[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK: William Donkin's Diaries 16

Fri Mar 7 07:52:22 GMT 2008

HEART TALK - Donkin's Diaries: Sixteenth Installment

11/6/40

To-day we hear Italy has declared war against Britain and France; so
that's that! Padri got back from Meherabad last night and said that
Baba is in complete seclusion there now, fasting too, and only Vishnu
and Nilu go up once a day for mails etc. Baba has an atlas there and
follows the news very closely.

The other day he sent the following message to everyone of the mandali:-

Meherabad 4/6/40
  "During these 10 days of my seclusion, I shall decide definitely the
length of time this war will last, and exactly when it will end.

Before I speak, and before peace reigns, there must be a real World
War in which India will be involved 100%, and places under Mohammedan
rule such as Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Egypt will also be entrapped
in it, while Italy, Russia and America will play a very great active part.

If this war prolongs in the above-mentioned manner, I shall speak in
August 1941; in which case for a year (from August 1940 to August
1941) I shall, with certain of my male and female disciples, go to
stay on the boundary of Russia and India, or on some island across the
Ocean. If the war does not prolong then I shall think it over as to
whether to go to the boundary or to go to somewhere else.

My speaking is largely connected with the World War and Peace. Peace
does not mean Truce. Truce does not necessarily have to happen. Truce
will not make me speak.

Before the end of the World War, when Peace is just on the point of
appearing, I shall speak. I shall speak just before 'Permanent Peace'. "

We all feel the above message of Baba's to be rather too vague, and we
don't believe the date he gives for speaking at all - so we'll see.

Padri says that the messages going between Baba and Upasni Maharaj
seem to be about Baba taking over Upasni's 'charge': they seem to be
disagreeing over it in details apparently.

Chatty Baba during the last week or so has been very restless, even
waking Baba up once in the night, and throwing dust over himself
constantly; he's on the hill in the old hospital building where Baba
is in seclusion.

20/6/40

Baba sent us all a letter the other day to say that he was leaving
with a few Mandali - Pendu, Kaka, Kotwal and Gustadji - I think to go
on tour to a few places in India; (we've since heard he went to
Calcutta). He said he would be back on July 5th, but now we hear he'll
be back on June 24th at Meherabad. I have also been ordered by Baba to
come back with Padri to Meherabad when Byramangala work is finished,
i.e. in about 2 weeks' time: I think I am going on tour with Baba
then, and not getting a job as he originally said; anyhow I definitely
hope so; it seems as if the women Mandali will be parked somewhere -
not at Meherabad, while Baba and a few male Mandali will go on tour
perhaps to Persia or Northern India near Afghan and Russian frontiers;
but we'll see!

27/6/40 Meherabad

On Monday 24th June I got a short letter from Baba ordering me to come
at once with bag and baggage to Meherabad: my heart leapt right up,
and I went round Bangalore saying goodbye to the hospital people and
got here yesterday morning. I took a tonga from Ahmednagar station to
Meherabad.

It is real good to be back in this ramshackle old hole after being so
bored in Bangalore. The place on the hill is relatively grand compared
to this place for we male mandali; but I love this place - crooked as
the roof is, and though this same roof harbours scorpions and snakes,
wind-blown and crude as all is, it is a lovely place - although it is
no home really, I feel at home here - I suppose its deep link with
Baba makes it so wonderful to be here.

When I saw Baba he asked me of course about the war; he says England
will be broken and sore, but she will not give in like France: she
will suffer much; India he says will suffer more than all these
conquered countries, not only civil war, but bombing by Japan and
Italy - so we'll see.

Baba made me read and sign a statement of how the real war is now
about to begin, real and terrible destruction, and how Baba is now
going to Ranchi for 1 month, (I go with him too), and then will either
go to Rangoon, or return here to Meherabad, when he will go into
seclusion for 1 year from August 1st 1940 till July 31st 1941; he says
he will definitely speak on Aug 1st 1941! We must all obey his
instructions during that period whatever they may be; he will see
no-one and receive no letters.

We don't any of us believe that he will speak on August 1st 1941, but
it does look as if he'll go into seclusion for some time in August.

He told me he would give me a definite 'hint', and that was to make
the best of the holiday with him at Ranchi, as from August 1st for 1
year I would have to work very hard indeed at surgery in India, sewing
up bombed people and whatnot!

