Meher Baba's Life & Travels
( DERA DOON ), UTTARAKHAND STATE
Meher Baba made numerous visits to this town in northern India, starting in April 1941.
* Click on underlined names to visit their respective web pages.
* Most images enlarge, click on the image.
* Refer to the following map of then British India for locations.
* This web page contains extracts from each visit to Dehra Dun.
* To read the full account refer to the "Lord Meher" books or visit the On-line website - https://www.lordmeher.org/rev/index.jsp
BLUE BUS TOURS
18 Dec. 1939 to 28 Nov. 1941
First Visit :
1941
Because of the unavailability of accommodation in Karachi, Pappa Jessawala and Savak Kotwal were asked to look for residences in Dehra Dun. Pappa and Savak arrived there from Meherabad on 3 April, and contacted Keki Nalavala. Keki had not yet met Baba, but he had come to know about him from Keki Desai of Delhi. Keki Nalavala helped Pappa and Savak look for vacant bungalows, and when they found one they informed Baba in Quetta.
Thus, the Karachi plan was canceled, and preparations were made for going to Dehra Dun. It was decided to go as far as Lahore by train, so the Blue Bus and Elizabeth's car were sent there by rail. Pappa and Savak were told to meet the group in Lahore, and Pappa was also instructed to find and keep a boy ready for Baba to work with when he arrived in Lahore.
A third class railway compartment was reserved, and after finishing his work in Quetta, Baba left for Lahore with the entire group on Monday, 7 April 1941. After two scorching nights and a day on the train traveling through the desert regions, they reached Lahore at ten o'clock on the morning of the 9th. Pappa and Nilu, who had been sent three days ahead, received them.
Lord Meher on-line p.2208
1941 continued...
Baba did not stay in Lahore. Alighting from the train, he immediately left for Dehra Dun in the Buick, while the others followed in the Blue Bus. Since Eruch had been sent back to Bangalore, Pappa now drove the bus with Nilu as his assistant and Elizabeth drove the car. The other men mandali proceeded to Dehra Dun by train with Chatti Baba. On the way, Baba contacted a mast in Amritsar and two other masts in Khanna.
Pappa was not a good driver ("the worst I ever met," Nilu recorded), and there were frequent mechanical failures. More problems arose. After they fixed the bus in Ludhiana, a windstorm broke out and raised clouds of dust for more than an hour, dangerously impairing visibility. Fortunately a few showers of rain fell and soon settled the dust.
Baba and the group spent the night in the dak bungalow at Khanna, and reached Dehra Dun the next afternoon, the 10th of April.
Reaching Dehra Dun, Baba occupied himself with mast work. He contacted some in the town, and brought some to his bungalow, called Sushila Bhawan at No. 1 Laxmi Rd in Dalanwala.
Lord Meher on-line p.2209
According to schedule, on the 15th, he stopped fasting on fruits and began his fast on tea. A separate house was rented to house the masts, where Baba remained in strict seclusion for a week, from the 22nd of April. During this time, he did not even see the women mandali, and was fasting on only water. He worked with Chatti Baba and also with masts brought by Baidul and Pappa.
Baba had fasted many times before, but this month-long fast considerably weakened his health. Kaka had been away for a few days and arrived on the 26th of April; Chanji, Deshmukh and Norina came to see Baba on the 28th, after their lecture tour. Chanji discussed various matters with Baba for a few hours, and then returned to Bombay as instructed with Nadine (who had some work there).
His seclusion over, Baba broke his fast on Tuesday, 29 April 1941. He sat with the men until midnight on the 28th, after which he gave each a teaspoonful of orange juice. Afterwards, he drank one cup himself. For two days, Baba remained on fruit juice, and on the 30th, drank some boiled spinach soup. On 1 May Baba began eating rice and dal once a day.
Lord Meher on-line p.2210-11
ELIZABETH PATTERSON NORINA MATCHABELLI NADINE TOLSTOY CHATTI BABA
1941 continued....
