During this period, Gulabsha was troubled by doubts about Baba's divinity.
“”When Baba found out, he sent for Gulabsha on 31 March and corrected him, "It is not right for you to stay with me when you doubt me."
Baba then asked, "Do you believe in the divinity of Khwaja Saheb Chishti?"
Gulabsha replied that he did.
“”Baba directed him to go to Khwaja Saheb's shrine at Ajmer and gave him funds for traveling, declaring, "There you will come to know who I really am."
Gulabsha left, but in Ajmer, while he was separated from Baba, he could think of no one else. He became dissatisfied with himself at Chishti's shrine and was restless to return to Meherabad. Later, when he returned, he told Baba, "I now fully believe that you are God. There is no room left in my heart for any doubt."
For exercise, the schoolchildren were being taught marching drills during this period, but a false rumor spread throughout the villages that this was being done in order to prepare them for enlistment in the army. On Saturday, 3 April 1926, the frightened Mahar parents came to take their children home. Although the matter was explained to them, their doubts persisted.
“”Baba inquired, "After all this time, how can you think such things? Everything here is being done for your children's benefit. I provide everything freely — education, food, clothes — and still you have doubts?"
Baba, therefore, sent away the 44 lower-caste Mahar children, allowing the 40 higher-caste Maratha children to remain. In the evening the Mahar parents again came to Baba and beseeched him to forgive them for doubting him. Baba agreed to forgive on two conditions: first, they should give in writing that they would freely allow their children to stay with him; and second, because of their distrust, they should fast for three days. They consented and their children were taken back into the school.
The poverty of the Mahars was acute and their hygienic conditions terrible. Baba had such great concern for the Harijan children in the school, that those who had to return home every day after classes were given freshly boiled water in bottles. This prevented the danger of their drinking impure water at home and spoiling their health.
Three days passed and Baba walked to Arangaon and personally accompanied the villagers who had been fasting to Meherabad, where they were fed to their full satisfaction.
