[Tavern-Talk] Trust Talk - Commemoration programme of 1958 Meherabad Sahavas Report

[Tavern-Talk]

50th Anniversary Commemoration programme
of 1958 Meherabad Sahavas

Report

The Library Committee of the Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C. Trust, Ahmednagar, 
under the Chairmanship of Shri V.S. Kalchuri organized a three day 
programme from
15th February 2008 to 17 February 2008 in order to commemorate 1958 
Meherabad Sahavas which was held in the company of Beloved Avatar Meher 
Baba.

    The 1958 Sahavas participants or their descendants who participated 
in the commemoration to share there experience were:

    Women participants: 1.Smt Muktabai Jangle, 2.Smt Tarabai Jawalker,
3.Smt Seetha Devi, 4.Smt L. Prasuna, 5. Mrs Dolly Dastur, 6. Mrs Roshan 
Kerrawalla,
7.Smt Suneeta Thade, 8.Sister Laxmi Kamble, 9.Mrs Rajeswary Sharma, 
represented her mother late Smt Rajdulari Sharma, 10.Mrs Veena Naik and 
11.Mrs Kusum Mokan Singh sent her written statement which is published 
in the souvenir.

    Men Participants who shared the 1958 Sahavas experiences:
1.Shri V.S. Kalchuri (Bhauji), 2.Shri Meherwan Jessawala 3.Shri Jahangir 
Sukhadwala,
4.Shri Ali Ramjoo, 5.Shri Jal .P. Dastoor, 6.Shri Hoshang Dadachanji,
7.Prof. Digamber Gadekar, 8.Shri Sam Kerrawala, 9.Shri L.K.Thade, 
10.Shri G.Pophali,
11. Shri Pratap Ahir, 12 Shri Phiroze Engineer, 13.Shri W.N Naik,
14.Shri Rajendra Pal Nigam, 15,Shri Waryam Singh, 16.Shri Prof. Amiya 
Kumar Hazra,
17.Shri Popat Chauhan. Besides these, Dr Ajit Soni, Shri Naosherwan Anzar,
Shri Merwan Dubas and Shri Niranjan represented their parents who were 
1958 Sahavas participants.

