Meher Baba's Life & Travels
1927 - 1928
Chapter 9 :
1. INTRODUCTION & CONTENTS
The story of Meher Baba's advent continues from Chapter 8.
This web page / chapter 9, will
follow Meher Baba ( Merwan Irani ) in the years 1927 & 1928 with his first close
group of both male & female followers.
Baba has now settled down in the area near Arangaon village, which is now known as Meherabad.
Click on images and maps to enlarge them, also click on the under-scored names to visit their web-pages.
1927
CONTENT : 1.
INTRODUCTION & CONTENTS
2. ALPHABET
BOARD
3. TRIP TO PIMPALGAON LAKE
4. MAHATMA GANDHI
5. TRIP TO KHULDABAD
6. MEHER ASHRAM
1928
7. SECRET CONFERENCE OF THE MASTERS
8. RUSTOM VISITS
ENGLAND
9. BABA
MOVES TO TOKA
10. BABA TRAVELS TO
THE NASIK AREA
11. BABA RETURNS TO MEHERABAD
Click on the following button to visit the previous page in Meher Baba's Advent.
2. ALPHABET BOARD
On the 1st January 1927, Meher Baba wrote a message, a year and a half after he started his silence.
"I intend to stop writing from tomorrow. It is not definite when I will resume writing or speaking. I may start again after some days, some
months or even some years. It all depends on Hazrat Babajan". ( Perfect Master Babajan )
Many New Year's greeting cards were received, including one from an American named *Joseph R. Natham. Baba gave this advice to his mandali for the coming year,
" You must all stick to the powerhouse".
* There is no known image of the man.
January 1925 Historical Time
1st Jan : The British Broadcasting Corporation was created by royal charter as a publicly funded company.
The tomb of Tutankhamun was opened for public viewing for the first time since the Egyptian pharaoh's death in 1327 BC.
The following day, 2nd January, Baba had stopped writing but was communicating through hand gestures and printing of English alphabet letters in newspapers. He was quite fast. That night, the Gujarati Arti was sung at 9pm. From then on, he gave permission for it to be performed every evening. He had fasted for the whole day.
The following day, 3rd January, a long term follower of Baba's, Abdul Rehman, know as 'Barsoap' had come from Poona and claimed a vast sum of money from Baba and he claimed Hazrat Babajan had sent him. He was rebuffed and later realized his folly and apoligized to Baba. He was later given some money but was told to never come again to see Baba.
Several of the men mandali kept on making methods to improve Baba's way of communicating. English alphabet capitals were typed on paper, then written onto card board, finally Pendu suggested to Vishnu to make large chart of the painted letters onto a small thin wooden board. Baba began using the board on the 7th January. Later Baba wished for the numbers 1 to 0 to be added.
His fingers would fly over the board when spelling out words. He once remarked,
" The World is dancing every moment to the signs of my fingers".
January 1925 Historical Time
4th Jan : Boris Rtcheouloff filed a patent application for "Means of recording and reproducing pictures, images and the like", the first means for magnetic recording of a television signal onto a moving strip.
7th Jan : At 8:44 am in New York City and 1:44 pm in London, the first transatlantic telephone call was made between the two cities.
- Philo T. Farnsworth, a 20-year-old American inventor, filed his first of many patent applications, for a method of electronically scanning images and transmitting them as a television signal.
9th Jan : Seventy-eight children were killed in a panic that followed the outbreak of a fire at the Laurier Palace cinema in Montreal.
10th Jan : Fritz Lang's silent science fiction film Metropolis had its world premiere at the Ufa-Palast am Zoo in Berlin.
11th Jan : The American freighter John Tracy, with 27 men on board, foundered and sank off Cape Cod during a winter storm.
- Thirty-six Hollywood celebrities gathered at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles and founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for the purpose of acknowledging cinematic excellence.
On the 12th January, Baba went to Poona with Beheramji, Padri Jal, Pesu and 2 women mandali. It was likely that they travelled by train. Once there he had lunch at Abdulla Jaffer's ( Ramjoo ) house, he then went o see his mother and father at their home and then visited Sadashev Patel's house in Kasba Peth near the river. Many followers had come for him. Baba and his group returned to Meherabad that night.
January 1925 Historical Time
13th Jan : At Tampico, Mexico, the British steamer Essex Isles exploded while its cargo of gasoline barrels was being unloaded. Thirty-seven men, mostly Mexican dockworkers, died in the accident.
15th Jan : In a split decision on the appeal of the verdict in the Scopes Trial, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Section 49-1922 of the Tennessee Code, which prohibited the teaching of evolution. The Court set aside the order for the fine levied against teacher John T. Scopes.
Several days later on the 16th January, Baba was dictating information, when he suddenly stated "I will have to dig a pit 3 to 4 feet deep tomorrow". Baba quickly changed the subject and related other matters. No one asked him why he said that remark.
The next day, 17th January, an old Muslim man named *Wazir died at Meherabad and then that remark was revealed. All rites for the the deceased were performed, and later Baba helped carry the corpse in one of Baba's own sheet to the grave. Baba asked Karim to recite a namaz-pray as he was lowered.
* There is no known image of the man.
January 1925 Historical Time
17th Jan : Movie comedian Charlie Chaplin was ordered to pay $4,000 a month alimony to his wife, Lita Grey Chaplin, by a Los Angeles court.
Born: Eartha Kitt, American actress and singer; in North, South Carolina (d. 2008)
The following day, 18th January, Baba was driven by Rustom to see the Pimpalgaon water reserve approx. 15 miles / 24 kms away with 6 mandali. He fasted all day.
( 20 years later, Meher Baba moved to this area and setup his residential home - he called it Meherazad ).
When they returned to Meherabad, Baba stated that he would remain for many days and then walked to his Jhopdi hut and closed the door.
January 1925 Historical Time
18th Jan : American ratification of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey, failed to get approval in the U.S. Senate.
The next day, 19th January, he called Chanji to his hut and told him, "I intend to open a high school in Meherabad, but I must not ask the mandali to do the work. We should hire teachers".
He also said, " I am happy with the mandali's decision to stay with me, and it is sufficient that they are kept away from the 2 greatest temptations of maya - lust for women and money".
January 1925 Historical Time
19th Jan :The first legislative session held in The Council House of India (now the Parliament House) was opened with a meeting of the Central Legislative Assembly.
21st Jan : The Movietone sound system, developed by Fox Film Corporation (later 20th Century Fox) was first demonstrated to the public, at the Sam H. Harris Theatre in New York City.
3.
TRIP TO PIMPALGAON LAKE
'CHANJI' DADACHANJI RUSTOM K. IRANI PERFECT MASTER SAI BABA
On 22nd January, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi named K.K. Manekar* arrived and was given permission to take darshan from Baba, but from the window of his hut. He said he saw Baba's face, 'merged in the light of God shining forth from that window.'
This convinced him of his divinity.
Baba emerged from his hut on the 23rd January, and held a meeting about the school, hospital, ....and stated, "Now these projects will be done on a permanent basis. In the school there will be 150 resident students for whom boarding arrangements will have to be provided".
Someone noted the scarcity of water in Meherabad. Baba said, "Don't worry about it. I promise you will have ample water". Baba directed the men to find what requirements from the authorities was need to proceed by the government requirements.
The next day, 24th January, Pandoba's brother prepared construction plans for the school building, which Baba minutely examined. Rustom arranged for a new well to be dug.
January 1925 Historical Time
24th Jan : The United Kingdom dispatched 16,000 servicemen to defend the British concession in Shanghai
.
On the 25th January, Baba discussed plans about the new school, and the topic of Indian troops being sent to China by the British Government. Someone pointed out of the possibility that the Meherabad property could be taken over in the event of war.
Baba replied, "Don't worry over it. Raise the new buildings. I guarantee to undertake the responsibility that no one come here. I'll tell the British, I won't go. Let's see what they do."
Baba added, "Sai Baba was the king of the Perfect Masters, but I am the Master of the Perfect Masters ! When (Sai) Baba was smoking his chilum pipe while sitting in Shirdi, he was in fact controlling the First World War. No one knows this. Similarly, I am here talking with you, but I control the whole universe and everything existing in it while sitting here".