One of Krishna's (Nair) responsibilities was bringing the milk to Dehra Dun from a nearby village. One day he slipped alongside the road and fell into the river, and was swept away by the swift current. At the exact moment he was struggling for his life, Baba, who was in Dehra Dun, grabbed Nilu's hand, gesturing, "Be careful. You might fall down!" Nilu could not understand why Baba had caught hold of his hand, and said so. Krishna was rescued by some passersby. When he returned to Dehra Dun and narrated this incident, the men understood the significance of Baba's remark.
In the intense tropical summer heat, Baba left Dehra Dun for Ajmer on Saturday, 2 May 1941, accompanied by Kaka, Baidul and Gustadji. In Ajmer, Baba again contacted the majzoob Chacha, the special masts Lakhan Shah and Qabristanwala (Socrates) and other masts. A bungalow in Ajmer (where Baba had decided to move), was rented at this time. Baba and the men returned to Dehra Dun on the 9th.
On Monday, 12 May, at 4:30 A.M., Baba was driven to Rishikesh, 30 miles away in the foothills of the Himalayas, the famous "abode of saints and sages." He went with all the women in a hired bus. Nilu, Kaka and Vishnu accompanied them. While returning to Dehra Dun late that night, Baba remarked: "You have seen spiritual India with a Spiritual Master! Of all the places of pilgrimage in India, I like Rishikesh the best, because, from all parts of India, visitors and even residents are here only for meditating on God and renouncing the world. It is one of the best places in the world for its spiritual atmosphere."
After staying for a month, Baba left Dehra Dun with most of the group in the early morning of Thursday, 15 May 1941, at 5:00 A.M. Elizabeth drove the car, as usual, but this time, Kaka and Nilu traveled with Baba in the car. Ajmer is 560 miles from Dehra Dun, and the group halted first at Ghaziabad for two hours to have their lunch.
- After arriving in Ajmer
As instructed, Norina, Elizabeth and Nadine left Ajmer on Tuesday, 27 May 1941 to do the Master's work of finding a property for establishing a center in America.
* 3 years later, the Meher Spiritual Center was established in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Lord Meher on-line p.2213-5
Majzoob CHACHA LAKHAN SHAH MAST
2nd VISIT
1942
Baba wanted to work in the vicinity of the Himalayas, so he sent Pappa and Savak Kotwal to find bungalows in Dehra Dun. With the help of Keki Nalavala, they arranged a fine two-story house. On 2 February 1942, Baba left Meherabad for Dehra Dun with the men and women mandali. They boarded a 10:00 P.M. train at the Ahmednagar station. All the Eastern and Western women were with Baba, including Arnavaz & Nargis Dadachanji and the servants. Of the mandali, only Baidul, Gustadji, Nilu, Vishnu, Krishna and Venkoba Rao accompanied him, while the fifteen or so remaining men mandali were ordered to stay in Meherabad.
The group reached Dehra Dun on the morning of the 5th at six o'clock, and were met by Pappa and Savak and taken to the bungalow, called Prem Bhawan, at No. 4 Chander Road. Baba occupied the upper floor alone and the women occupied the ground floor.
The mandali stayed elsewhere, at a bungalow called Sunnyside, at No. 25 New Road.
Kaka Baria and Chanji met Baba in Dehra Dun, but Kaka was sent back to Bombay on the 6th. (He returned a few days later.) Meheru Irani and her sister Naggu had traveled with Baba and the group from Meherabad, and Baba sent them back to Nasik, with Chanji, on the 9th.
Baba wished to do mast work near the Himalayas, but as it was cold at this time of year (and Chanji was unable to obtain permission to travel there from the Nepalese Consulate in New Delhi), Baba postponed journeying there until the end of March. Instead, he left Dehra Dun on the night of 11 February, for Rajputana to contact masts. He was accompanied by Baidul, Kaka and Gustadji. They traveled over 2,000 miles in only nine days, by train, bus, bullock cart and on foot. Baba contacted 27 masts in places such as Hardwar, Roorkee, Landhaura, Saharanpur, Jalalabad, Thana Bhawan, Meerut, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Aligarh, Bareilly and Moradabad.
Lord Meher on-line p.2261-2
ARNAVAZ NARGIS MEHERU NAGGU
3rd VISIT
1942
After having traveled for nine days, Baba and the mandali returned to Dehra Dun on the morning of 20 February, at eight o'clock. Later that same afternoon, at three o'clock, Chanji (who had been to Bombay, Nagpur, Delhi and other places) met with Baba.