The highlights of the Sahavas proceedings are:
    The Commemoration Programme site on Meherabad Hill opposite Beloved 
Baba's Samadhi was beautifully set to create a congenial and loving 
environment. The seating arrangement was such that it afforded an 
intimate interaction between the activities on the dais and the audience 
underneath the Pandal. The Amphitheatre stage was beautifully decorated 
with a Sahavas banner and side panels. The stage backdrop was emulating 
the 1958 scene. A large screen with the portraits of Baba's five Perfect 
Masters and Baba's own portrait in the middle was attractively 
displayed. The screen setting must have transported back the '1958 
Sahavas Participants' into the invaluable moments of 1958 Sahavas when 
Beloved Baba used to sit in front of a similar backdrop.
    A day before the programme the Sabha Mandap near Samadhi was 
transformed into a beautiful exhibition of Charts and posters of 1958 
Sahavas photos, Seven sayings of Baba and His six wishes which he gave 
out during 1958 Sahavas were displayed in English, Hindi, Marathi, 
Telugu, and Gujarati languages. Baba's lovers started gathering around 
these displays even before the formal beginning of the commemoration 
programme.
    By the evening of the 14th February 2008 about 700 participants 
arrived at Meherabad and were settled in various lodging facilities of 
the Trust.
    Finally the day of the programme dawned and at 9.30A.M. on 15th 
February 2008,
the programme pandal was occupied by enthusiastic participants, both old 
and new.
It was truly an international gathering of Baba lovers.
    15th February 2008 was the first day of the programme and it 
synchronized with the actual date when 50 years ago Beloved Baba also 
resumed giving His Sahavas. The programme began at 9.30A.M. with 
garlanding of Baba's large sized photo encircled within His logo with 
all the major religion symbols. Jal Dastoor, Dolly Dastoor, Shridhar 
Kelkar along with an old time Baba lover Rajandra Pal Nigam garlanded 
Baba's photo.  Alan Wagner then recited the "Parvardigar Prayer" and the 
"Prayer of Repentance" in his usual resounding tone which charged the 
atmosphere with Baba's Presence. The Gujarati Arti was conjointly sung 
by a large group of Baba lovers who were spread over a large area 
between the Samadhi and the amphitheatre; this was really a sight even 
for Gods to feel humble.
    A detailed introduction of the programme in the background of 1958 
Sahavas was given out by Shridhar Kelkar so as to appraise the audience 
of some of the historical aspects of 1958 Sahavas and also the purpose 
of such programmes as to why the Trust has undertaken the responsibility 
of organizing these programmes periodically.
    Mr Ward Parks then introduced the programme details for the 
following three days. Some Bhajans were sung in the memory of 1958 
Sahavas. Mostly the songs and Bhajans during the entire programme were 
the ones which were actually sung before Beloved Baba during the 1958 
Sahavas. Shri Pratap Ahir, Prof. Gadekar, Mr Thade, Mrs Suneeta Thade,
Dr Ajit Soni, Shri Bhasker Raju and his group, Mrs Seetha Devi and many 
others of 1958 Sahavas were present in the commemoration programme and 
on different occasions during the three days they presented 1958 Sahavas 
songs in Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, English and Persian 
languages. The old Baba lovers were accompanied by a very enthusiastic 
group of new and young Baba lovers whose rendering was really touching 
and exhilarating.  Probably the participants would carry for long in 
their Hearts the memory of this wonderful music which was presented 
during the three days of the commemoration programme.
For the sake of brevity the details of the song and Bhagans are not 
being given here.
    Shri Jal Dastoor the Trustee and the leading organizer of this 
programme then welcomed all the Baba lovers attending this programme 
including Shri V.S Kalchuri (Bhauji) Chairman AMBPPC Trust. To give a 
surprise to Bhauji and also to take him back to the days of 1958 Sahavas 
a special musical presentation was given by the Iranian group who sang 
one of the favorite Ghazals of Beloved Baba in Persian. This was really 
a heartwarming presentation which touched everyone including Bhauji.
    The Trust has published a souvenir for this occasion which was 
released by Bhauji. Also there was another publication titled "The Grace 
of God" which was published by one of the oldest Baba lovers Shri Waryam 
Singh Sahni of New Delhi. This was also declared realesed by Shri 
Bhauji. Mr Waryam Singh also brought about 900 commemoration badges 
exactly similar to the mementoes or identity tags which were distributed 
by Baba in 1958 Sahavas. Baba was so particular about these badges that 
He has spotted out those lovers who did not tie these badges on their 
arms during the programme. Thus Mr Waryam Singh's gesture of bringing 
the similar mementoes for everyone was really very touching. Mr Waryam 
Singh also presented some laminated photographs of 1958 Sahavas to the 
Trust. This account will be incomplete if one of the childlike behaviors 
of Shri Waryam Singh is not described here.
Mr Waryam Singh attended the 1958 Sahavas along with his father Shri 
Pritam Singh, who was one of the five Sikh favorites (Panj Pyara) of 
Beloved Baba. The late Pritam Singh's 1958 Sahavas memento is now with 
Mr Waryam Singh and Waryam Singh has one memento of 1958 Sahavas in his 
own name. He was thus putting the two 1958 Sahavas mementoes on his two 
