HEDI  MERTENS

Hedi Mertens. Image rendering by Anthony Zois.
Hedi Mertens. Image rendering by Anthony Zois.

 

Born : 1893 - Gossau, Switzerland
Died : 18th May, 1982 - Carona, Switzerland  ( 91 y.o. )

Married : Walter Mertens

Children : Toby,....

 

SWISS

 

ARTIST

Cannes, France; 1937 - Courtesy of Lord Meher, Vol.6-7 : Bhau Kalchuri
Cannes, France; 1937 - Courtesy of Lord Meher, Vol.6-7 : Bhau Kalchuri

Hedi visited the Sahavas at the Meher Center in Myrtle Beach, SC., in 1958 when Meher Baba visited for a short time.

 

 

Check the B/W photos of Swiss locations that Baba visited by Hedi located at the end of the "Switzerland" main page.

Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Hedi Mertens.docx
Microsoft Word Document 11.7 KB
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of MSI Collection ; India
Courtesy of : LSLP ; Oct-Dec.2001 p 24
Courtesy of : LSLP ; Oct-Dec.2001 p 24
Courtesy of LSLP ; Oct-Dec.2001 p25
Courtesy of LSLP ; Oct-Dec.2001 p25
1937, India
1937, India
2nd Sept.1937 - Villa Capo di Monte, Cannes, France ; Chanji & Kaka right-side : Courtesy of MN Collection
2nd Sept.1937 - Villa Capo di Monte, Cannes, France ; Chanji & Kaka right-side : Courtesy of MN Collection

1938 INDIA : HEDI RENDERING HER HUSBAND'S PLANS FOR MEHER BABA'S FUTURE ASHRAM IN BYRAMANGALA, INDIA

1938 India : Walter Merten's plans for the Baba's Ashram in Byramangala, India
1938 India : Walter Merten's plans for the Baba's Ashram in Byramangala, India
     

 

Hedi Mertens   Hedi Mertens
  and Letters from India
   
  Letter I
 
     In the summer of 1938, Hedi Mertens was deathly ill and wanted to either die or be cured with Baba. Baba allowed her to come to India together with Helen Dahm and Irene Billo. A grandmother took care of Hedi's 4 children and husband. In India her health very much improved under Baba 's loving care, but she had to stay for many months and only returned shortly before the beginning of World War II.

 

Walter Mertens had introduced his wife Hedi to Meher Baba in 1933. In 1934 and 1937 Baba repeatedly spent several weeks in their house during his stays in Europe. But when Hedi was in India for such a long time, Walter missed her very much and once let out his frustration and anger, in his letter to her making sarcastic remarks about Baba's "harem". Hedi of course was upset and replied accurately to the offences. Each outgoing letter had to pass by Baba's hands. He also weighed hers, shook his head and returned it in disapproval. In her new letter Hedi ignored Walter's rebuke and casually described their daily life, compiled with some interesting details. Again Baba held the letter in his hand, shook his head and returned it, signifying; "Satisfy his hunger!" So Hedi wrote a third letter, this time showing her love for Walter and the children, how she looked forward to coming home soon, how she remembered them always in love and was longing for all. Baba held the letter, smiled his approval, and so this letter was sent off.

― Gisela Häfliger

 

Letter II 

 

When I visited Switzerland in 1980, Hedi Mertens was living in a little town carved out of the hills above Lugano. From the city, the bus took its time climbing up the winding road to her hillside country home. I realized, as I watched the sailboats on Lake Lugano growing smaller and smaller, that this one narrow road was the life-line from all the houses, farms and villages along the way, to the formal banking city below. Eventually, we reached Carona, a cluster of buildings standing right up against this narrow "Main Street." We were greeted by chickens and goats running wild as we got off the bus; there was a donkey, too, that no one had bothered to tie up. This spot was the bus's last stop, but the road continued steeply up through the town, splitting the one hotel in half, and forcing the few stores to open their doors right onto it. In the days to follow, as I took walks up that road through town, I found passageways leading to elaborate courtyards and gardens behind the street facade, revealing the secret life of Carona.

 

The buildings at the heart of town gradually opened up to small fields of wild flowers; Hedi lived just beyond one such field. Up until now, I had only known Hedi Mertens through her pictures - those beautiful photos taken in Zurich of her and her children sitting with Meher Baba. The time was 1934, during His eventful trip to Fallenfluh. Now, it was almost 50 years later as I made my way toward her little cottage. Feeling a bit shy, I stopped to pick wild flowers along the way so I'd have something to offer her (too late now to think of other gifts - the closest store for that was a long bus ride away). Hedi's house was at the end of a country lane. Flowers in hand, I knocked and entered to see Hedi seated in a hospital bed, looking very stately - her long white hair brushed off her face and falling to her shoulders. Though she had suffered a stroke and couldn't walk,

she was alert and enthusiastic about visitors. She soon put me at ease with her gracious manner.