In Dehra Dun, Baba resumed his partial seclusion for three hours, from 8:00 to 11:00 A.M. daily, at which time he would work alone in his room undisturbed.
* Over the next few months, Baba visited briefly far away towns in search of masts
At 5:00 A.M. on Tuesday, 26 May 1942, Baba and the women departed in hired buses for Rishikesh, where they remained for a month. The men mandali also accompanied him, except for Vishnu and Gustadji, who stayed in Dehra Dun.
Lord Meher on-line p.2265-82
4th VISIT
1942
Baba and the group left Rishikesh on Tuesday, 30 June 1942. For the previous two to three days, it had been raining heavily in Rishikesh, and the Ganges was flooded.
Reaching Dehra Dun by train and bus the same day, Baba and the women took up residence in the same Chander Road bungalow in which they had stayed previously. The mandali traveled from Rishikesh to Dehra Dun by hired bus, with the luggage. Although the distance was only 28 miles, it took them nearly twelve hours to arrive, due to the heavy flooding and the poor condition of the bus.
* On the 10th July, Baba travelled with some of the men to various towns contacting masts and doing seclusion work. The women remained behind in Dehra Dun.
*Baba returned to Dehra Dun on the 29th July.
*Meher Baba and all the women and men left for Lonavla on Thursday, 10 September 1942.
Lord Meher on-line p.2287-97
5th VISIT
1946
Baba sent Vishnu to Manmad in advance to book their train compartments. Subsequently, on Tuesday, 16 April 1946, Baba left Pimpalgaon (driven by Adi Sr. in Sarosh's car) with Mehera, Mani and Meheru for Manmad, where he entrained for Dehra Dun. A second group followed, comprised of Baidul, Eruch, Kaka, Krishna, Nilu, Jalbhai, Naja, Katie, Khorshed and Soonamasi — and joined Baba's group at Manmad.
Donkin, Rano, Kitty and Margaret met the group in Delhi, and all left together for Dehra Dun. Gustadji and his brother Slamson were left behind in Pimpalgaon.
Keki Nalavala was waiting at the train station to receive them. He had arranged for their conveyance from Dehra Dun to Niranjanpur ( a suburb of Dehra Dun), according to previous instructions. He also saw to providing cooked food for the first few days of their stay.
In Niranjanpur, Baba divided the women into groups, and occupied himself with details for his next mast tour.
Baba arrived in Niranjanpur on the 20th May and stayed for a few days, and then again started out for mast work in nearby towns and villages.
* For the next 6 months Meher Baba along with some of his close followers would leave to various parts of nothern India searching for spiritual advanced souls, but return to Dehra Dun and then set off again.
From Palampur they entrained to Saharanpur, and from there went back to Niranjanpur, which they reached on 22 June.
Baba rose early on Saturday morning, 27 July 1946 and left for Rishikesh with the mandali in a crowded public bus.
On 10 September 1946, Baba left Niranjanpur with Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Kitty for the hill resort of Simla. They spent two nights on the way at Ambala.
On the 23rd, Baba, the women and Kaka left for Niranjanpur by private car at 3:00 P.M.
On 28 September 1946, Baba, Eruch, Kaka and Baidul left Niranjanpur and joined Pendu and Adi Sr. in Lahore.
Baba returned to Niranjanpur on 18 October, with Kaka. Adi Sr. returned to Ahmednagar, Pendu and Baidul to Meherabad, and Eruch to Poona. Before leaving, Baba instructed Eruch to look for bungalows in Mahabaleshwar.
Eruch had rented the Aga Khan's bungalow in Mahabaleshwar, and on Saturday, 30 November 1946 — after staying in the "place of seclusion" for more than seven months — Baba left Niranjanpur by train with the men and women mandali. An additional member of their party was a Scottish terrier puppy, which Baba had acquired in Niranjanpur for the women and had named Cracker (as in "firecracker" see image above).
Lord Meher on-line p.2529-2556
NEW LIFE TOUR
16th Oct. 1949 to early 1952
The following four women and sixteen men of various ages would be going with Baba in the New Life. Baba was then 55 1/2 years old.