arms during the commemoration programme and the third was displayed on 
his pocket which he brought for the commemoration programme. With 
childlike simplicity unhesitatingly he was showing these to all, while 
the crowd playfully mocked at his simplicity.
    Then Bhauji began his main speech by saying that the intimate 
companionship that the Beloved and the Lover have is to exchange Love. 
He gave several examples of how the Lovers should actually behave with 
their Divine Beloved because meeting with the Divine Beloved is the 
rarest opportunity for people of their innumerable lifetimes. Either we 
waste this opportunity by asking for His Blessings without knowing the 
deeper meaning of Baba's Blessings or we simply force Him to grant our 
silly demands. This was cited through the story of Popat Chauhan. Mostly 
he emphasized the working of sanskaras and also talked about Baba's 
warning against running after saints and persons like Balak Bhagwan who 
had some occult powers and he was enticing people even in presence of 
Baba. On seeing some Hamipur ladies without purdha Bhauji remarked that 
during 1958 Sahavas they were all covering their faces with a long drawn 
purdha and Baba could not see their faces. Now 50 years time has changed 
the old tradition which may be a result of Baba's inner working.
Bhauji also talked about the significance of tremendous suffering of 
Baba during the Sahavas which He was using to take away the sanskaras of 
His lovers. Bhauji also touched upon several aspects related to Baba's 
work like, the Man-o-Nash, the working of K.D.R.M. committee of Andhra 
Pradesh, and the banana episode during Baba's Andhra visits. The banana 
distribution by Baba has brought innumerable Souls in Baba's contact of 
which several were attending the 1958 Sahavas.
    With Bhauji's talk the morning session concluded.
    Afternoon session on 15th February started at 4pm with singing of 
Bhajans in four languages which was followed by a special session 
specially meant for the ladies to share their 1958 Sahavas experiences. 
Mrs Dolly Dastoor anchored this special session.  She gave a vivid 
picture of the Telugu and Gujarati group Sahavas meeting in the light of 
Baba's inner working to forge a new relationship which was entirely a 
new experience for both these communities in terms of their food habits 
and life style. At that time nobody had any idea that after Baba's 
dropping of body large groups of Telugu people will come here and 
equally large number of Gujarati speaking people (Parsee's) will look 
after the Meherabad arrangements. Probably this relationship was forged 
by Beloved Baba in 1958 itself. Dolly lauded the arrangements for the 
participant's lodging and boarding. Each one of them were provided with 
cots, mattresses, quilts, pillows etc which the Trust is not able to 
provide even after the lapse of 50 years of 1958 Sahavas. What was done 
by Baba in 1958 is still wanting for His lovers who occasionally gather 
here in equally large numbers. She recounted a touching incidence when 
all the Parsee people mistook a salty Telugu dish as a sweet rava and 
filled their plates with large quantities. Mrs Muktabai Jangale then 
came to the stage simple to say Jai Baba and her short but extremely 
touching narration was read out by Urmilla.
Mrs Jangale had to work as a volunteer over 16 hrs a day and most of the 
time when programme went on inside the pandal she was asked by Baba just 
to keep watch outside the entrance. She was so dutifully engrossed that 
she never had any urge even to know what was going on inside the Darshan 
pandal.  This was an example of real selfless service. Mrs Suneeta Thade 
who is one of the Baba's favorite singers was really reluctant to speak 
out as she has her main interest in singing only but in spite of her 
reluctance she turned out to be a wonderful speaker, she was also one of 
the volunteers of 1958 Sahavas and described her experiences of that 
time. Mrs Roshan Kerrawala mainly talked about Baba's 64th Birthday 
programme which was celebrated on 25th February 1958 during the Sahavas. 
Mrs Rajeshwari Sharma of Dehradun represented her late mother Smt 
Rajdulari Sharma by telling that her father was deadly against her 
mother following Meher Baba, so she came for 1958 Sahavas without 
telling her husband. This she confessed before Baba and requested Baba 
to kindly change the heart of her husband so that she can love Baba 
openly. To this Baba responded by telling her that she should on the 
contrary follow her husbands wishes faithfully and should not utter even 
Meher Baba's name, should not attend any Baba meetings and should not 
read any Baba magazines. Baba allowed her to remember Him within her 
heart without telling anybody. This she did faithfully till the very end 
and later her husband repented for not allowing her to be in Baba's 
contact.  Mrs Seetha Devi accompanied with another lady Mrs L. Prasuna 
from Andhra shared their experiences mostly through singing, the songs 
which they sang before Baba in 1958.
    After evening Arti a film based on Mehera's life was projected with 
the view that the audience should know the importance of women's Sahavas 
which was the name given to the 1958 Sahavas. In 1958 Sahavas Baba asked 
His lovers whether they knew Mehera? On hearing from them that they were 
not familiar with Mehera, Baba told them that some day He will tell them 
about Her. Probably this promise has come true after 50 years through 
the projection of a film on Mehera's life.
With this the programme for the day concluded.      

