Patil was lodged separately.
Baba called them to mandali hall at ten o'clock. He said,
"I am in great physical pain. Nothing has been able to make it subside. The doctors have proposed a deep injection or operation, but an operation is not advisable due to the arthritis in my hip. There is no sign of the pain subsiding; therefore, I called you all to Meherazad to help maintain a lively atmosphere here and to entertain me."
Baba inquired about their health, and reminisced about the old days in the ashram.
At eleven o'clock, Baba asked everyone to go wash his face and hands. A curtain was hung dividing mandali hall, behind which the women mandali took their seats. There were fourteen mandali in the hall: Adi, Aloba, Baidul, Bhau, Chhagan, Dhake, Eruch, Gustadji, Kaikobad, Kaka, Sadashiv, Sidhu, Savak and Jalbhai. The duty which was assigned to each of the men was read out, and Baba handed to each man slips of paper with individual duties listed on it.