Women Companions:
Mehera, 42
Mani, 31
Meheru, 22
Goher, 33
Men Companions:
Adi Sr., 45
Ali Akbar (Aloba), 33
Anna 104, 60
Babadas, mid 40s
Baidul, 59
Daulat Singh, 59
Donkin, 37
Eruch, 33
Ghani, 56
Gustadji, 59
Kaka Baria, 58
Murli Kale, 30
Nilu, 45
Pendu, 45
Sadashiv Patil, 60
Vishnu, 45
6th VISIT
1949
Previously, in early September 1949, Baba had instructed Keki Desai to find a suitable place for his headquarters, either near Dehra Dun, Roorkee, Hardwar or Rishikesh, specifying that the place had to have a small house on it and a well, and be about five to six miles from the main town. Keki asked if he could select a place near Dehra Dun, as he already knew several people there, and Baba agreed. Keki was warned not to tell anyone, not even his wife, Dhun, about this work. He was permitted to take Keki Nalavala's help, but not even Nalavala's family was to know that Baba intended to settle in the north of India in the coming months.
Keki Desai returned to Dehra Dun and contacted a friend of his named Balakram, asking for his help in locating a property, but without mentioning Baba's name. Together, they and Nalavala set out in a tonga to look at different sites. Travelling through the rural, sparsely populated area, they came to the village of Manjri Mafi, where Balakram knew someone he thought could help.
Keki took some photographs of the land and sent them to Baba, together with a detailed letter. Baba was happy and called Keki to Meherabad at the end of September. When Keki arrived, he gave Baba all the details and Baba stated that he, too, liked the fourth selection. Keki was instructed to purchase it. He returned to Dehra Dun, and a sale deed was drawn up for Rs.9,000 — Rs.8,500 for the land and cottage, and an additional Rs.500 for the standing crop of sugarcane and wheat.
After the deed was completed, Keki Desai was again called to Meherazad on 9 October. Baba gave him Rs.28,000 for the land, digging of a well, repairs and other work. Keki left the following day. When he and the local resident approached the owner, without a word of bargaining,
Lord Meher on-line p.2802-3
Meanwhile, in Belgaum, while discussing the Manjri Mafi property on the morning of Saturday, 29 October 1949, Baba explained to the companions:
The Hardwar property, as you all know, has been acquired in the names of Eruch, Kaka Baria and Keki Desai of Delhi. It is similar to the Belgaum property, but it is possible there won't be any rats there! The place is nearly 4 miles from Dehra Dun and 28 miles from Hardwar proper. It is on the Dehra Dun and Hardwar road and happens to be almost equidistant from Rishikesh, Bhagirathi, Tapovan and other holy places in that region of the Himalayas.
Lord Meher on-line p.2805
6th VISIT
continued......
1950
On Thursday, 12 January 1950, at 4:30 A.M., Baba went to the railway station with the women and remaining companions to entrain for Dehra Dun. The jute merchant's assistant was present with the second-class tickets. But considering the usual crowds in second class compartments, Baba asked Adi to arrange for the women to travel by first class. Adi requested this from the assistant, who immediately complied by buying four first-class tickets.
They left on the six o'clock train and reached Dehra Dun station around ten-thirty that morning. A loquacious Sikh ex-army major named Singhji was traveling in the same compartment as Baba and the men. He had been a prisoner-of-war in Germany for five years. Along the way, he carried on a nonstop conversation, giving his opinions on current world affairs. He asked the men about Baba and his silence and remarked that he had seen Baba previously in a train, perhaps on one of Baba's many mast tours. Before the major got down at Laksar station, he insisted on ordering tea for all, and Baba permitted it. After tea, before leaving the compartment, Singhji suddenly placed his head at Baba's feet. Baba immediately stood up and returned the gesture by touching the man's feet.
Keki Desai was waiting to meet them at the Dehra Dun station. The Nalavalas, Elcha Mistry, and Burjor and Sheroo Chacha (Freiny Nalavala's sister) were also there, but since it was Baba's strict order that no one should try to see him, they all waited outside the station. When Baba was informed, he called them to the waiting room.
