[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK: William Donkin's Diaries 2

Fri Nov 23 02:50:27 GMT 2007

HEART TALK - Donkin's Diaries: Second Installment

4/8/39

Nilu and I arrived at Sholapur the other morning, where Gadekar met
us, and took us out by taxi to the Ekrull Tank about 5 miles out of
Sholapur. I am ashamed to say that I did not really recognise Gadekar,
as he came to London in 1937 - but I think his hair was shorter then.
He has a good job here as inspector of schools.

This Ekrull Dak Bungalow is on the edge of a lake some 4 or 5 miles
across, with flat hills surrounding it, and an artificial dam at its
western end. Baba and the ladies are in the Dak bungalow and most of
us 'boys' in a tin hut under the dam. We bathe in the lake and canal,
lie under the trees, and go up to Baba's room for meals; so we see a
lot of him. I have also been into town with him in Elizabeth's car,
for shopping, post etc. Baba is quite enigmatic over the political
situation, though to-day when on reading the paper re Poland and
Germany I said it looked as if another crisis and perhaps war was on
the way he gave me a quick wink, which I think meant no war yet.

He says however that Chamberlain is a bit weak, but that Eden is good,
and that Hitler's present policy of threat and snatch will lead to war
in the end: Baba says in any case it is all 'chalked out'.

To-day I have been practising driving the Chevrolet bus, which, if the
present arrangement stands, I am to drive from here to Mysore starting
on the 9th August, with its full complement of ladies. It should be an
interesting drive, even if tiring.

August 13th Bangalore

We left Sholapur on the 9th and I for one was glad to leave the rats
there: apart from them it was a good place: but they have bitten holes
in my clothes and sponge bag.

Baba told me to do whatever Kaka says, and not to mind how fiercely he
speaks; as his heart is good. I must say that at times I used to
wonder whether Kaka or the bad words were the worst: Baba said that
bearing with Kaka would be a first test in patience. We reached Satara
on the first evening, a lovely situation; only burst one tyre on the
way. I was very tired and after tea and bread and butter, the first
meal since 8.00 a.m. that morning, Kaka, Nilu and I were sent off on
the bus to the station 12 miles off, filthy bad road and me v. tired
already: we got back at midnight, slept fitfully on the stone floor
till 5:00 a.m., and off at 6:30 again.

The next day we reached Kolhapur, and after some trouble found where
to stay. There is no doubt that Baba likes to make one exasperated and
tired in order to work on one: at home he says I eat when I like and
things are easy, but when tired it is not easy to control emotions,
and he will make me, he says, mentally and spiritually strong.

The roads that day were fearfully bad: the back of the bus packed with
people - poor devils, and the roof piled up with luggage so that we
must watch continually for low branches when driving.

The next day we went on to Harihar, just in Mysore State; we skidded
once in mud, and Baba was peeved about this, though it was no doubt
his wish that it should happen; it took about 1/2 hour to get
ourselves out of the mud.

We reached Bangalore yesterday afternoon, and Baba and the Eastern
ladies are in a Parsee house around the corner, while we Westerners
with Chanji are in a hotel.

This morning Norina, Nadia and Chanji put on their glad rags to go and
see the Diwan, (The Prime Minister) of Mysore State; at the last
moment Elizabeth's car breaks down; an awful to do, Baba v. fed up;
"a bad start " he says; and Norina, Nadia and Chan, all go off to the
Diwan's house in a shoddy car.

1/2 hour later Elizabeth comes along, car O.K. now, sand had got into
the carburetor.

Baba, Elizabeth, Rano, Nilu and I all go off the Diwan's house; he has
gone; Baba tells Elizabeth to drive fast; at every cross roads we ask
policemen if the Diwan's car has passed that way; an awful show,
racing down the avenues of Bangalore at 50 to 60 m.p.h.

Eventually after a series of misdirections and directions we see a
black car ahead; Baba says  "follow it ". In it is the Diwan with
Norina, Nadia and Chanji and they all hop out and come to see Baba,
Diwan as well, and Chanji most impressed that Diwan gets out of his
car to come to Baba, and not vice-versa; will create a terrific
impression says Chanji in Bangalore, as the Diwan is 'God Almighty' here.