On 28th January, the school was opened for a half a day, on Hazrat Babajan's birthday. In the following couple of weeks more discussions were held about the education to be taught and the calibre of the teachers.
Note : During January 1927, there were serious divisions and clashes between right and left wings of the Chinese forces. This led up to the massacre in Shanghai in April 1927.
* There is no known image of K.K. Manekar.
On 29th January, Baba talked about ' Indian troops being sent to China' & 'Priest blessings & preaching only to earn money'.
To read this discourse click here - 'Indian troops being sent to China' & 'Priest blessings & preaching only to earn money'.
January 1925 Historical Time
24th Jan : Born: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer credited with popularizing the bossa nova style; in Rio de Janeiro (d. 1994)
4. MAHATMA GANDHI
February 1927
Meher Baba bathed 150 poor children at Upper Meherabad on the 17th February and later served them food with his own hands.
The next day, 18th February was Baba's 33rd birthday, all the mandali took a bath in the afternoon. Baba later handed out a sweet dish and 2 quinine tablets to the men mandali assembled. He then went to the women's quarters at the Post Office building compound, and he was invited to sit on an improvised swing which was swung with the women, singing the song "Krishna's Cradle".
When he came back from the women's quarters, he was informed that Mahatma Gandhi was walking towards Meherabad from Ahmednager. Baba said, "His time has not yet come. He will not come here. If he comes, I will have to begin writing again and explain many things to him".
Gandhi had come to Ahmednagar for a political rally. He was taking a morning exercise walk on the road to Meherabad. Baba followers Nusserwan Satha and Kaka Chinchorkar were with him, explaining to him that Meher Baba was the chief disciple of Upasni Maharaj. Hearing this, he was taken aback. He then expressed not to see Meher Baba.
Here are two accounts of that meeting.
Gandhi had previously met Maharaj in 1924 who had shown great annoyance, and used abusive language towards the visitor. Upasni was wearing a gunny cloth ( as usual ), when Gandhi arrived, but he removed it and went stark naked. He had a tendency to do this, particularly when annoyed by the demands of social etiquette imposed by caste Hinduism.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
When Upasni Majaraj saw Gandhi, he shouted, "Get out from here! People have made you Mahatma! Are you a Mahatma? How selfish you are that they call you Mahatma and you feel happy! I don't want to see you! Get out!" Gandhi was shocked to hear this. Then Upasni Maharaj said, "Go away! Why did you come here?"... Gandhi immediately left Sakori and he never thought of having Upasni Maharaj's darshan again.
Bhau Kalchuri
On 1st February, Baba talked about ' Tossing a rubber ball against the wall' & 'Lies & Hypocrisy'.
To read this discourse click here - Tossing a rubber ball against the wall' & 'Lies & Hypocrisy'.
On 7th February, Baba gave a discourse on 'Staying with the Master'
To read this discourse click here - 'Staying with the Master'
February 1925 Historical Time
1st Feb. : The first seaside resort hotel in Hawaii, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened for business. Now called the "Pink Palace", the hotel originally owned 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land in Honolulu at Waikiki.
( Meher Baba stayed here in the early 1930s.)
2nd Feb. : Born: Stan Getz, American jazz saxophonist, in Philadelphia (d. 1991)
3rd Feb. : A revolt against the government of Portugal broke out at Oporto. After six days of fighting, and at least 120 deaths, the rebels surrendered.
- The 4th Regiment of the United States Marines, with 1,200 men, was dispatched from San Diego to protect Americans in Shanghai.
4th Feb. : Malcolm Campbell of England broke the world's record for the fastest speed in an automobile, driving at nearly 175 miles (282 km) per hour on the Pendine Sands in Wales. Driving the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird.
5th Feb. : he Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), described as "a non-profit organisation training surgeons and maintaining surgical standards in Australia and New Zealand", was founded.
6th Feb. : n Nicaragua, a force of 1,500 rebels captured the city of Chinandega and burned the city, at one time the national capital.[17] Government troops retook the town after a battle of five days. Reportedly, 300 people were killed and 500 were wounded.
During the day, a celebration was held for Baba's birthday, and many came from the surrounding towns. One person unwittingly placed a garland of roses around Baba's neck, which had several bees nesting in them. The bees after a while started to sting his face, causing his face to a bright red, but he continued giving darshan and the program continued. Many were delighted to see Baba so deep in colour. It was only afterwards when they removed the garlands they discovered the swarm of bees.
Baba gestured, "My face is swollen and red from the bee's stings, not because of divine radiance. See what I have to endure at the hands of my lovers. They always wish to garland me and I permit it for the sake of their happiness, yet how I suffer. Such is my fate".
On 11th February, Baba gave a discourse 'Not a single man amoung you'
To read this discourse click here - 'Not a single man amoung you'
On 12th February, Baba gave a discourse 'Baba's indifference to Gandhi'
To read this discourse click here - 'Baba's indifference to Gandhi'
On 13th February, Baba gave a discourse on 'Sanskaras'
To read this discourse click here - 'Sanskaras'
On 22nd February, Baba gave a discourse on 'Worst prison in Earth'
To read this discourse click here - 'Worst prison in Earth'
40
A primary school for the local villagers was opened on 1st March. This was held in the mess quarters. Dhake was appointed principal.
On 7th March, Chanji brought his relatives from Poona to Meherabad. Chanji's brother Naoroji H. Dadachanji (43), Naoroji's wife - Bachamai (29) and their 3 daughters, Arnavaz (5), Nargis (5) and Rhoda (3), also their 4 month old son Tehemtan. They also brought a reluctant relative Meherjee Ardeshir Karkaria (21), who had been induced to go on a picnic.
They all touched Baba's feet as a salutation which is not in keeping with the Parsi religion. Meherjee stayed in the distance. Baba had an exchange with him about his studies. He concluded by saying, if he failed in his coming exams, he could come to Meherabad and teach at the school. This family came very close to Meher Baba for the next 60+ years. Meherjee would often accompany Baba on his tours of the West, throughout the 1950s. He would also travel to the West representing him in the 1970s.
NOTE : The images below were taken in the 1940s, except for Meherjee which was taken in 1928.
February 1925 Historical Time
7th Feb. : The first revision of the Book of Common Prayer since 1662 was introduced at 3:00 pm at Westminster Abbey.
8th Feb. :The Emperor Taishō, known in the West as Yoshihito, was buried after being mourned by his 80,000,000 subjects in Japan, who thought of him as a deity.
DHAKE PHALKAR NAOROJI DADACHANJI(D) BACHMAI D. MEHERJEE KARKARIA
ARNAVAZ DADACHANJI NARGIS D. TEHEMTAN D. RHODA D.
On the 9th March, Baba moved from the Jhopdi hut to the table-hut near the dhuni. Baba cryptically remarked while sitting in the table-hut, "I will stay here for 1,200 years".
A corn mill had to be fixed to the wall of his hut, where he grinded corn.
A dog named Madari was gifted to Baba from Upasni Maharaj. The dog would sit by Baba's side. Later on the 14th March, the dog was struck by a truck passing on the road near the dhuni. He was buried in Baba's presence. Baba later revealed to the mandali, "Madari was very lucky. He will be born a human being in his next from".
The Hindu festival was observed on the 17th March, many came for Baba's darshan. The dhuni fire was lit and later a game of 'atya-patya'. Baba remarked to the mandali playing it.
"Whatever you do, do with all your heart. Put your whole heart into it, whether it is a game or work".
March 1925 Historical Time
1st March : An explosion at a coal mine in Cwm, Wales, killed 52 miners.
Born - Harry Belafonte, African-American singer (Day-O), in New York City (d. 2023)
6th March : At Battersea, Bertrand Russell delivered his famous address, "Why I Am Not a Christian"
Born : Gordon Cooper, American astronaut on Mercury 9 (1963) and Gemini 5 (1965) (d. 2004)
Born : Wes Montgomery, American jazz guitarist, in Indianapolis (d. 1968)
7th March : At 6:28 pm local time, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter magnitude scale struck on Japan's Tango Peninsula in the Kyoto Prefecture. The tremors and subsequent fires killed 3,020 people, and destroyed the cities of Toyooka and Kinosaki in the Hyōgo Prefecture.
