Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1961Page 4,766 of 5,444
On 20 June 1961, a circular was issued, informing
all that Baba would be leaving Guruprasad for Meherazad in the first
week of August. The circular stated:
Baba will indefinitely continue his seclusion
undisturbed by visits from anyone. Baba also desires that no one should
correspond with him on any matter, except by a reply prepaid telegram in
case of emergency.
As Age recounted, "1961 was a year which
taught Baba's lovers many lessons in obedience. They were learning
how to build nests in the Garden, for they had not only to sing there,
but also to learn how to make it their permanent home!"
As a daily morning outing, as mentioned the
mandali would take Baba in the car to Ganeshkhind Garden, and to
Sambhaji and Peshwa Parks for walks. On 22 June, Baba went with the
mandali to the Poona Race Course, where he had a long walk. Jalbhai took
8mm films of Baba on these outings. Maharani Shantadevi saw Baba on the
27th and 28th for two hours each day. She was leaving Poona for
Baroda.
At Peshwa Park on 2 July the elephant named
Sumitra, who gave rides to children, once came in front of Baba. Her
mahout knew Baba and would make her salute whenever he came. That
morning Baba fed her a loaf of bread and a bunch of bananas. The
elephant touched Baba's toes with her trunk and bowed to him. It was
a marvelous sight.
Once during his Poona stay, without any prior
notice, Baba unexpectedly made house visits to a few of his lovers. Ramakrishnan and the mandali accompanied him in two cars. Baba left
Guruprasad at 9:30 A.M., driving first across the Bund Garden bridge and
towards Alandi. He visited the homes of Manohar M. Joshi (at Kasba
Peth), V. Y. Agashi (at Yeravda), Vishnu Chavan (near the airport), the
Gadekars and Dr. Niphadkar, before returning to Guruprasad at 11:30
A.M.
For Silence Day, the mandali at Guruprasad and
Meherabad and Baba's followers throughout the world were informed to
observe complete silence from 8:00 P.M. on July 9 until 8:00 P.M. on
Monday, 10 July 1961.1 That day also was the release of the first issue
of an English and Telugu quarterly devoted to Baba called Divya Vani (Divine Voice), published in Andhra by
Swami Satyaprakash Udaseen. Kutumba Sastri had introduced Swami
Satyaprakash to Baba in May at Guruprasad.
On the morning of 12 July, Baba was driven to
Bund Garden where Babajan used to sit. Eruch, Francis, and Jalbhai
accompanied him. Baba stood against a railing and watched the river
below, and Jalbhai took some final shots, though Baba's sensitive
sinuses were bothered by the windy conditions.
Baba pointed to the river
and then, moving his hand in a sweeping motion, remarked, "The
waters will rise and overflow, and everything will be submerged —
washed away."
After walking around for some time, Baba dipped his
feet in the waters of the Mutha River.
Footnotes
- 1.Pendu was exempted from keeping silence as he was to be on watch on the verandah, in case any outsiders tried to enter the gate.