    16TH February 2008 was a day of 1958 Sahavas experience sharing by 
men, 1958 Sahavas Bhajans and Burra Katha presentation by Telugu group.  
At the end of the day special 1958 Sahavas commemoration film titled, "A 
Love Feast Gathering" was projected.
    The day's proceedings began with garlanding Baba's photo by Shri 
Meherwan Jessawala, the main speaker of the day, along with Shri Jal 
Dastoor, Mrs. Dolly Dastoor and Shri Shridhar Kelkar.  Arti and Bhajans 
followed.  Shri Jal Dastoor welcomed Shri Meherwan Jessawala along with 
the Baba lovers in the Pandal.  Then Shri Jessawala began his main 
speech given a comprehensive overview of the entire Sahavas.  The 
salient features of his talk were:- No one can understand Baba's work.  
"Khuda ki Batey Khuda Hi Janey".  Baba's own reflexion on the sahavas 
was that it was only Baba at all levels and all forms in the Sahavas.  
He was in His own company in the form of His lovers who were not other 
than Him.  Inspite of ill health Baba confirmed to hold the Sahavas, His 
everyday's behaviour with His lovers described.  Baba's participation in 
Prayers everyday with all seriousness.  Warning against false saints.  
Baba told, "Take God seriously and world lightly."  Baba told that His 
lovers keep Him caged as a lion.  They should actually encage Him within 
their hearts.  Meherwan Jessawala gave the details of the seven sayings 
of the Sahavas.  Wrong image of the mandali as the lovers thought that 
the mandali makes false stories of Baba's ill health and keeps Baba away 
from His lovers, such sahavas would not be held in future; Elcha 
Mistry's humour, film crew was his pretext to establish contact with new 
people;  How to lead a life of daily Sahavas; Transition from illusion 
to reality; Opium saints and false saints; After having the Avatar where 
was the need to go after the saints; His worker should be humble; Danger 
that faces the workers is their constant ego; Humility should be the 
"watchword" for Baba workers; Godavarimai's story was told by Baba; This 
time both father and mother aspects are manifested in the Avatar; 
Previous Avatars expressed only father aspect, Baba explained the 
concept of "Split I" for the first time; Baba visited the sick 
participants in the living tents which was pecial privilege; Seemab's 
episode explained; Baba declared liberation of Seemab's soul when 
someone sang Seemab's gahazal, "Ab Kya Batau Mai Tere Milane Se Kya 
Mila".  Lastly a vivid description of Baba's 64th Birthday was given and 
the departure scene of the pilgrims by special train was described which 
ended with a warm send off which Beloved Baba gave to all of them at 
Meherabad Railway crossing.
    The next speaker of the morning was Shri Jahangir Sukhadwala, 
husband of Baba's niece 'Gulnar' and son-in-law of Behram and Perrin.  
He began his speech by reminding everyone about Baba's declaration.  
Baba says, "My Spiritual Status is so high that anyone who calls me from 
any corner of the world, I help him".  His 1958 Sahavas experience was 
related to his marriage, so he gave full account of his marriage.  Baba 
although gave freedom to Behram to select a suitable boy for his dauther 
Gulanr, yet very tactfully Baba selected Jahangir Sukhadwala for Gulnar 
and told Gulnar that Jahangir had 2000 years old connection with Baba so 
he will be the best boy for her.  Gulnar readily accepted this proposal.
    Shri Ali Ramjoo, Trustee, A M B P P C Trust, Ramjoo Abdulla's son 
was the next speaker.  He said Ramjoo's family was just like Baba's own 
household so Ramjoos family was always in Baba's Sahavas.  So for Ali 
1958 Sahavas memories were not special since childhood he and all his 
brothers and sisters got Baba's constant Shavas.  Ali told that the day 
he was born Baba said that Ali had died.  This had a great meaning.  For 
whatever achievement Ali was born he got just at his birth and his 
life's mission was completed right at the time of his birth.  Baba 
Himself gave name to Ali and inspite of the orthodox community's protest 
that the name should be prefixed or suffixed in line with Islamic 
tradition, Ali's father Ramjoo declined to make any changes in Ali's 
name.  Ali did not say much but from his short exposition it was 
established once again that, "Those who say, they don't know, and those 
who know, they din't say."
    Last speaker of the morning of 16th February was Prof. Digamber 
Gadekar.  He said that it was an unique sahavas as it was mainly for 
women although their number was much less than men.  Baba's birthday 
celebration was the most memorable event.  Gadekar recorded the entire 
proceedings of the Sahavas and his mother, father and sister were in the 
Sahavas as volunteers.  He also sang many Bhajan along with his father, 
sister and the Poona Bhajan Mandali.  Baba praised the Poona Bhajan 
mandali very much and asked them to keep awake and ready as Baba may ask 
them any time to sing.  Baba specially appreciated Madhusudan for his 
compositions.