7th March : igned on September 23, 1926, the 1926 Slavery Convention, officially the Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery, entered into force. This was an international treaty created under the auspices of the League of Nations.
- Adolf Hitler made his first public speech after the Bavarian government lifted a two-year ban against his participation in political events.
13th March : The leadership of the Kuomintang voted to fire Chiang Kai-shek from most of his executive positions, except for commander of expeditionary forces. Generalissimo Chiang ignored the demotion and, after capturing Shanghai two weeks later, took absolute control over the Kuomintang.
16th March : Born - Vladimir Komarov, Soviet cosmonaut and first human to die during a space mission; in Orenburg (killed 1967 in re-entry of Soyuz 1)
Born - Daniel Patrick Moynihan, U.S. Senator (D-N.Y.), 1977–2001; in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2003)
17th March : More than one hundred people died when the Chinese ship Chongfu was wrecked in the Yangtze River near Luzhou in the Sichuan Province.
18th March : A tornado leveled the town of Green Forest, Arkansas, killing 16 people and injuring more than 50. In all, 26 people were killed in the storm.
SOHRAB DESAI MANSARI DESAI ANNA 104
On the 20th March, while visiting a devotee named Raya in Ahmednagar, the literary scholar Sohrab Desai of Navsari came to see Baba and was deeply moved upon seeing him. He brought along his nephew Minoo Beheram Desai to meet Baba. Minoo lived in Bombay. He was the brother of a future female disciple called Mansari Desai.
While visiting Ahmednagar, Baba decided to have a new Meher Ashram for boys located at Meherabad. People were allocated positions to run it. 6 students had already signed up to attend.
In late March, a follower of Baba's - Anna 104 was claiming his leg had miraculously healed by repeating Baba's name and applying juice from the Neem tree. He spread the word around of his recovery. One day he brought 2 afflicted women to Baba. One was lame and was suffering for many months, she fell at Baba's feet and he comforted her. "Your disease has fallen at my feet".
The next day, she was able to walk very well, the other had financial problems and they were settled in a short time after having his darshan. Baba discouraged Anna 104 from bringing anymore seeking miracles, explaining that saints perform miracles, but it is not his work.
March 1925 Historical Time
20th March : In Mahad, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar began a crusade for the end of discrimination against the Dalit caste in India, known commonly as "Untouchables".
22nd March : At a meeting at the Biltmore Hotel in New York, Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and a supporter from the Jewish community, attorney Louis Marshall, reached an agreement to fund a survey of Palestine and the "Holy Land". A commission headed by Lee Frankel delivered its report later in the year.
- Forty-three Russian peasants, on their way to church in Orenburg, drowned when their ferry boat sank.
23rd March : After the troops supporting Shanghai's warlords retreated to Nanking, Nationalist troops pursued, and attacks on foreigners began. Six foreign residents, including Professor John E. Williams of Nanjing University, were killed.
24th March : After six foreigners had been killed in Nanjing and it appeared that Kuomintang troops would overrun the foreign consulates at Nanjing, the American consul, John K. Davis, asked for military intervention.The American destroyers USS Noa and USS Preston, and the British cruiser HMS Emerald, fired shells into the Chinese city to clear the streets, then dispersed the attackers with gunfire.
25th March : After a day of shelling Nanking, the United States and Britain agreed to a one-day ceasefire in return for the Kuomintang allowing the hundreds of foreigners in the city to be safely evacuated. Six foreigners, three of them British, had been killed by Chinese forces. Chinese histories estimate that there were more than 2,000 Chinese casualties from the bombardment. The French Communist newspaper Communite reported that 7,000 Chinese had been killed in the bombardment of Nanjing, while the U.S. State Department placed the total number of deaths and injuries "at less than 100".
26th March : Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, Commander in Chief of the Cantonese armies, captured Shanghai "without firing a shot", and arrived at the city on the gunboat Zhongshan, after sailing from Hankou. At the French Concession, Chiang met with local political and business leaders, who pledged their financial support if he would end his alliance with the Communists who had helped him gain control of the city.
29th March : Henry Segrave became the first person to drive a car at more than 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), reaching 203.79 miles per hour (327.97 km/h) in the 1,000-horsepower (750 kW) Sunbeam Mystery. Racing on the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida.
30th March : Coal mine explosions in Pennsylvania and Illinois killed five and eight miners respectively, but hundreds more were rescued the next day after being trapped underground. At Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, it appeared that nearly 500 miners had been trapped, but all but five came out the next day. An explosion the same day near Ledford, Illinois trapped 300 men, but all but 8 were saved.
31st March : Vladimir K. Zworykin received British Patent No. 255,057 for an all cathode ray television system. U.S. Patent No. 1,691,324 was issued on November 13, 1928.
Born - César Chávez, American labor leader, founder of United Farm Workers; in Yuma, Arizona (d. 1993)
1927
On 3rd April, Baba went to Vyankatesh Sridar Chincorkar's house in Ahmednagar, having been invited to have some food.
There was some angst when the food was not prepared in time for Baba and his party.
The Hazrat Babajan Girls' School was established on the 5th April at Maruti's Place compound in Arangaon. Afseri ( later known as Raosaheb ) was appointed supervisor of the school.
A few days later, Baba remarked, "Mahatma Gandhi will die before I break my silence. He is not destined to hear it. He is not yet ready for it, Gandhi has no preparation for it ; he would have to come to me by now. His companions would not allow him to do so and he has no courage to get rid of them".
On the 11th April, discussions were had for placing an advertisement about the Meher Ashram. Baba decided a number of boys from Persia should be included in the school.
The official opening of the Meher Ashram was held on Sunday 1st May. Celebrations and a procession were held, dancers and the playing of musical instruments. 10 students were enrolled and it was situated at the family quarters. The girls school was shifted to the Post Office building, requiring the women to move to another building.
April 1925 Historical Time
2nd April : The United Kingdom announced that it was increasing its troop strength in China, from 17,000 to 22,000 men.
3rd April : Born: Wesley A. Brown, who in 1949 would become the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy; in Baltimore (d. 2012)
5th April : The Columbia Phonograph Company merged with United Independent Broadcasters to form Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System (CPBS), much later now known as CBS.
7th April : At 3:25 in the afternoon, the Bell Telephone Company made the first successful demonstration of long distance mechanical television transmission, transmitting a 30 line image at the rate of 10 images per second with the aid of a system using the rotating Nipkow disc.
8th April : The beam wireless service was inaugurated between Sydney and London by Amalgamated Wireless Company, allowing messages to be sent at the speed of light at the unprecedented distance of more than 10,000 miles (16,000 km). Using shortwave radio, messages could be sent by telegraph between the two locations.
9th April : Li Dazhao, co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party, was arrested in Beijing after Chinese troops invaded the embassy of the Soviet Union. Li was charged with espionage and convicted and executed less than three weeks later.
11th April :The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland officially ceased to exist at the end of the day, as the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 took effect at midnight. In an acknowledgment of the separate Irish Free State, the nation was renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
12th April : The Shanghai Massacre that would ultimately claim the lives of 4,000 leftists, began a few weeks after Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang Army had taken control of Shanghai with the aid of Communist workers in the city.
- At 8:30 in the evening, a tornado destroyed the town of Rocksprings, Texas.
14th April : The first Volvo automobile, the 4-cylinder Volvo ÖV 4 "Jakob", was produced at a factory in Gothenburg in Sweden.
- A 7.4 magnitude earthquake at Argentina's Mendoza Province killed more than 25 people.
16th April : The first break in the flood controlling levee system along the Mississippi River took place at Dorena, Missouri, and other levees soon followed. Eventually, 27,000 square miles (70,000 km2) of land in seven states would be underwater, 130,000 homes would be destroyed, and a minimum of 246 people— some estimates place the death toll at well over 1,000— would be dead.
Born - Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, was born at 4:30 am in Marktl, Germany, on the day before Easter. The future pontiff was baptized four hours later.[36] (d. 2022)
18th April : Chiang Kai-shek declared himself to be Chairman of the National Government Committee President of China, with a capital at Nanjing. The other government continued to function at Beijing.
19th April : The Cecil B. DeMille-directed epic film The King of Kings was released.
