A few days before, Kaka had informed Adi that Gustadji was not feeling well, so on 28 October, Adi brought Dr. Hoshang from Ahmednagar to examine him.1 Gustadji's heart was weak due to his age, the doctor said. His liver was enlarged and he had a slight pneumonic patch.
Adi brought Dr. Hoshang again on the morning of the 30th. At that time, Gustadji gestured to Adi, "Tell Baba that I am about to pass away." He died five hours later.
Eruch informed Baba of Gustadji's passing. When Baba heard the news, tears came into his eyes. For three minutes, he could not say anything. This was one of the very rare times Baba was ever observed to weep when he heard that someone had died. This, in itself, was a fitting tribute to Gustadji and a testament to how dearly Baba loved him.
Bhau recalled, "The atmosphere was very quiet and calm. We were standing like statues."
Suddenly, Baba revealed, "My old dear friend and silent companion Gustadji whilst dropping his body realized me as I really am."
This was the first time that Baba implied someone had "realized" him. Usually, Baba would state that the person who had died had "come" to him — meaning they had attained mukti (liberation), or would come back to him in the next life or be reborn in a Baba family.
After reminiscing about Gustadji for a few minutes, Baba motioned to the mandali to leave the room, and he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
According to Baba's wish, on the 30th Gustadji's body was taken by Adi Sr. to lower Meherabad, where Padri bathed it and kept it in the Interview Cabin. Kaikobad, who had accompanied Adi from Meherazad, was instructed by Baba to stay at Meherabad and pray until the body was buried the following day twelve feet from Ali Shah's humble tomb, near the dhuni. The funeral was held at 3:00 P.M. on 31 October and was attended by Meherjee, Sadashiv, Meherwan, Dadi and others from Poona and Ahmednagar.
At 67, Gustadji was the oldest of the mandali and he kept silence until his last breath. He was Baba's "Dark Side," the closest and most loved of Baba's intimate circle and companions. Age saluted this most stalwart member of Baba's inner circle who, in the end, attained the Goal of Realization!
The 31st was Nariman Dadachanji's birthday, and a party to celebrate the occasion was held at Ashiana. Baba permitted the celebrations to be held as planned, with the exception that ice cream (which Gustadji loved) should not be served.2
Footnotes
- 1.Dr. Hoshang was a woman doctor who had a private hospital in Ahmednagar where some of the mandali were treated periodically.
- 2.The ice cream had already been ordered so Arnavaz had it distributed at a boarding school for poor students.