On July 3rd we all go to Ranchi by train with Baba; should be
interesting trip - 2 days in train, almost to Calcutta; we probably
will go to Calcutta for a week or so with Baba too.

Apparently before Baba left the other day for Calcutta to scout out
bungalows he said that something would happen while he was away which
would affect France - during that time France collapsed and made peace
with Hitler!

6/7/40 Ranchi Bihar

I enjoyed the last week in Meherabad very much indeed, going for
walks, going up to Baba, sleeping in Baba's room, hobnobbing with
everyone, and generally messing about the place for a week,
occasionally going in to Nagar in car or on motorbike etc.

One evening when out with 'Chum' for a walk I came across 2 large
cobras making love to each other, twisting up together and playing about.

We all went to the cinema with Baba on 2nd July morning to see
Gulliver's Travels cartoon at Sarosh Cinema.

On 3rd July Wednesday we all left Meherabad in buses, ladies separate
naturally for Nagar station. By train to Manmad. 3 hours wait there,
then train to Chakradharpur 36 hours, 3rd class all way; tiring but
interesting. We took Mohammed, Shariat Khan, and Chatty Baba with us.

 From Chakradharpur to Ranchi in 2 buses; we had 2 bursts, and Nilu and
Kaka came later with rest of luggage. Got here at about mid-day
yesterday; Bungalow contains the ladies, and we men and masts are in
the servants quarters separate from the house; not good but good
enough. Baba sleeps with us here in a room to himself; Nilu and I
share a room; there are 7 rooms in all.

We had an awful job getting Chatty Baba into the compound; the
bungalow used to belong to the Rani of Cooch Behar, a bit faded and
grandiose, though not big! Chatty Baba sat outside in the road for
about an hour and eventually on orders from Baba I managed to get him
inside the gate by pretending to be angry with Aga Baidul who was with
him, and by pulling in Chatty Baba by the hand.

Baba seems pleased about British action over French fleet at Oran, and
he liked Churchill's direct speech, saying we would fight on.

July 12th 1940

I was getting really very fed up with Ranchi a few days ago, with the
filthily wet weather, the people, and even with Baba; no appetite and
what-not. Two evenings ago Nilu and I went into the town to post some
letters: Baba told us to return at 6:00 pm.

We came back late because it's a long way, and we pottered about for
20 minutes or so. When Baba got in from taking the women to the circus
Norina came out and said that we were late; so Baba gave Nilu and I
the hell of a dressing down: he told me that if I did the same again I
would have to leave, and he told Nilu to pack off tomorrow: I was so
peeved that I said I'd go too, as it was as much my fault as Nilu's;
but Baba, as always, took the argument this way and that, talking of
relevant and irrelevant things and brought us both to the verge of
tears; then forgave us; we felt rather depressed till next day: but
since then I've felt considerably better; and whatever else the row
was for it at least released the tension of my disgust of this place,
and now I'm happy here, in spite of discomfort: I often feel that when
Baba ticks someone off good and proper only 10% of the reason is the
outward reasons he brings up in the row at the time: Nilu says only 1%.

We are all mucking in together here in the servants' quarters, Baba
has one room and sleeps with us, but it's not comfortable.

A few days ago Kaka went to Calcutta to pick up a mast called Karim.
When Baba went with a few to Calcutta 3 weeks ago he pressed the feet
of an old woman saint there; 6th plane Baba said; and this old boy;
4th to 5th plane Baba says. Baba told them then that because of these
2 saints Calcutta is a big and rich city.

Now Karim is here with us, a big, black, surly looking man; he had not
spoken for 10 years in Calcutta, but lay on the pavement. He swallows
copper coins, then a day or two later picks them out of his faeces,
cleans the coins in his dhoti, then swallows them all again in a
handful at once. He never washes, has long hair, and long nails; since
Baba has been feeding him he has started talking a sort of hack Hindi
poetry, and been getting rather aggressive; I suppose he is regaining
consciousness of the world again, and doesn't like it.

During the last 2 days Nilu and I have been copying out Baba's orders
to 200 followers for next year from Aug 1st 1940 to July 31st 1941;
some very strict, silence and whatnot, no touching of women, etc for
men, and vice versa for women. We don't feel that Baba will be in
seclusion for 1 year, although he says he will; he says after August
people will forget the war because of floods, famine, plague and whatnot.

Baba cheery most evenings; I lost a game of draughts to him the other
night; at any rate we see a lot of him here, which is nice.

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

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

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