HEROINES OF THE PATH

In the early thirties, so many of the first Western followers of Meher Baba were connected to the theatre in someway, it was as if Baba was a stage director assembling His "cast." Delia was no exception. A vivacious Spanish beauty (her family comes from Panama), she had been an actress and for many years ran the "Q" theatre in London together with her brother Jack (Baba visited it twice). In fact, she met Baba at the Coliseum theatre in London, at the performance of a play, The White Horse Inn, in September, 1931. The "white horse" touch is interesting: in India, Baba is considered by the Hindus to be the foretold "White Horse" or Kalki Avatar. To please His disciples at one time He even rode a garlanded white horse seven times around Meherabad ashram.

Delia says "I sat next to Baba, but He took very little notice of me. I was shy and nervous, as if someone had taken a hammer and knocked me on the head. I hardly looked at Him. I heard people talking but felt dazed and far away. At the end I put out my hand and took His and looked mutely at Him. He nodded His head and I was told that I was to come the next day to Kensington (Kitty's home). During that week I went about like one in a dream. I was stunned with the wonder of Baba, nothing else existed for me. I saw Him every day, and from then on I had an implicit trust and faith in Him. I asked no questions, I wanted nothing from Him. I gave my life into His keeping and knew my search was at an end."

In an article in "The Meher Baba Journal," she writes: "I felt shy and nervous. He looked at me kindly and made me sit next to Him. I had seen His face before in my dreams — the eyes were startling in their beauty, the face seemed of luminous honey-colour, framed by a halo of long dark hair. The hands were most noticeable — they kept up an incessant pantomime, and were strong, slim and sensitive. Someone said, 'This is your surprise, Baba.' He patted my hand, and I think from that moment I must have intuitively recognized Him as my Master, for I suddenly wanted to cry. I felt stunned. The stage, the actors, seemed to recede and become vague and far away..."

Ever since a child, she had had an intense desire to know God; this desire had run parallel with her desire to be a great actress. Now she was meeting Him — and where else, but in a theatre! She too met Baba at a low point in her life and after a deep spiritual search. The figure of Jesus had always attracted her but "quite outside the Church," she relates.

In 1933, Delia with her sister Minta was one of those in the group of women called to India and sent back home to face the unpleasant publicity. Like the others she passed this test with unswerving faith. She was part of "Kim and Co.," soon shortened to "Kimco," and like some of the others, joined Baba on several visits to Europe. Baba had given special names to the "Kimco" gopis — hers was Leyla, Margaret's was Zuleika, Kitty's was Saroja. Later on, Elizabeth Patterson was "Dilruba" and Norina, "Nurjehan."

In December, 1931, on His return from America, Baba invited "Kimco" on a short visit to Paris — also the Starrs, though Baba sent them back after a day or so, so only lighthearted "Kimco" was with Him. They visited the Eiffel Tower. Delia also shared in Baba's subsequent visits to Europe (Portofino, Santa Margherita, Cannes) and also joined the Nasik ashram group (1936-7) and the return visit to Cannes the same year.