And birds and beasts. Before God, was I. Beside and above me Nowhere is there to go. Love or unlove me, Unknow me or know. I am that which unloves me and loves. I am that which is stricken And I am the blow!
After he stopped writing, when Baba wished to express himself, initially he would pick up a newspaper and point to the appropriate letters or words. But as this method was found to be cumbersome and time consuming, Chanji typed the English alphabet in capital letters on a piece of paper which Baba began using. This being too small, Pendu suggested to Vishnu to make a larger chart of the alphabet for Baba to dictate from.
The chart was first written in block letters on paper, then later on cardboard, and eventually the alphabet was painted on a small wooden board. Baba began using the board from Friday, 7 January 1927 and, according to his wish, the numbers 0 to 9 were added. Through this alphabet board, Baba's silence began speaking once again. Baba's fingers would move so speedily over the letters that there was no break in his conversation. Age observed, "His fingers danced to a divine tune, and the flow of words was like the flow of a crystal current."
On the morning of 11 January, Baba visited Kaka Shahane's house in Ahmednagar. Then he visited the homes of several other devotees, Raya Sakhare, Chintaman Rao, Laxman Chaudhri, and Adi Sr. and Gulmai at Khushru Quarters. Many came for darshan and thus, his local followers learned of Baba's recent return to Meherabad. Baba also went to the photo studios of Gulabchand Maganlal Shah and sat for a portrait.1 He returned to Meherabad at three o'clock. The men mandali who had accompanied him had eaten so much, they were instructed to fast for the rest of the day, while those who remained at Meherabad were given sweets and other snacks Baba had brought back with him.
The next morning, Baba left for Poona with Rustom, Behramji, Padri, Jalbhai, Pesu, Daulatmai, and Mehera. In Poona, he ate lunch at Abdulla Jaffer's and then went to see Memo, Bobo, Mani and his brothers at Baba House. Later, he visited Sadashiv Patil's house in Kasba Peth, above the former toddyshop, where many followers came for his darshan.
Daulatmai and Mehera had been taken to Poona as Daulatmai wished to donate her property to Baba and some of it was in Mehera's name.
Footnotes
- 1.The photograph turned out well and became one of Baba's favorites of himself. He would often give a print to different close lovers to be placed in their homes.