23rd April : Twenty-one workers were burned to death and more than one hundred were injured in an explosion and fire that destroyed the auto body plant of Briggs Manufacturing Company in Detroit.
27th April : Born: Coretta Scott King, American civil rights leader following her marriage in 1953 to Martin Luther King Jr.; as Coretta Scott in Marion, Alabama (d. 2006)
28th April : In Aba, Japan, three-year-old Chyu Kuryama was struck by a small meteorite, which was later displayed in a museum. Although she was hit in the head, she was not seriously injured. The first reported instance in the United States of a person being hit by a meteorite would be on November 30, 1954, when Mrs. E. Hulitt Hodges of Sylacuga, Alabama, would be hit by an 8-pound stone.
30th April : An explosion killed 111 coal miners at the Federal No. 3 Coal Mine of New England Fuel and Transportation Company at Everettville, West Virginia.
- Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. became the first film stars to put their handprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
- The first sound newsreel was introduced by Fox Movietone News, prior to the showing of a feature film at the Roxy Theater in New York City. The first report, lasting four minutes, showed the marching of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy.
May 1927
Baba ordered Gustadji Hansotia to maintain silence from 1st May. Baba explained to him,
"The observance of silence on your part will be most helpful to me in my work. Therefore, be silent for my sake".
He remained silent until his death in 1958.
After some time, Baba asked Daulat S.Irani ( Mehera's mother ) to observe silence as well, which she did until her last breath in November 1952.
Baba also asked Bal Tambat to keep silent, which he did for the rest of his life.
May 1925 Historical Time
3rd May : Dr. Quirino Majorana, Italian physicist, announced in Rome that he had invented a system for "wireless transmission of speech by means of ultra-violet rays", which had been tested over a distance of 10 miles (16 km).
4th May : The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which now bestows the "Academy Awards" (or "Oscars") for excellence in film, was incorporated.
5th May : rench aviators Pierre de Serre de Saint-Roman and Hervé-Marcel Mouneyrès took off from Saint-Louis, Senegal, to make a transatlantic flight from Africa to South America. The pair never arrived.
- Germany's Nazi Party, the National Socialists, was banned by police from activities in Berlin's metropolitan area. Soon after, Joseph Goebbels was banned from speaking anywhere in Prussia.
In May, Baba went to Akbar Press in Ahmednagar by bus to conduct the Zoroastrian thread ceremony for the 2 Jessawala girls - Manu & Meheru, after the priests had concluded their rites. The whole Satha family was present.
On 12th May, Gaimai Jessawala and a few members of the Satha family arrived in Meherabad. "Where have you come from ?" asked Baba. Gaimai explained she came from her home in Nagpur. "You are so fortunate, so very fortunate ! How can I tell you ? Do you know why ? " Baba said.
"One of my 5 Perfect Masters, Tajaddin Baba, lived in Nagpur. Did you ever see him?"
Gaimai replied that he would visit an in-laws home and sit on the verandah when they first moved there. Sometimes he would pay attention to each member of the family, especially her son Eruch.
"Then you are still more fortunate" replied Baba
May 1925 Historical Time
8th May : Captain Charles Nungesser and his navigator, Captain François Coli, departed from Paris at 5:18 am (11:18 pm Saturday in New York) in L'Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird), a Levasseur biplane, in an attempt to make the first nonstop airplane flight from Paris to New York.[22] Expected to reach New York the next day, the plane never arrived.
9th May : The Parliament of Australia first convened in Canberra, following relocation of the capital from Melbourne. The Duke of York (and future King George VI) dedicated the new Parliament House and opened the joint session of Australian Senate and Australian House of Representatives, after being introduced by Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.
- Tornadoes swept through the south-central U.S., killing 230 people, and injuring over 800 other people in six states. Hardest hit were the towns of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where 93 people died, and Nevada, Texas.[
11th May : Charles Lindbergh landed in St. Louis, 14 hours after taking off from San Diego the afternoon before. Lindbergh was "the only entrant in the Raymond Orteig $25,000 flight [contest] who plans to make the transatlantic flight alone"
15th May : The civil war in Nicaragua came to an endThe civil war in Nicaragua came to an end.
16th May : A fireball was witnessed by thousands of spectators in Missouri and Kansas, streaking across the sky shortly before midnight and then exploding near the General Hospital on the south side of Kansas City, Missouri.
18th May : Thirty-eight schoolchildren and six adults were killed by dynamite charges placed underneath the local school in Bath Township, Michigan. Andrew Kehoe, who had been treasurer of the township school board, had planted the bombs under the school. He killed himself and his family.
19th May : At the German city of Kassel, nine people were killed and 11 seriously injured after a 9-year-old boy released the emergency brake of a crowded streetcar.
20th May : Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on New York's Long Island at 7:52 a.m. in his airplane, the Spirit of St. Louis, bound for Paris.
- The independence of the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz, with the Sultan Ibn Saud as monarch, was recognized by the United Kingdom in the Treaty of Jeddah signed by representatives of the kings of both nations. On September 23, 1932, the nation would be renamed Saudi Arabia by King Ibn Saud.
21st May : Charles Lindbergh became the first man to complete a non-stop trans-Atlantic airplane flight, from New York to Paris. He landed his monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis, at Le Bourget airfield near Paris at 10:21 p.m. local time (5:21 pm in New York), 33 hours and 29 minutes after taking off from New York.
22nd May : Striking at 6:32 in the morning local time (2232 UTC on May 21), an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 rocked the Gansu province of China and killed as many as 200,000 people.
27th May : The United Kingdom officially terminated diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.
DAULAT IRANI
MANU JESSAWALA MEHERU JESSAWALA GAIMAI JESSAWALA
The whole district was in a severe drought. Baba stated that, " If there is no rain by June 1st, break down the old dhuni and build another one".
4 days later, on 28th May, it rained for 20 minutes. Thus the dhuni was kept.
On another day Baba was playing marbles with Dhake and Manekar.Baba stated,
"A great Avatar is born on earth and he is now playing marbles !"
About this time, Gaimai's husband Beheram Dorab Jessawala also known as Papa Jessawala, was introduced to Baba, who gave him an explanation about saints and in particular Babajan.
"Babajan lost 2 of her fingers by allowing them to be eaten away by worms and bugs. So many
maggots were in her wounds that they would fall out. She would pick them up and put them back in the wound without in the least minding the horrible pain. Instead of taking treatment for her
fingers, she was feeding the worms. Babajan deliberately suffered unimaginable agony, and in the same end lost both her fingers.
At the present, I too have a deep cut inside my mouth which pains me severely, but I don't pay any attention to it. Saints are always happy, even while in agony."
60
May 1925 Historical Time
28th May : The sport of greyhound racing was introduced to Australia,
30th May : Born: Clint Walker, American TV actor (Cheyenne); in Hartford, Illinois (d. 2018).
31st May : The 15,007,033rd and last Ford Model T, after a 19-year run that began in 1908.
On the 4th June, there were lots of clouds, little sunlight, storm brewing. Baba directed that "the song 'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' be played on the gramophone and let's see what happens".
Baba then directed Adi K. to go out and call out "Come down rain, come down!"
Adi did, first with a normal voice, then prompted by Baba to yell it out. 30 minutes later it began to rain.
June 1925 Historical Time
2nd June : The Aviation Corporation of America was founded. This launched the first major airline, Pan American World Airways.
4th June : The Indonesian National Party (Partai Nasional Indonesia or PNI) was founded by Sukarno (Kusno Sosrodihardjo) and Mohammad Hatta, and guided the Dutch East Indies to independence from the Netherlands by 1945, when Sukarno and Hatta became the first President and Vice-President of Indonesia.
1939 version
5. TRIP TO KHULDABAD
On the 5th June, Meher Baba and a few of his men Mandali went to Aurangabad and then proceeded to the Ellora Caves, to an area called Khuldabad. While having tea in the area, Baba disclosed, "the tomb of Sai Baba's master, Zarzari Baksh is in Khuldabad".
When asked how is it possible since Zarzari Baksh had lived hundreds of years prior to Sai Baba. Baba answered, " You have no idea of how great is the grace of the Perfect Master. While Zarzari Baksh was alive, Sai, in a previous incarnation was his disciple. The Master's grace descended upon him at that time; however, it carried over and made him perfect after 700 years. Zarzari Baksh means 'Giver of the Wealth of Wealth'. This he gave to Sai."
