Kutumba Sastri was leaving shortly on a lecture tour of South India. Baba urged him not to hesitate to openly declare that Meher Baba says he is the Avatar of the Age.
"Declare this undauntedly before all," Baba told him, "even at the cost of receiving a beating or putting your life in danger!"
Cases of smallpox had been reported in Poona, so that day everyone at Meherazad (including Baba first) were vaccinated by a public health official.1
That day, Baba had a circular issued stating that he would be leaving for Guruprasad in two weeks, but that the Westerners were not permitted to come to Poona that year, since they had been given special opportunities for his close contact at the East-West Gathering. He stated he wanted his Western lovers to continue to help him remain undisturbed during his stay at Guruprasad by not visiting him, thus not acting contrary to his wishes. Baba did state, however, that he would allow his Eastern lovers to come on Sundays, starting from 14 April. The usual injunctions about not seeking interviews or advice were also given.
During this period in Meherazad, Francis finished writing his book The East-West Gathering and read a portion of it to Baba every day.
Before moving headquarters to Poona, in consideration of his lovers' wishes, Baba agreed to attend the Ahmednagar Center on Sunday, 17 March 1963. From early that morning, local devotees and their families began assembling in the Center, including several military officers with their wives and children. (Ahmednagar has a large Army base.) The hall was completely full and people were standing outside. Baba arrived with Eruch, Bhau, Pendu and Francis at 9:15 A.M. and was received amidst loud shouts of his Jai. Taking his seat on the dais, he stated:
"No one should bow down, garland or embrace me. Only Sarosh, in his capacity as the president of the Center, should garland me."
Sarosh (and his Swiss daughter-in-law Anita) did so and received Baba's embrace.
Dhake said a few words of welcome, and Baba then asked him and Rustom Kaka about the public function in Kovvur. They reported how the programs had been splendid and thousands had felt Baba's presence there.
Baba's eyes gazed at the microphone before him and he had it removed, joking,
"I am not going to break my silence just now; there is still time for it! But when I utter the Word, it will go deep down into the hearts of all, and those connected with me will benefit spiritually according to the degree of their preparedness."
Footnotes
- 1.Goher vaccinated Mehera.