Keki Desai had hinted to Keki Nalavala beforehand about Baba's arrival, and he accordingly informed Kaikobad, who had been residing at Manjri Mafi since the 1st of November. In this way Shatrughna Kumar, 38, who was also anxious to meet Baba, learned of his coming.
Lord Meher on-line p.2865-6
On 4 February 1950, Baba had disclosed to the companions that prior to entering the New Life he had made an agreement with Elizabeth Patterson. Elizabeth had given Baba a certain sum for his work, and he in turn had promised to visit the West, provided Elizabeth agreed to two conditions: first, of seeing that the course of the New Life was not interfered with; and second, of bearing the expenses of the journey both ways for Baba and the companions going with him, as well as their maintenance while abroad.
"The New Life has to be continued endlessly, irrespective of whether I stay in the East or the West," Baba stated.
Lord Meher on-line p.2879
ELCHA KAIKOBAD KUMAR ELIZABETH
Keki Nalavala had rented a small house just opposite his own at 29 Lytton Road in Dehra Dun to serve as Don's dispensary. At 2:30 in the afternoon of Tuesday, 28 February 1950, the opening ceremony was held, which Baba attended with the men and women companions; close lovers from Manjri Mafi and Dehra Dun were also present. Baba distributed cakes, pastries and rawa to all, while Freiny Nalavala and her sister Sheroo Chacha served tea. On that occasion, Baba explained that Don was practicing as a doctor under Plan One-B to financially help the New Life companions.
Before returning to Manjri Mafi, Baba, with the women, visited the Nalavala and Burjor homes for a while. At the Nalavalas', Baba played with their four-year-old son, Naosherwan, and nine-year-old daughter, Mahroakh.
Lord Meher on-line p.2887
* Don is Dr. William Donkin
Accompanied by Aloba, Baidul, Eruch, Gustadji, Murli, Pendu, Keki Desai, Keki Nalavala, and the servant-boy Satyapal, Baba left Manjri Mafi for Motichur on Friday, 3 March 1950, at 1:30 in the afternoon.
Lord Meher on-line p.2889
On the 20th March, Baba with Pendu went to Manjri Mafi by bus, arriving at one o'clock that afternoon. There he instructed Vishnu, Nilu, Goher and Kumar about their individual duties.
* Baba departed again on the 23rd March.
Lord Meher on-line p.2898
Baba left Motichur for Manjri Mafi with Pendu on 5 April by tonga, Baba was very ill with a high temperature.
Lord Meher on-line p.2902 & 2927
* Baba left Dehra Dun, 14 June 1950 for New Delhi with all of the companions.
Thus, during the stay at Manjri Mafi, a new plan came into effect for aspirants of the world to follow. Many years later, due to Kumar's efforts, the name of Manjri Mafi Village was officially changed to Meher Mafi, permanently commemorating Baba's stay there during the New Life.
Lord Meher on-line p.2921
Mid-October 1950
Baba then left the meeting hall to privately retake the oath of the New Life. He returned in a few minutes clad in a white kafni, the ocher-colored satchel for begging hanging from his shoulder. Baba declared that he had now stepped back into the New Life, and he exhorted all Yeswalas to either enter the New Life and follow his behests 100 percent, or to lead the Old Life, or to take up an independent life altogether. One of these they had to decide. The decisions taken were:
Adi Sr. — Old Life
Aloba — Old Life (as advised by Baba in Bombay)
Babadas — Old Life (as advised by Baba)
Baidul — Servant
Bal Natu — Old Life
Daulat Singh — Old Life (as ordered by Baba)
Don — Servant
Eruch — Servant
Ghani — Old Life
Gustadji — Servant
Kaikobad — Servant
Kaka Baria — Servant
Kishan Singh — Old Life
Minoo Kharas — Old Life (as ordered by Baba)
Murli Kale — Servant
Nilu — Servant
Pandoba — Old Life
Pendu — Servant
Vishnu — Servant
Anna 104 — Old Life (but he was allowed to stay with Baba as an ordinary servant)
After these decisions were announced, Baba silently prayed to God: "Give me strength to live the New Life fully and completely."