The group returned to Meherabad the same day.
* Zar Zari Zar Baksh bestowed realization to Sai, while
he sat in a cave in Khuldabad. The Swami of Akola brought Sai down and made him a Perfect Master. See images below.
64
June 1925 Historical Time
6th June : Clarence D. Chamberlin and Charles A. Levine became the second people to fly an airplane across the Atlantic Ocean from North America, to Europe, landing the Columbia at Eisleben, in Germany, after a nonstop flight of 3,905 miles (6,284 km) in 44 hours and 35 minutes.
7th June : Pyotr Voykov, Soviet ambassador to Poland, was assassinated at the railway station in Warsaw.
8th June : Born - Jerry Stiller, American comedian, in New York City (d. 2020)
11th June : Following a week-long voyage from France, the U.S.S. Memphis sailed up the Potomac River to return Charles Lindbergh and his plane to the United States, three weeks after his May 20 departure.
13th June : A ticker-tape parade was held for aviator Charles Lindbergh down Fifth Avenue in New York City. An estimated 4,500,000 people turned out to watch, and millions more heard the events described in a live radio broadcast.
Born: Slim Dusty (stage name for David Gordon Kilpatrick), Australian country singer-songwriter; in Sydney (d. 2003)
6.
MEHER
ASHRAM
On the 16th June, Baba composed a simple prayer of 7 names of God, representing the world's religions, for the boys to recite everyday.
"Hari, Paramatma, Allah, Ahuramazd, God, Yezdan, Hu"
The Meher Ashram, was moved from Arangaon to Meherabad and a celebration was led.
The high school was accredited by Bombay University and on 1st July the school was christened by the Master as the Hazrat Babajan High School. The school was selected by Baba to move to the west of the water tower on Meherabad Hill.
June 1925 Historical Time
18th June : Born: Paul Eddington, British actor, in London (d. 1995)
26th June : The Pons–Winnecke Comet passed within 0.04 AU (3.7 million miles or 6 million kilometers) of Earth, making the closest approach of any comet in the 20th century, and the closest since Lexell's Comet on July 1, 1770.
29th June : Pilots Maitland and Hegneberger completed their trans-Pacific journey at 6:31 am local time, landing at Wheeler Army Airfield in Honolulu.
During June, a hut was built for Baba, made of bamboo matting and tin sheets with a door and window.
On the 3rd July, the first group of Persian boys arrived with Baidul from Persia ( Iran ). There were 12 Zoroastrians and 2 Muslim boys, after some help by Rusi Irani to clear the border documents. By 24th July, Baba's youngest brother Adi (13) was enrolled in the school at Meherabad, his older brother Beheram (19), also moved and joined their older brother Jal. Mani (9), stayed with her parents in Poona, but would visit with her parents.
In the last week of July, Baba ordered a pit to be dug in the floor of the small cabin, 6 feet long, 4 feet wide and 6 feet deep, but did not disclose the purpose. The pit was made permanent with stone and masonry work.
July 1925 Historical Time
3rd July : Ken Russell, British film director known for Women in Love and Altered States; in Southampton, Hampshire (d. 2011)
4th July : Born - Neil Simon, American playwright; in the Bronx, New York (d. 2018)
Born - Gina Lollobrigida, Italian and American film actress; in Subiaco (d. 2023)
6th July : Born - Janet Leigh (stage name for Jeanette Helen Morrison), American film actress known for Psycho and The Fog; in Merced, California (d. 2004).
7th July : Born - Doc Severinsen (stage name for Carl Hilding Severinsen), American bandleader and jazz trumpeter who led the NBC Orchestra for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show: in Arlington, Oregon
8th July : Charles Lindbergh inaugurated the Transcontinental Air Transport airline with the first passenger flight from New York to Los Angeles. The trip would take 48 hours.
9th July : Torrential rains in Germany swelled the Elbe River and led to flash floods that killed hundreds in Saxony. Born - Ed Ames (stage name for Edmund Dantes Urick), American singer for the Ames Brothers and white actor known for portraying American Indian characters, most notably on the Daniel Boone television show; in Malden, Massachusetts(d 2023).
10th July : Irish Vice-President and Minister of Justice Kevin O'Higgins was assassinated while walking to mid-day Mass at Blackrock in Dublin.
- General José Sanjurjo declared the pacification of Spanish Morocco and the end of the Moroccan War after 18 years.
11th July : Striking at 2:10 in the afternoon, an earthquake in Palestine (now Israel) killed more than 200 people.The River Jordan dried up for almost a day.
15th July : Eighty-four protesters were killed in Vienna, and the Austrian capital's Palace of Justice (Justizpalast) was burned down, in the aftermath of a riot that followed the acquittal of 3 accused murderers.
- In Greece,the government issued decrees against the Macedonian minority of Slavic descent. The new rules banned the Macedonian language and decreed Cyrillic inscriptions were to be removed from churches.
16th July : The Battle of Ocotal began at 1:15 a.m., when several hundred Nicaraguan rebels, attacked a barracks at Ocotal, occupied by 38 U.S. Marines and 47 Nicaraguan civil guards.At battle's end, 300 rebels and one U.S. Marine had been killed.
17th July : Turkey directed the relocation of 1,400 members of the Kurdish minority from their homes in the S-E, to the far west. This was followed by deportation of Armenian and Syriac people from the same area.
21st July : Before a crowd of 90,000 at New York's Yankee Stadium, former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, 32, fought with Jack Sharkey Dempsey prevailed.
23rd July : The first regular radio broadcasts in India began as the Indian Broadcasting Company went on the air in Mumbai (Bombay). A 2nd station began operation on August 26 in Kolkata (Calcutta). The privately owned company was bought in 1930 by the publicly funded Indian Broadcasting Service, now All India Radio.
28th July : Twenty-seven people, 16 of them children, died when the excursion boat The Favorite, capsized in Lake Michigan, one-half mile after departing Lincoln Park.
29th July : The Metropolitan Sergei Stragorodsky, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church since 1925, issued the "Civil Fatherland Declaration", declaring that the clergy should swear allegiance to the Soviet government.
Small steps were built leading down into the pit. Later, the tin walls were replaced by cemented stone and two more windows were added.
Baba stayed in the cabin on 16th August, the mandali referred to it as the Khadda - the Ditch or Pit-Room. Baba planned to do seclusion there.
The cabin was later to become the Tomb or Samadhi of Meher Baba.
August 1925 Historical Time
1st Aug. : The Nanchang Uprising began as a pivotal event that created the China's People's Liberation Army
3rd Aug. : Sixteen miners were killed in an explosion at the West Kentucky Coal Company Mine Number 7 at Clay, Kentucky. In August 4, 1917, at the very same mine, which had killed 67 coal miners.
7th Aug. : The Peace Bridge opened between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York.
16th Aug. :Born: William Henry Thompson, first African-American recipient of the Medal of Honor in the 20th Century; in New York City (killed in action 1950).
During August, a tennis court was built and Baba played on it on 28th August. In the next several months, Baba supervised the activities of the Hazrat Babajan high school and Meher Ashram, in which more than a 170 boys were enrolled. He would teach them Persian, using his alphabet board and also play games with them. At night Ramjoo would read Sexton Blake stories to Baba.
August 1925 Historical Time
18th Aug. : Born: Rosalynn Carter, American First Lady, 1977 to 1981; as Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, in Plains, Georgia. In 1946 she would marry U.S. Navy Ensign and future U.S. President Jimmy Carter (d. 2023).
20th Aug. : Born: Yootha Joyce, English television actress, in Wandsworth (d. 1980).
22nd Aug. : The divorce trial of Charlie Chaplin and Lita Grey Chaplin ended with a settlement with a record verdict, $625,000 to her and a $200,000 trust fund for their sons.
24th Aug. : During night maneuvers of Japan's Combined Fleet, the battle cruiser Jintsu struck the starboard side of the Warabi and cut it into two, sinking it immediately with 92 of her crew on board. To avoid the collision, the Naka turned sharply and struck the Ashi, killing 27 of its crew.