16th February afternoon:

This afternoon session started with the usual Bhajans in the four 
languages and then Shri Hoshang Dadachanji shared his 1958 Sahavas 
experience by telling that Baba took the greatest care of all His 
lovers.  The occasion was really "a love feast gathering". Sahavas 
pandal was opposite the Dharamashala. Baba gave embrace to ladies first 
and then to men. It was an unforgettable sight that God Himself was 
standing with folded hands when prayers were recited by Eruch.  
Sudhanand Bharti, a well known yogi, was seated on the dais near Baba's 
feet. Elcha would stand near Baba and from time to time humour Baba with 
his jokes. Saib Ashmi, a poet from Pakistan came for the first time for 
Beloved Baba's Darshan. Baba introduced him to His lovers and told them 
that some day He will make him "Kutube Sahibe Zaman".
Saib Ashmi was so deeply overwhelmed by the inner beauty of Meherabad 
that he remarked that at Meherabad, "Jarre Jarre Pe Jhukta hai Satava 
Asman"; (to every particle of dust here the seven skies bow down). On 
one occasion Baba came to inspect the dining tent and found Hoshang, Jal 
and others playing cards. Seeing Baba they got scared but Baba told them 
not to worry, continue the game but do not gamble.  Hoshang described 
the Bombay group's mischief of throwing shoes on the pandal and 
described the Birthday programme of 25th February in detail.
Shri Jal.P.Dastoor and Shri Phiroz Engineer also gave more details of 
the shoe throwing episode and Beloved Baba's reaction on their mischief. 
Jal Bhai gave more details of the meticulous arrangements that Beloved 
Baba made for His lovers. Shri Sam Kerrawala narrated the incidence of 
Baba's Omniscience and humour. A Kawwali singer was continually 
repeating only one line of a Kawwali, "If You can not quench my thirst, 
then discontinue calling Yourself the Ocean". Despite Baba's repeated 
instructions to proceed further he repeated that line again and again. 
In the meantime tea was served and to the tea boy Baba said, "give two 
cups to the singer as he was more thirsty." Baba told His lovers that 
"Ignorance prevails till words are needed. When Knowledge dawns no words 
are needed. I am Everything and I Know Everything. Between 2am and 5am 
any request or prayer reaches  Me".
    The afternoon programme ended with a "Telugu Musical Presentation" 
called "BURRA KATHA". Shri B,Bhaskar Raju, Shri Balgopal Raju and Shri 
Ram Bhadra Raju of A.P. presented this programme based on Baba's Life 
and Work. In 1955 and 1958 Sahavas, in 1962 East-West gathering and in 
1965 Darshan programmes they presented this before Baba and they used to 
go from village to village in Andhra to give their Burra Katha 
performance, as a result thousands of people had come to know Baba. 
These people are now all in their nineties, yet they gave their 309th 
performance here with all enthusiasm and fervor.
After the performance there was interval for evening Prayers and Arti 
for which most of His lovers opted to remain seated in the pandal. There 
was a beautiful and very touching sight when lovers spread over a large 
area between the Samadhi and the amphitheatre recited the Prayer in a 
perfect synchrony. This was probably a miniature model of the future 
when a hundred thousand people spread over a large area in front of the 
Samadhi would do Prayers in such a synchronous manner.
    
    After the Arti a few Bhajans were sung on the stage till it was dark 
enough to project the film especially made for this occasion. The film 
titled, "A LOVE FEAST GATHERING" based on some important episodes of 
1958 Sahavas was projected. Tremendous amount of cooperation from 
various corners was met for making this film and a real labor of love 
was due on the part of Bob Fredricks who made this film for the 
occasion. Beloved Baba manifested His presence through this film and 
everyone felt that they were in real Sahavas with Baba.
With this the programme of the second day concluded.

