With Baba's consent, Sorabji Siganporia, the secretary of the Bombay Center, arranged a darshan program in Bombay. Baba left Meherazad on 20 December 1957 at 9:30 A.M., with the women mandali in Meherjee's car. Eruch, Baidul, Bhau and Savak traveled in Adi's car (driven by Waman). They again stayed at Ashiana, and at night the men slept at Rupamai's home. Baba liked the arrangements made by Nariman, Arnavaz and Katie, and felt quite at home in their apartment. Arnavaz kept a bed for Baba in the main sitting room.
Siganporia had organized the darshan in the spacious Sunderbai Hall at Churchgate. The Poona bhajan mandali and other out-of-town lovers were also present. Baba arrived at the hall at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday, 22 December, and was warmly received with the usual acclamations. The hall was packed. Supporting himself with his hands on Eruch and Adi's shoulders, Baba climbed up the dais, where with folded hands he offered his salutation to the gathering. Burjor Mehta recited the Master's Prayer in Gujarati, after which Baba sat on an armchair.
The darshan started as hundreds of men and women filed past him from separate lines. By turns, Madhusudan and a qawaal kept the music flowing, and a renowned singer from Bombay named Devendra also performed. Baba appreciated his talents. When the darshan ended at noon, almost 3,000 people had been fortunate enough to come in contact with the Avatar. To close the program, first the Gujarati and then the Hindi arti were sung.
Among those in attendance was Dr. Daulat Singh's nephew, Trilok Singh, from Uganda, who arrived late because his flight to India was delayed. Baba often inquired whether he had come. Trilok Singh had attended the sahavas programs at Meherabad, and had invited Baba to give mass darshan in Africa. He brought his entire family to Bombay, including his nine-year-old son, Hardip, and all became devoted followers.
In the afternoon a smaller function was held in Hasman Hall for Baba's close lovers.1 It was more like a sahavas than a darshan program. Shaikh Hidayat Khan, one of Baba's favorite qawaals, had been specially called from Aurangabad. Baba arrived at the hall at about 4:00 P.M., and no sooner had he sat down than a woman rushed forward from the audience and placed her head on his feet.
Baba remarked, "This is not the time for bowing down and garlanding. The darshan program is over. I am here now for sahavas."
Footnotes
- 1.Hasman Hall, located opposite Breach Candy on Bhulabhai Desai Road, was also known as Bhulabhai Desai Memorial Hall.