25th Aug. : Albert Uderzo, French cartoonist who illustrated the Asterix comic books (d. 2020)
26th Aug. : An unexpected and fast-moving hurricane in Nova Scotia killed 184 people, most of them fishermen who had been drowned at sea, but also sank the American racing schooner Columbia off of the coast of Sable Island, along with its entire crew of 22 people.
28th Aug. : Died: Jimmy Clements, 80, Australian Aboriginal elder presented to royalty on the opening of the first Federal Parliament.
SEXTON BLAKE STORIES IN MAGAZINES 77
On 19th September, G.M.Shah a photographer from Ahmednagar came to Meherabad to take photos of Baba on the new hand drawn rickshaw for Baba's use, also the Meher Ashram building and the school boys. ( see previous picture ). Another photographer S.S. Deen would also be hired.
September 1925 Historical Time
2nd Sept. : Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hit the 400th home run of his career, becoming the first player to do so.
4th Sept. : Twenty-two people were killed and more than one hundred injured in the 1927 Nagpur riots.
* there are 4 Meher Ashram photos & a classroom photo.
Rustom K. Irani's wife Freiny came to Meherabad on her weekly visit to visit Baba, she was in her 9th month of her pregnancy. When she returned to Ahmednager, she gave birth to a girl, whom she named Mehera after her sister. She was know later as Meheru*.
*The image of Meheru is of her in middle-age.
In late October, exams were given at the school, followed by the Diwali festival for several days, whereby the school was closed for this period.
On 10th November, Baba went on a prolong fast of coffee and milk, this continued for almost 5 months or so. Several days later, Meherjee Karkaria failed his engineering exam, therefore he kept his promise to come to Meherabad on the 14th November. Baba appointed him the English teacher.
Later that day, B.F. Bharucha came to see Baba and wanted to ask him many questions, which Baba obliged him. In the presence of others, Baba expressed many things to him.
During this time a Muslim boy from Persia - Ali Akbar Shapurzaman was admitted to the school, he would remain in service to Baba all his life as one of the Mandali. He was better known as Aloba.
Another boy, Sayed Ali Haji Mohammed, nicknamed Agha Ali was brought to Meherabad by his father. Baba refused to accept him and his father entreated Baba, who agreed to accept him, but over the next 5 years there was a constant tussle. 4 years later in 1931, he was one of 2 Indians who accompanied Meher Baba on his 1st visit to the West.
On 22nd November, Baily arrived from Poona with all his belongings and rejoined the Mandali. Spiritual lessens were given daily to the students, for a couple of hours. There were obvious differences between the lectures of the other teachers and Baba.
Meher Baba again travelled to see the Pimpalgaon lake on the 27th November returning the same day and stopping at Akbar Press in Ahmednagar before returning to Meherabad.
Later on the 2nd December, 5 small temporary rooms were built in a line next to Baba's crypt-cabin on Meherabad Hill. Baba called these 'Sahak-Ashram' - 'Seeker's Ashram'.
Baba instructed certain men to occupy these cabins and meditate and fast on liquids.
By the 10th December, a few of the ashram boys preferred to meditate than to study. Baba separated them. This was the start of what was later called the 'Prem Ashram' - 'Abode of Love Divine'.
Some of the boys were profoundly affected by Baba's love, they too were segregated with the other group. Most of the Meher Ashram boys were more inclined towards their studies than meditation.
While discussing advanced souls in other parts of the World, Baba revealed on 17th December, "There are 3 God-Realized persons in Persia and one in Egypt. There is one very advanced soul in London, who is stationed between the 4th & 5th planes. He is a telegraph-receiver and does as ordered, though I, his Master, am unknown to him. There is one in America still further advanced. He knows I am his master".
On the 18th December, Baba gave a discourse to the students,
explaining the progression of evolution by using a doll, bending and folding it at times showing the different stages of the soul.
On 19th December, Gustadji's older brother Sohrab H. Hansotia ( later know as Slamson ), Baba directed both of them to stay in the new cabins near his crypt-cabin. After 41 days of Baba's fast on 20th December, he retired to the crypt-pit for the night, while in the daytime he spent it in the upper portion of the hut.
In the remaining days of December, Meher Baba gave many discourses which are detailed in the "Discourses 1920s" web folder on this site.
* This concludes the year 1927.
GUSTADJI HANSOTIA SLAMSON HANSOTIA ( 95-all '27 )
1928
7. SECRET CONFERENCE OF
THE MASTERS
On Sunday 1st January, the year started with Meher Baba into his 52nd day of his fast and the 12th day in his seclusion in the upper part of his crypt-cabin. Everyone was preoccupied with the boys education, both spiritually and materially.
20 soldiers came for Baba's darshan on the 6th January. Baba remarked to the boys, "This is a sign of the great march which will take place in the near future".
Later in the day, Baba had dictated to Beheram (his brother) a message which he read to all, "that a secret conference had taken place at 2am that night, held in his crypt, wherein it was decided that a great war would soon begin .
Baba concluded his declaration, "A great war will shortly take place and when it is raging furiously, I will come forward and manifest as the Avatar!"
On the 9th January, Baba remarked, "There is some communication going on with the one in London - the one on the path between the 4th & 5th planes. Instructions are being given to him and my attention is needed".
In the following days, some of the boys experienced spiritual states of consciousness. Later on 27th January, Kaikhushru J. Pleader came for the first time to meet Baba. He expressed a desire to stay in Meherabad, but Baba sent him away.
On the 29th January, Baba's mother Shireen had come from Poona to check on her youngest son Adi who was still ill at the hospital in Ahmednagar. She had asked Baba to send one of her sons home to look after her and his father Sheriar. Within days Adi recuperated and went back to Meherabad.
By mid-February, the boys in the schools sat for the exams at the Missionary School in Ahmednagar and they all passed with very good marks. Many of the boys about this time were starting to be removed by their parents and all the children were very distressed by these events.
On the 18th February, it was Meher Baba's 34th Birthday, many came to Meherabad to celebrate the occasion, even though Baba at first was unpleasant, this later changed by the Qawaali singing programme held. Baba still had a dark mood.
In the following week on the 26th February, Baba came out of his seclusion from his crypt-cabin at 5:15pm. A rickshaw was decorated with flowers and he climbed on it. It was pulled by the Prem Ashram boys down the hill to Meherabad. Stopping near the dhuni, a blinding light suddenly flashed and a flame rose up from the dhuni when Baba came near it. The flames disappeared after a few moments. Baba visited other parts of the settlement. The women had not been visited by Baba for 2 months and they were very excited at his presence.
Mehera had made a pint of coffee every day placed in a flask. This was carried up the hill to Baba by a boy called Lahu, who secretly hid and would drink half the coffee before giving it to Baba. Later on, Baba inquired why only half a flask, Mehera was taken aback and explained she did sent a full flask, Naja confirmed this. The boy revealed all when asked by Baba, what he had done. Baba laughed it off and remarked, "I was having Lahu's prasad* every day".
* prasad is a blessed gift, often given as a
sweet
On 28th February, Baba allowed the boys from the Prem Ashram to dress him as Lord Krishna. The photographer, G.M. Shaw was called from Ahmednagar to photograph him and the children.
Then on 3rd March, Agha Ali returned from Bombay, he had run away from home. Baba was very happy to see him, after he was fed and refreshed. Baba again was dressed as Lord Krishna in the evening he placed the crown on Ali's head. This was a festive occasion filled with songs which continued till the next day. This was marred later in the afternoon with Baba having multiple spasms lasting for almost an hour at times. That night, Ali's father came and agreed after some angst for his son to stay another year at the school.
8.
RUSTOM VISITS ENGLAND
Baba had chosen Rustom K. Irani to go to England, giving him final instructions on 7th March, to bring some boys to India. He left that evening and sailed from Bombay, 3 days later - 10th March. He was the first of Baba's Mandali to contact the Western world.
The sea voyage from Bombay to Marseilles, France took 13 days. He would have arrived on the 23rd March, taken the train to Paris, then at sometime took the flight to London.
Rustom had flown in a Farman F60 " Goliath " ( 1928 ) from Paris to London.
If all events occurred concurrently, he would have arrived in London on the 25-26th March.