Third day of the programme 17th February 2008

    The programme started at 9.30am with garlanding Baba's photo. The 
Telugu Burra Katha group was given the honor of garlanding Baba's photo 
along with Jal Dastoor, Shridhar Kelkar and Mrs Dolly Dastoor. Baba's 
favorite Bhajans, safed kafni wale, kutube Alam and few other Telugu and 
Marathi songs were sung. Debbie Nordeen had a special group song 
presentation based on Baba's sayings during the 1958 Sahavas. This 
English presentation transported the international audience into the 
real feeling of Baba's Sahavas. The song Kutube Alam was explained by 
Shri Thade and then it was presented by Ahmednagar Meher Baba Centre. 
This was one of the most touching renderings of the programme.
    Mr Naosherwan Anzar from USA who is one of the well known Meher Baba 
media person delivered his talk on behalf of his parents who were the 
participants of 1958 Sahavas. Naosherwan has realized the importance of 
these programmes and for the first time in his Glow International 
magazine he published a detailed article on 1958 Sahavas with the view 
that Baba lovers expected to attend the commemoration programme come 
with some background information. Besides this he said that one should 
not simply call out "Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai"; without putting this 
into ones daily life there is no victory for Meher Baba till we really 
Love Him.  Which means we have to take complete refuge in Him and hold 
fast to His Damaan by having absolute conviction in Him, Anzar said that 
once, after attending world religious conference of 1966 Baba called him 
and enquired him about the proceedings.  He told Baba about the many 
questions that he was made to answer there. He could not answer only one 
question. The audience asked him that why Meher Baba says that He is 
God. Baba told Anzar that he should answer this question by telling 
people that Everybody is God. Everyone's Divinity is veiled but Meher 
Baba's Divinity is manifest and that is why He says that He is God. Then 
Baba told Anzer that today I also give you the gift of conviction so 
that you will convincingly know that I am God. Then Baba asked him, "do 
you accept Me as God in human form?"  To this Anzer said Yes Baba. It is 
our right to share His love with Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, 
Friends and with everyone in the world.
    Next speaker of the day was Shri Meherwan Dubash from Canada. His 
parents Shri Adi Dubash and Mrs Rhoda Dubash came from Pakistan to 
attend the Sahavas.  Meherwan Dubash who was about 10yrs of age that 
time was not allowed to attend the Sahavas because of the age 
stipulation.  Seventeen years of age was the cut point.  His parents 
brought him to India because of his deeper urge to meet Baba.  He even 
wrote a letter to Baba but Baba instead of breaking His rules went to 
meet the young Meherwan in Bombay on some other pretext.  Baba called 
him to His place of stay in Bombay one morning and gave him bountiful 
love.  He was fully satisfied and allowed happily his parents to attend 
the Sahavas, Meherwan stayed back in Bombay with some of his relatives.
    Shri Laxmikant Thade was the next speaker who mostly talked about 
the Pune Bhajan mandali whom Baba would ask intermittently to give 
singing performance. Baba especially praised Madhu Sudan for his 
instantaneous compositions and singing. Telugu group sang a song titled 
"Namo Meher Baba" this song was very much enjoyed by Baba and He asked 
Madhu Sudan to compose a similar song in Hindi, which he readily did. 
This song is now very popular among Baba lovers.
     The last speaker of the morning was Advocate Pophali. He gave his 
account of how he utilized his lawyer's brain by bringing a child of 
less than one year age. He justified that he was not breaking Baba's 
orders of the age limit. In Baba's Orders it was said that persons 
between the age of one year and sixteen years should not attend the 1958 
Sahavas. So Pophali said that his child was below one year and Baba's 
orders did not limit the persons of age below one year. Probably 
Pophali's example is one of the most important examples for all of us. 
Most of us take pride in breaking Baba's orders with our self concocted 
justifications. The other side of Pophali's story is still more 
touching. Baba has on several occasions praised the Pophali family for 
their obedience, which appears contrary to what the lawyer inside 
Pophali's mind was doing during the 1958 Sahavas.
    The morning session came to close with the presentation of a play 
titled "THE ONLY GRACIOUS ONE", presented by Mehernosh Meheta of Bombay 
and his group. This was based on the episode of Seemab's liberation by 
Beloved Baba during one of the programs of Kawwali singing. One singer 
from Hyderabad sang one Ghazel of Seemab titled "Ab Kya Batau Mai". 
After hearing this Baba became very serious and confined within Himself. 
Then Baba declared that He was so much pleased with this Ghazel that He 
has Liberated Seemab's Soul. This play has described the possible reason 
for Baba's such moods when He would grant Liberation to the Souls of 
even unknown persons.
    With this very touching presentation the morning session came to a 
close.      

