They were eager to elicit Baba's "support" for their cause.
Baba explained: "What is politics but fraud? Whatever your own, honest, candid opinion might be, you have to act according to the creed of the party, [at times] against the voice of your conscience, and thus be dependent upon others for your actions, which is quite opposed to the fundamental principles of Truth."
One of the workers asked, "Will India attain swaraj [self-rule], and if so, when?"
"What do you mean by swaraj?" Baba asked.
"Political independence from Britain," replied the man.
Baba wrote on his slate, "If by swaraj you mean the gaining of Truth, that is already the property [right] of everyone — the spiritual independence. As for the political independence, no doubt India will gain it in the future. There is no need to worry about it. Political independence can be gained very easily, but the real spiritual independence is very hard to achieve.
"My advice to all is: Seek that Truth which will give you everlasting bliss and real dnyan [knowledge], and thus be able to raise others too, and save them from the entanglements of the world."
Then Baba predicted, "Within ten years, India will enjoy extraordinary freedom."
That evening from nine to midnight, the men staged a skit titled "Selfish World." The actors were Rustom, Padri, Pendu, Mohan, and Sayyed. The play was followed by a few lectures and finally a dance performance by Pendu and Sailor.
According to his previously announced schedule, Baba again began fasting on Friday, 8 October 1926, and he started to curtail his activities at Meherabad. He sat aloof at one spot near the school building, taking nothing except water the whole day.
The next day, Baba continued his fast, taking only one cup of milk and water in the evening. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays were fixed for the mandali to play cricket, and Saturdays and Sundays were reserved for the boys to play. Baba now kept himself aloof from all these events and continued to remain near the school. That day he was upset at finding the school notice board and timetable in an unclean condition, and he directed Chanji to oversee the teachers, pupils, and school activities on his behalf.
Baba was in an irritable mood again the following morning, Sunday, 10 October. He had instructed the mandali to put their mattresses in the sun every Sunday to rid them of bedbugs.