On 30 January, Dr. Ginde returned with Meherjee, Anand Shinde and a physiotherapist friend named Gopal S. Joshi, who was to stay in Ahmednagar (at Dowlat Lodge) for a week. Joshi massaged Baba's neck, shoulder and upper back twice a day, from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M., and from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Shinde had brought a plastic perforated collar for Baba, which he hoped would be cooler and more comfortable. Dr. Ginde recommended that the collar be worn three times a day when Baba was not being massaged, from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., 1:30 to 3:00 P.M., and 4:00 or 4:30 to 7:00 P.M. Wearing the collar around his neck, Baba would sit with the men in the hall. Dr. Ginde returned to Bombay the next day. Like Ram Ginde, Joshi and Shinde became faithfully devoted to Baba.
Joshi was called early, at 7:30 A.M. on Monday, 1 February 1965. Adi brought him, and he treated Baba in his bedroom. Rather than coming and going from Ahmednagar, Joshi was permitted to remain at Meherazad until the 5th. At 11:00 A.M. that day, Baba experienced a very painful pins-and-needles sensation in both arms for about 45 minutes. It was more intense and lasted longer in the left arm. Ginde sent another plastic collar on the 2nd for Baba to wear during the night.
For two days Baba did not complain about it, but on the 4th, after Baba had worn the collar for half an hour following his daily massage, the painful sensation returned at 11:00 A.M. Goher had been worried it might be heart trouble, but now reasoned it was due to the pressure of the collar on Baba's shoulder. Baba's neck pains decreased somewhat with Joshi's massages, but afterwards the pain would return at varied intervals in the nape of his neck or shoulders. Since it was determined that the plastic collar was causing him to suffer the sensation of sharp pins and needles in his arms, Baba stopped wearing it at night.
Also on the 4th, a new pair of chappals were made for Baba, with the right heel raised three-fourths of an inch to compensate for the difference in length of Baba's legs. Baba found these much more comfortable.
On 7 February 1965, Baba made an exception and permitted Ginde's brother-in-law, an advocate from Poona named V. G. Herekar, to come to Meherazad at 11:00 A.M. with his family. The Vietnam War was raging at this time, and that day the Americans began the first retaliatory bombing raids on North Vietnam.