17th February afternoon

The afternoon session of the last day began with special Bhajans by Shri 
Pratap Ahir. These Bhajans were sung before Baba during the entire 
period of Sahavas by Pune Bhajan mandali which was that time lead by 
Shri Madhu Sudan. Pratap Ahir while singing these Bhajans also gave 
little description of the activities of Sahavas. He also described that 
how much interest Baba took not only in their singing but also in their 
health. Baba would tell them not to sing during night time so that they 
remain fresh when Baba asked them to sing during the Sahavas. Baba's 
greater interest in Balak bhagwan made Pratap a little jealous but later 
on he understood that Baba was saving His lovers from the attraction of 
occult powers that Balak bhagwan was that time showing. Baba's example 
of physical companionship has made a very deep mark on Pratap's heart. 
This was Baba's reference to His limping while He was supported by Dara 
and Homa Dadachanji who were also limping.  Probably this was the best 
example of physical companionship. In later years such an example can be 
seen from the Guruprasad films where Baba is walking with a limp and 
Eruch in spite of his sound health can be seen walking along with Baba 
in such a gait as if he also has some problem with his lower limbs. 
Pratap also mentioned that Baba would have great praise for Madhu Sudan.
    Next was Mr Waryam Singh who participated in 1958 Sahavas with his 
father Shri Pritam Singh, he described the 1958 Sahavas days by giving 
the details which are printed in a book titled "BABA'S GRACE". This book 
he got released on the first day of this program and distributed many 
copies free to Baba lovers.
    Sister Laxmi Kambla narrated that during the Sahavas she was 
attending to Gulmai and thus she got opportunity to be close to Baba 
whenever Gulmai got Baba's Darshan. She could also garland Baba 
supporting Gulmai.
    Shri Waman Naik and his wife Mrs Veena Naik described the 
interesting story of their marriage which took place around the Sahavas 
time. Veena did not have faith in Baba at that time but she attended the 
Shavas simply to resolve her personal problem. After the Sahavas the 
problem was solved and she started having deeper connection since then.
Shri Naik in a very humorous way described the story of his wife and 
told that how Baba's compassion has changed her heart.
    Shri Rajendra Pal Nigam described the meeting of Hamipur Baba lovers 
with Baba and how sometimes humorous situations could arise which Baba 
enjoyed the most. His elder brother Keshav Nigam was introducing Hamipur 
ladies to Baba one day and he could not recognize his own mother and 
wife because they were covering there faces under a long drawn hem of 
their sarees, which was the tradition of that time. Keshav had to cut a 
sorry figure before Baba and his own family. Similar thing Keshav did by 
wrongly introducing Saheb Ashmi of Pakistan. He told Baba that this 
person is Sahibe Zaman. At this Baba although laughed but by becoming 
serious the next moment said that he is not Sahibe Zaman but some day I 
will make him Qutube Sahibe Zaman. These were the very touching examples 
of Baba's compassion and Urmila told the audience that sometimes to 
uphold the value of His lover's commitment God out of compassion changes 
His own rules.
    Prof Amiya Kumar Hazra spoke of one saintly person Manglanand who 
came with him to attend this Sahavas. On the very first day this person 
created a lot of nuisance and distracted many Baba lovers by giving them 
dry philosophical discourses. Since he wanted to establish his own 
authority among Baba lovers, Baba had to dispatch him away the very next 
day of the program. But even this so called nuisance brought this person 
in closer contact with Baba and soon after his return he sent a letter 
of gratitude through a very long drawn poem in which he appreciated and 
praised the Sahavas atmosphere and arrangement.
    Mr Niranjan, great grandson of Dr Wasumati of Chennai, gave a vivid 
description of Baba's visit in early thirties to Madras and close 
contact of his grandparents with Baba. This contact was so intimate that 
when some family members came to attend Baba's 1958 Sahavas, they 
expected that Baba would treat them with the same intimacy. But Baba's 
pretension that they were just strangers for Him shocked them terribly, 
but soon this shock vanished when they saw that a garland which they 
brought especially for this occasion was very lovingly put by Baba for a 
very long duration of the Sahavas and most of the photographs of that 
period show that the particular garland was probably Baba's choicest one.
    With these little experiences and anecdotes the afternoon session 
came to a close and from the pandal the major part of the audience 
participated in the evening Arti and Prayers, which was a beautiful 
sight to see. Probably on all the three days the most touching sight was 
the evening Arti which has gradually become more organized and beautiful 
with every passing day and Baba's Presence was clearly manifest during 
this time.
    Now it was the time to bid farewell to all the lovers who had so 
lovingly participated in the three day commemoration program and some of 
them have really felt as if they were in the actual company of Beloved 
Baba. To this feeling the setting of the program venue just facing 
Baba's Samadhi also contributed to a great extent. While attending the 
program everyone had the feeling that Baba is watching them from Samadhi 
and in the evening the cycle would turn during Arti time and they would 
feel that Baba is watching from the front so this wheel rotated everyday 
starting from Samadhi and getting back to Samadhi in the evening.  
Probably this was a profound experience at least for those who have a 
little inkling in Baba's ways. The time for terminating the obligations 
was there since so many persons and so many departments have contributed 
to the accomplishment of this three day long LOVE FEAST GATHERING.
    In the end 1955 Sahavas film titled "Gift of Love to remember" was 
projected and with that the program came to an end.
    Soon after this the Baba lovers started to go back to their homes 
after filling their hearts with Baba's love and their minds with the 
stories of Baba's Sahavas.