Lord Meher on-line p.2946
7th VISIT - THE FIERY FREE LIFE
1953
Kumar made everyone stand in a row, and when Baba came to see them off, according to Kumar's suggestion, the men gave him a smart military salute. Thus ended their farewell. Baba embraced Kumar and related to Kumar and Kishan Singh that he intended to stay for several months in Dehra Dun after the middle of February 1953, and he instructed them to rent two houses for him and the mandali.
Lord Meher on-line p.3268
The men — Aloba, Baidul, Babadas, Gustadji, Kaikobad, Krishna, Nilu, and Pendu — left by train on the 15th February for Dehra Dun. Vishnu had left four days in advance to make sure all the arrangements were suitable. Don was instructed to go to Kashmir, after obtaining the necessary permit, as Baba intended to travel to Kashmir for work at the end of March.
Baba and the women spent the night of the 15th at Bindra House in Poona, and then went by train to Dehra Dun, via Bombay. Everyone arrived there by the 18th February. Kishan Singh had arranged for the mandali to stay in his bungalow at 107-A Rajpur Road, and a separate villa at 103-A Rajpur Road was rented for Baba and the women. The bungalows were nearby and Baba would walk from one house to the other. (Goher would accompany him in the mornings and Aloba would escort him back at 11:00 A.M. for lunch.) Baba had permitted a few close lovers of Dehra Dun — Elcha Mistry, Keki Nalavala, Burjor Chacha and Hellan — to see him, and Kishan Singh and Kumar were permitted to stay with the mandali.
Lord Meher on-line p.3273
The journey in Saharanpur came to an end when the group returned to Dehra Dun in the afternoon. Pendu and the others also arrived from Muzaffarnagar. Coincidentally, the Russian dictator Joseph Stalin died the next day, 7 March, in Moscow. He had been head of the U.S.S.R. since 1924.
Baba had intended to go to Kashmir also for his work, but he now "indefinitely postponed" going. Don had applied to the Ahmednagar police for a permit to go there, but now joined the group in Dehra Dun.
Lord Meher on-line p.3289
On Saturday, 6 June at 6:35 A.M., Baba left on a mast trip through Uttar Pradesh and the Punjab, accompanied by Eruch, Pendu, Baidul, Gustadji, Kumar, Elcha, Hellan and Dr. Deshmukh, who brought a Kodak 16mm movie camera along. They travelled in two vehicles, a jeep driven by Elcha and Kishan Singh's car driven by Hellan.
Lord Meher on-line p.3316
This was the final contact of Baba's journey, and at four o'clock that afternoon they started their return to Dehra Dun. They had covered 1,947 miles in five days, often travelling in summer temperatures over 100°. Reaching Dehra Dun at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 10th June, they were exhausted.
Lord Meher on-line p.3326
On Friday morning, 11 September 1953, Baba left Dehra Dun for "a mast journey without sleep." He was accompanied by Eruch, Pendu, Gustadji, Baidul, Hellan, Kumar, Kishan Singh and Elcha. Hellan drove Kishan Singh's car, and Elcha drove the jeep. They proceeded to Delhi and then toward the Punjab, contacting seven good masts with whom Baba had worked before.
Lord Meher on-line p.3397
It had been nine months since Meher Baba set up headquarters in Dehra Dun. Baba left Dehra Dun with the men and women mandali at noon on Sunday, 29 November 1953. Peter, the cocker spaniel, and Sheba, the colt, were also taken to Mahabaleshwar, as were the two Nepalese boys, Kirpal and Khushal, who used to cook for the mandali in Dehra Dun.
Most of Baba's lovers wanted to see him off at the train station, but he did not allow it and permitted only Kishan Singh, Prakashwati, Keki Nalavala and his family, Kumar's family, Bal Kisan, Meher Kanta, Virendra and Alka Pandey, Virinder Singh, Mohini Rani and Charpat Singh, Hellan, Harichand Kochar and Elcha Mistry. The departure was painful for them, but such pain is born out of good fortune.
Baba and the group arrived in Bombay and from there, he and the women travelled to Mahabaleshwar by Nariman's car, arriving late in the afternoon on 1 December 1953.
Lord Meher on-line p.3421
Manjri Mafi