The Diwan wants Baba to stay in Bangalore; Baba is hedging about this
a bit - so we will see what happens.

After this we swapped passengers a bit, the Diwan with Baba in E's
car, and Rano, Nilu and I in the Diwan's car: we were rather overawed:
thence back to his bungalow; a superb place with lovely gardens.

Throughout this trip Baba, Nonny and the four special invisible ladies
have been in Elizabeth's car, which led the way, and I have been
driving the bus with about 23 of the rest of us. Baba's special monkey
goes with Baba in E's car.

21/8/39

We are now pretty well settled in our bungalow, a separate one from
the ladies at 'The Links', but only about 1/4 mile away; Baidul is in
charge of the ashram, Eruch does the shopping, and the Babanand Swami
is the interpreter for the local languages.

Baba has since become keen on another site for the ashram, but whether
he will take it and really build there, only he no doubt knows. At any
rate he has the Diwan behind him, which is a useful thing. The Diwan
came to see Baba 2 days ago at the Links, and we all went to see him there too.

Baba was the only one in old clothes; all the others being dressed up
for the occasion, and B's room all done in what he called Persian
style, with cushions on the floor, and a bowl of fruit at Baba's feet.

Baba's latest suggestion is that I shall get a job in a hospital here
for some months till his hospital in the ashram is ready, and this
will be useful experience for me to work in his hospital later.

Thus the dispensary here is a little redundant, as we have brought all
the drugs and instruments down here and arranged in a special room
ready for use; now we are only to use them for the mandali and the
ladies - but this is how Baba works.

It is really wonderful to see Baba with Mohammed, he plays with him
like a child. M now wants a fat wife, with 18 children - Baba he says
must look after the children.

I am still being rather spoilt, with special tray for meals, but no
doubt this will gradually be taken away until there is no difference
between my treatment and that of the other mandali.

Baba teases Chanji rather a lot in a good natured sort of way, much to
everyone's amusement.

The other day Baba said 'What is there but eating, digesting and
emptying the bowels in this life - all filth under the skin, and 6
layers of filth to get to Baba inside all the bodies.'

The same evening Baba and the boys describing how people in the
mandali eat; Ghani with mouth open; Baidul screws his food with his
fingers on the plate, etc: and an amusing tale of Vishnu on Italian
boat once; couldn't eat spaghetti with a fork; so looked around to see
if anyone was looking, and then piled it all in with his hands.

The crisis over Poland seems to be hotting up, and Baba is wearing a
reddish brown coat! but I don't think war will come yet. Baba says
eventually there must either be a war or a revolution to avoid war.

Baba told me yesterday that I was to 'be with him ever and leave him
never.' This he called 'Chinese poetry'. Anything a bit complicated
and stupid B calls Chinese or Chanji! - poor Chan!

24/8/39

I have today been to the Victoria Hospital where by arrangement with
the Diwan at Baba's request I am to work in an honorary capacity to
get experience: I start work there tomorrow.

Yesterday Kaka and Jal brought in 2 masts to Baba, one who said Baba
was God; B said he was on the 6th plane, and was his agent for this
district so v pleased with Kaka's and Jal's work.

It seems as if Baba is settled on this 2nd site near the Bangalore
Mysore city road, and steps are being taken to purchase the site
through the government.

Adi arrived last night with a newcomer to Baba's mandali, who has
given up all to be with Baba.

26/8/39

Rumours of war in Europe, which we don't believe, but things must sure
be hot there.

Baba explaining things about life etc. to a man, Jehangir who has been
given hell by his wife, said humorously;  "human love is either
sunstroke or moonstroke, and yours (to Jehangir) is sunstroke. "

Baba also said he, (Baba), was not a yogi with a long face, but had
100% humour, was 100% human, and 100% God.

Mohammed still wants a fat wife and 18 children.

===================================

Jai Beloved Baba!
Archives Team
Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C. Trust

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