AVATAR MEHER BABA KI JAI                        
Gratefully
The Library Committee
AMBPPC Trust

Appendix                               
Acknowledgements

The library committee acknowledges with gratitude the following.
Shri V.S. Kalchuri, The honorable chairman of AMBPPC Trust for 
supporting this program.
AMBPPC Trust Meherabad Archive for providing 1958 Sahavas information. 
All participants of 1958 Sahavas and participants who attended the 
commemoration program (a list of speakers, singers and actors for the 
play is separately attached). Ted Judson, Steve Myhro, Peter Booth, John 
Gunn, Hughie Macdonald, Biff Soper, Harry Muir, Alan Wagner, Erico 
Nadel, Heather Nadel, Martin Cook, Cristin Cook, Peter Nordeen, Debbie 
Nordeen, Bob Fredrick, Tokhtam Fredrick, Mrs Indra Hanspal, Mr Hardeep 
Hanspal, Mr Y S Rao, Mr Meherchand Nori, Shri Ram Krishnaih,
Mrs Janet Judson, Mr Mayanna and his staff and many others who have 
silently but effectively helped in making various arrangements of the 
program.  Mr Mehernath Kalchuri has helped in providing the charts and 
photos of 1958 Sahavas for the Sahba Mandap exhibition which kept the 
participants engaged throughout the program days. The entire board of 
Trustees of AMBPPC Trust for supporting this program and Shri Jal P 
Dastoor Shir S Kelkar and Shri Ramesh Jangle for providing all the 
Sahavas facilities. Dr Ajit Soni and Shri Ramkrishnaih for providing 
Baba's Sahavas sayings in Gujarati and Telugu languages.
It is sure that some names must have been left inadvertently since in 
such a large program some omissions are beyond our control so those 
whose names do not appear here may kindly forgive the library committee 
for this.

List of singers.

Shri Pratap Ahir, Prof Gadekar, Dr Ajit Soni, Persian group, Debbie 
Nordeen and her group, Meherveena, Dilip Thade, L Thade, Suneeta Thade, 
Madhukar Dadar and family, Telugu group, Shri Bhaskar Raju an his group, 
Smt Seeta Devi.

Play
The Only Gracious One

Mehernosh Mehta, Meherveena and Bombay Baba Lovers.

List of 1958 Sahavas participants.

Note: The names with asterisks mark are the ones who shared their 1958 
Sahavas experiences. Others were the one who attended 1958 Sahavas and 
also the commemoration program.

    List of participants is separately enclosed.
    
------------------------------------------------

Comments by Attendees

The anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba's 1958 Sahavas was significant for two
reasons: it was a reminder that we need to hold onto Meher Baba's 
daaman. And
how do we do that? By taking refuge solely in Him. These are the two 
spiritual
facts that Meher Baba emphasized in 1958 and which hold true on this 50th
Anniversay, so very delicately organized and presented in February by a 
group of
dedicated, selfless workers of the Beloved.

Much love to you and Urmilla.
Naosherwan