Below, Rustom is being checked by customs official at the British airport when he arrived from Paris.
https://www.meherbabatravels.com/air-travels/farman-f60-goliath-1928/ &
Rustom K. Irani - https://www.meherbabatravels.com/his-close-ones/men-1/rustom-k-irani/
On 25th March , the Prem Ashram was formally established on Meherabad Hill.
Later on 1st April, Baba was seen walking bare footed about Meherabad Hill, which surprised many at 8:15am that morning. At 11:30am, Hazrat Babajan arrived at Meherabad by car. The car stopped in front of the girl's school bearing her name. This was a remarkable event, she had not left Poona for many decades, since she first moved there. She had indicated a week earlier saying that she wanted to go "to my child's place".
Baba was notified of her arrival, and he walked barefoot down the hill and stopped at the railway tracks about 50 yards / metres from Babajan who was standing on the opposite side. Baba directed all to take her darshan and she was given refreshments, but the two Masters neither talked or had physical contact. She then departed back to Poona.
Baba remarked, "Today is the most eventful and significant day of my life !"
The next day, 2nd April, Baba went by car to Poona with some of the mandali to pay a return visit to Babajan, who was now seated in the Bund Gardens. Baba stood on the opposite side of the river, while his mandali crossed the bridge and took her darshan. They mandali then came back to Baba and the returned to Meherabad. Both Masters had a visual on each other during this event.
In England, Rustom couldn't find boys to come with him back to India, he received a cable from Baba on 16th April, "Don't worry. Don't bring boys. Return."
The message changed Rustom's planned trip to the USA, also British parents contacted him, approving for their boys to go, but now, Rustom told them, it couldn't happen, presently.
Rustom met a mysterious man who told him that he was carrying a wireless connection from the East to the West, and that Rustom's master was joining both Hemispheres. Also, anyone he met on his visit affected them. One person who was affected was Meredith Starr after meeting him in London. Unbeknown to Rustom, this was the reason for his visit, establishing this link in the West.
Upon Rustom's return to Meherabad at the end of April, Baba told him to send these boys in England to India. However, the British government refused to allow the boys to emigrate and so the plan was dropped. Baba again entered seclusion in the crypt-cabin.
RUSTOM K. IRANI MEHER BABA - 1928 MEREDITH STARR (early 1930s)
On the 8th May, Babajan again arrived in Meherabad by car, on the same day, Baba had gone to Poona by car. She was welcomed and greeted by many, but then returned to Poona. It seems that both cars passed each other on the road both ways.
Baba remarked later, "It has now become imperative after the 'Old Man's visit"
Soon after, Baba seeked to find a more pleasant location to spend the hot summer and so there was a concerted effort to find another place to move to. Baba left in Rustom's car to visit places like Navsari, Damon in Gujarat and Sinhagarh near Poona. Baba wanted to go Bombay but missed the Gujarat Mail train, so he returned to Meherabad, the following day.
During their travels near Khandala, the car Baba was travelling had a serious mishap whereby it lost its brakes and was rolling backwards down a steep hill. It looked like the car would plunge into the valley below, when suddenly Baba who was in the front seat pressed his hand on the steering wheel and the car suddenly halted. The Mandali men in the car were amazed how Baba stopped the car. The men then pushed the car over the Ghat ( rise ) and they continued their journey.
Another serious incident occurred on their way back to Meherabad, they arrived there in the early hours of the 17th May , soon afterwards, Rustom took the car to Ahmednagar to repair it.
9.
BABA MOVES TO
TOKA
That night of the 17th May, after someone suggested Toka as a favourable place, Baba went there, returning the same night. Baba liked it very much and the next day the 18th May, he had a plot of land purchased there and gave orders for temporary structures to be built. Many of the improvised buildings in Meherabad were pulled down and the material was then transported to Toka in trucks and the new structures built. This work went on day and night and in 2 weeks many temporary buildings were erected.
The table-cabin was trasferred to Toka for Baba's stay on 30th May.
Toka is situated between Ahmednagar and Aurangabad on the road, on the confluence of the Godavri & Pravara Rivers. Notable spiritual entities such as Swami Ramdas & Sai Baba had spent some time in the vicinity. Toka is 80 kms / 50 miles from Ahmednagar.
21
Meher Baba came to Toka on the 31st May to inspect the new settlement that was built and later returned the same day. On the 2nd June, Baba left Meherabad for Toka. Prior to leaving he instructed Savak Kotwal who was seeking spiritual enlightenment to visit Tipu Baba in Bombay and to convey a message to him, "The Emperor has sent me."
Kotwal did so.
Later, Baba told Kotwal to keep visiting Tipu Baba. On one occasion, Kotwal gave Tipu Baba a photograph of Meher Baba and got permission to hang it. Tipu Baba exclaimed,
"The whole world exists on Meher Baba's name!"
On the 3rd June, most of the inhabitants of Meherabad moved to Toka, often in staged large groups and transported on trucks. Baba's father Sheriar and his daughter Mani(ji) came on the 5th June, discussing family matters. The grounds of the new settlement were slowly cleared of snakes and scorpions.
On the same day as the new dhuni was lit, a telegram was received on the 12th June from Meredith Starr, a man Rustom had contacted in London, stating that he had taken a boat to India, along with his fiancee Margaret and her sister - Josephine Ross, but without any boys, which annoyed Baba at the news. Classes resumed for the boys at the new school and a new time-table was prepared.
On the 16th June, Baba received news of a Pollsh group who had formed an association to promote the cause of spiritualism which was outlined in a booklet 'Shri Meher Baba and the Meher Ashram'. Baba remarked that it was a "good sign".
Due to some disagreement between some Mandali men, Baba said to them, "True frienship consists in not hiding the faults of one's friends, so that they will be freed of their drawbacks. Partiality here is not helpful!"
Later Baba on 22nd June, entered seclusion inside his table-cabin, fasting on a meal a day, which Gulmai would bring from the women's quarters.
On the 28th June, both the Jessawala & Satha families came to see Baba. Two days later (30th), Meredith Starr and the 2 sisters - Margaret & Ester ( Josephine ) arrived in Toka at noon, some others arrived as well from Bombay. They had arrived in Rustom's car. They gave Baba flowers and fruit and Baba gave them a tour of the settlement before being allocated rooms which had furniture it them. Baba later gave a talk about meditation, which Meredith was very keen.
Meredith* was 38 y.o. and had sold everything prior to his arrival to India and he expected to stay in Baba's Ashram.
* In the Lord Meher books they
mention that Meredith & Margaret were married, the truth was that Meredith was divorced after a very public court appearance from his first wife in mid-1930. He married Margaret later the
same year.
On the 4th July, Baba ordered Meredith to observe silence for a period of time and conveyed this message to him : "The time of my manifestation all over the world is very near. You will play an Important part in that universal game of mine."
While at Toka, a man called Ardeshir Shapurji Baria came to meet Baba and wished to stay in the ashram. He owned several taxi cabs in Bombay. He was sent away, but after 2 years he did join the ashram and was known as Kaka Baria.
On the 3rd anniversary of Baba's silence on 10th July, Baba's feet were washed and then the men and boys gave him a bath, this was followed by daily singing of his arti - 'Bujaave Naar', which began that day. Tea and sweets were distributed.
In mid-August, Baba revealed to the Mandali that a 'Pir' in Africa who was on the 6th Plane had given up his body and Baba felt a shock. He also revealed that there was an advanced soul between the 5th & 6th Planes in Baghdad, who acknowledged to be Meher Baba's disciple. Then he mentioned that there was a"Wali' in Egypt also with powers, but Baba was unknown to him even though he was on the 5th Plane.
On 8th September was Lord Krishna's birthday, and celebrations started at 8am, Baba was elaborately dressed as Krishna by the women mandali. Baba was carried in his ghadi ( a rustic wooden cot - see photo below ) on the men's shoulders, but he fell off and landed in a thorn bush. Baba kept smiling despite being hurt. A game of cricket was held. G.M. Shah again came and photographed the boys and the ashram. Food was served to all.
Baba broke his fast that day by having a little rice and dal, but began fasting again on the 10th September.
10. BABA TRAVELS TO THE NASIK AREA
In mid-September, Homi Hansotia was bitten by a scorpion and was in pain for quite a while. He was treated and recovered.