 

The house was brightly lit, thanks to a large picture window which offered a magnificent view of the valley and the hills across the way. Hedi told me that Baba had visited this area, and from the charge of the atmosphere, I was not surprised.

 

Hedi wanted to know all about Myrtle Beach, and was interested in the shells brought (though none of them were "perfect!") Then she began to tell her stories. One tale in particular struck me:

 

In 1938, Hedi was invited by Meher Baba to go to India to live in the ashram with the other western women. Hers was an unusual case because she had two small children whom she had to leave behind in Switzerland. After a few months in India, Hedi received a letter from her husband, Walter, saying that the children were very ill and that even the doctors were worried. As she read the letter, she sat on the edge of her bed and wept. Norina Matchabelli happened to come in and she found Hedi in her sorry state. "Hedi, darling, whatever is the matter?" she asked. Hedi showed her the letter, and Norina - in no uncertain terms - said, "Hedi, you simply must take this to Baba. You must."

 

So Hedi, letter in hand, went off to find Baba. When she gave Him the news, Baba shook His head and looked up at her. He said, "Hedi, when you first came to India, I said to put your family in My hands. Don't you trust Me?"

 

"I trust you, Baba," Hedi insisted.

 

"I can see the children now;"  Baba went on, "They are sitting under a large umbrella out in the garden with their grandmother. She is reading to them. And one of the children has his finger up his nose!" Everyone had a good laugh, especially Hedi who was tremendously relieved.

 

Soon afterwards, she received another letter from home. Walter assured her children were fine, and he enclosed a photograph for her. There were the children in the garden with their grandmother - and all the details were exactly as Baba had described.

 

— Mary Lloyd Dugan
 P2 -  Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
P2 - Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
 P4 -  Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
P4 - Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
Courtesy 0f LSLP; Oct-Dec.2001
Courtesy 0f LSLP; Oct-Dec.2001

July 1934 - Zurich, Switzerland. Seated in front of Baba wearing shorts is Anita De Caro and facing the camera is Enid Corfe.

July 1934 : Meher Baba with Hedi Mertens ( seated ) & her nieces Martha ( left ) & Ursulla. Image rendered by Anthony Zois.
July 1934 : Meher Baba with Hedi Mertens ( seated ) & her nieces Martha ( left ) & Ursulla. Image rendered by Anthony Zois.
July 1934 : Meher Baba with Hedi Mertens ( seated ) & her nieces Martha ( left ) & Ursulla.
July 1934 : Meher Baba with Hedi Mertens ( seated ) & her nieces Martha ( left ) & Ursulla.
Late 1930s ; Hedi & Valu, India - Courtesy of MN Collection
Late 1930s ; Hedi & Valu, India - Courtesy of MN Collection
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection ; India
MSI Collection
MSI Collection
 P18 -  Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
P18 - Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
1938 Baba's Home, Poona - Beheram, Jal, Pleader, Hedi & Shireenmai ; photo taken by Walter Mertens - Courtesy of MN Collection
1938 Baba's Home, Poona - Beheram, Jal, Pleader, Hedi & Shireenmai ; photo taken by Walter Mertens - Courtesy of MN Collection
Courtesy of MSI Collection
Courtesy of MSI Collection
P25 -   Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
P25 - Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
Panchgani Valley, India ; Hedi ( white hat ) standing next to Pleader.
Panchgani Valley, India ; Hedi ( white hat ) standing next to Pleader.

Hedi Mertens - 1971 -  The Oral History Archive Project - Irwin Luck Interview Series

                                 - Courtesy of Los Angeles Meher Baba Center.

                                 - Hedi's translator is Felix Schimdt

 

 

Check-out the web page for Arind Fuhrmann

Hedi Mertens Artworks

 

 Vierseitig glieche Einhelten, 1968
Vierseitig glieche Einhelten, 1968
Exhibition brochure by the two artist in Milan, Italy
Exhibition brochure by the two artist in Milan, Italy

ColophonThis Week 
at the
  
Avatar Meher Baba Center of
Southern California Meherabode
  


Toby Mertens passes on to Meher Baba
Baba w Toby Mertens 1934
Toby Mertens with Meher Baba in 1934
  
  
  
  
  
Toby Mertens, pictured here in this beloved photo with Meher Baba, passed away suddenly this past Monday, March 14, 2011.  He had been battling cancer for the past year and a half, and although he was continuing as best he could with the business of life, he was in discomfort and his body was very weak.

He has once again sought company in the welcoming embrace of his Beloved Meher Baba. 

 

Jai Baba

Love God and find Him within

The only treasure worth finding

 

Avatar Meher Baba