During his agony he was crying out Baba's name, then called the other Master's names, one after
another.
Baba revealed to him, "Last night I was in the middle of a very important meeting with the Perfect Masters." ( He named all 5 Perfect Masters.)
He went on how they had been discussing very important world issues, and that he cried for help which was interrupting their proceedings.
On the 15th September, Baba's father - Sheriar, arrived and stayed the night then returned to Poona with Padri and his son Jal.
In the following month on 3rd October, Baba went to Nasik with Jal, Raosaheb, Chanji and Ali Akbar (Majnu) also Nusserwan Satha. On the way to Nasik, Baba's car stopped briefly near the tomb of Bapu Saheb in Ahmednagar. Baba revealed he was God-Realized and was also a Majzoob. Nearby, they went to Akbar Press to have lunch, Babajan had passed them in another car which had slowed down enough to see her seated in the car.
On the following day, 4th October, Baba visited Dastur Parsi High School which Baba liked it very much, but was not fond of the priest running the school.
Later he visited Gangapur Falls and pointed out a village called Gavalwadi that Perfect Master Upasni Maharaj used to visit, where he would collect cow dung, take on his head to Nasik and sell it. On top of the adjoing mountain, Baba pointed out Bhorgod Hill, where both Upasni Maharaj and himself stayed in a cave there in late 1919 for a night together.
Baba returned in late 1920 for 40 days and
nights. Upasni Maharaj had lived in the cave there for almost a year, living only on water before he met Sai Baba who was his Master.
39
On the return trip on the 5th October, Baba stopped at Nusserwan Satha's home - Akbar Press so he could rest, while the Mandali had their meal. Baba came onto the verandah by himself, again, Babajan arrived in her car, which stopped opposite and they exchanged glances, moments later, Babajan's car drove off. When asked what was the significance of this 2nd meeting, Baba replied, "Babajan met me today for the 2nd time. It means that I am now free !"
Meanwhile, Mehera Irani's maternal uncle Colonel Merwan Irani, had published an article very critical of Meher Baba, because of his sister Daulat ( Mehera's mother ) following him.
On 9th October, Baba remarked about him, "All this has no substance. There is nothing in it. It is not real suffering for me. Jesus had no roof over his head and had to wonder all the time. I have no such hardships, yet I want and rather invite them. Let him write and speak against me. It will bear good results."
From the 10th October onwards for 12 days and nights Baba would remain in his table-cabin, focusing on the Prem Ashram boys. He became annoyed if he was approached with other matters. On the 13th Oct., the dhuni was lit at 5am which was Baba's 34th day of his fast. Tea and sweets were served, with the boys seating near the fire due to the cold weather.
Baba mentioned that a European man would arrive the following day. This did occur with Adi K. and N. Satha bringing a grey haired Russian (Estonian) called Sadhu Christian Leik who was 58 y.o. He was overjoyed in meeting Baba, he had been searching a long time for a guru. He was very humble. He had worshipped Masters such as Sri Ramakrishna, but now he was home. He has written previously to Meredith Starr who told him about Meher Baba and where to find him.
The following day 14th October, Leik had Baba's darshan, with Baba resting his head on Leik's back. Baba showed him about the next day, Baba gave him instructions about meditation and to ensure him of his path.
Kaka Baria had arrived in Toka and he was given the task of erecting a fence, but sent him back to Bombay after several days.
CHHARGAN
BAIDUL
KARIM VITHAL BHORKE
On the 24th October, Baba sent some of the Prem Ashram boys to Happy Valley,* north of Ahmednagar at 5pm, accompanied by Chhargan, Baidul & Karim.
Baba arrived the next morning at 3:30pm with several other men. They stayed for 3 days enjoying walks, playing phonograph records, games, singing and NO meditation. They returned in the evening of the 28th October.
* Meher Baba had last visited Happy Valley in April 1924.
Baba was invited and accepted to go to the village of Newasa on the way to Toka, on the 1st November to a new home ceremony for Dhake's friend - D.L. Karvade. Baba arrived in the afternoon along with several boys and men mandali on Vithal Bhokre's truck. They all had a good time.
While returning, they came to the river at Toka, Dhake insisted on carrying Baba on his back across the river, which he did, without any mishaps. Baba said to him, "You have brought me across the river today. I am pleased with your efforts and one day I will help you cross the river of Eternal Existence."
11.
BABA RETURNS TO MEHERABAD
The 12th November was an eclipse of the sun, many thousands of people from surrounding villages came for Baba's darshan, which he gave. From the 18th November, Baba sent many of the boys back home for a month, this continued for days.
Baba had encouraged K.J. Dastur to publish a monthly magazine called 'Meher Message', which Baba named on 22nd November, also as a journal in various languages.
The cold weather had set in, with many of the boys with colds.
On 26th November, Baba left Toka in Rustom's car with Gustadji and Abdulla, the remaining boys and men followed along with trunks and baggage, staying at Akbar Press. Baba returned to Toka in Adi K. Irani's car. They returned with the women in the afternoon back to Meherabad, to the Post Office building as before, while Baba went to the small room in the water tank, then later he went to the crypt-room.
The demolishing work took till the 4th December, then re-establishing some buildings in Meherabad. Many of the men were still ill from Toka but they slowly became better.
THE MEHER MESSAGE - MONTHLY
AHMEDNAGAR,MS.,INDIA Editor : K.J. Dastur
1st Issue : January 1929
Final issue : November 1931
https://www.meherbabatravels.com/books/newsletters-magazines/meher-message/
On 11th December, the 1st 'Meher Message' was published.
Baba stated to K.J. Dastur,
"If Meher Message deals only with spiritual subjects, my nazar ( sight ) and blessing will always be on it."
Baba warned him to stay clear of social and political issues.
Kaka Baria returned to Meherabad on 19th December, and Baba remarked to him,
"Now I think your chappals ( sandal ) will fit me".
Baba sent him back to Bombay to distribute copies of the 'Meher Message'.
Christmas Day, 25th December was celebrated by closing the school. Baba rarely celebrated it. Meredith Starr arrived at noon and Baba gave a discourse.
Meanwhile, it turned out Meredith's true nature manifested while staying at Akbar Press in Ahmednagar. He was very inconsiderate to others and very demanding. Margaret his partner was unwell and was taken by train to Poona and Adi K. arranged for her to be admitted in the hospital.
Meredith sent angry notes to Adi K. having no regard to Adi's efforts to comfort Margaret. Baba paid for all expenses that occurred. Baba discussed this situation with some of the men and arranged for the 3 ( Meredith, Margaret & Josephine ) of them to return to England, leaving Meherabad on the 29th December and departing India, 4 days later. Baba also covered all their travel expenses as well.
This concludes the year 1928 and Chapter 9 in this series.
The following images are of Meher Baba taken in 1928, at Toka, India.
57
These 2 book publications describe how life was for the boys in the Prem Ashram days.
21
SOBS & THROBS
OR SOME SPIRITUAL SIDELIGHTS
Abdul Kareem Abdullah (Ramjoo)
1929 ( there were 3 other printings )
Published by ; N.N.Satha, Ahmednagar, India
169 pp.
Image courtesy of L & R Karrasch
To read the on-line version of this publication go to ; http://ambppct.org/Book_Files/SOBS%20THROBS_Final.pdf
THE BOYS
Prem Ashram Days with Meher Baba and Ever After
BOB
MOSSMAN & FARSHID NAMIRANIAN
Mid- 2020
Published by : Oceanic Publishing, Canada
http://www.oceanicpublishing.com/
465 pp.
REFERENCE BOOKS
15
The reference books that were used on this webpage :
Lord Meher Vol.3 - Bhau
Kalchuri pages 894 - 1134 ( On-Line p.564 - 758
)
The Perfect Master - Charles B. Purdom pages 49
- 67 (1 Ed.) & 1976 Ed. p.72 - 107
The God-Man - Charles B.
Purdom pages 49 - 67
LINKS TO THE OTHER PAGES OF MEHER BABA'S LIFE
Click on the following buttons to visit those webpages.
Completed early October 2024
95(1927) + 75(1928) + 21 (extra) = 191 items.