[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK - Letters between Baba and Dr. Goher Irani - Introduction

[Tavern-Talk]

HEART TALK - Letters between Baba and Dr. Goher Irani - Introduction

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We now begin sharing a series of letters in the Avatar Meher Baba Trust 
Archives between Baba and Dr. Goher Irani. 

In 1916 Goher Rustom Irani was born in Quetta of undivided India to 
parents, Khorshed and Rustom Irani, who were destined to soon become 
wholehearted devotees of Avatar Meher Baba. In Goher's own words she 
states, "We did not know of Babajan or Sai Baba, and we had never 
heard of Sakori and Upasni Maharaj. But from the beginning Baba had 
already made the connections and laid the cables, so that my life was 
interwoven only towards Him." Baba had once asked Goher's mother, 
Khorshed, how many children she had, and when she replied "Seven," 
Baba corrected her by saying, "No, you have five, two of them belong 
to Me." And one of those two fortunate children was Goher.

When Goher decided to become a doctor, it was Baba Who paid for her 
studies and arranged for her lodging with Arnavaz Dadachanji's family 
in Bombay. And it was Baba alone Whom she wished to serve once her 
medical studies were completed. However, in 1944 after Goher had 
finished her studies, when Baba gave her a choice -- to travel with 
Him to Kashmir or return to Bombay for an internship -- because she 
lacked confidence as a doctor she chose to finish one or two more 
years of training so she could return to Baba with more experience and 
expertise. Baba said, "All right," and then He added, "When you have 
finished your experience there as an intern or a resident, then you 
let Me know and I'll call you."

After one year of internship Goher wrote to Baba saying she was ready 
but Baba replied, "Wait, and don't worry. I will call you when I am 
ready to call you." Little did Goher know that 2 and a half years 
would pass before she would receive that precious call from Baba. 
Despite her repeated letters to Baba begging Him to call her, Baba's 
reply would always be, "Wait until I call you." Then, after two and a 
half years of despair and remorse, it happened at last. In 1947 from 
Satara Baba finally sent the message that Goher could join Him. Baba 
said, "Come with all your luggage and belongings, your instruments and 
medical things, your certificates, everything."

In l947 Goher finally joined Baba permanently and she remained by His 
side throughout His lifetime serving Him as disciple and doctor. Goher 
was one of the four women accompanying Baba on the New Life as well as 
traveling to the United States with Him in 1952 where she attended to 
Baba and Mehera after the Prague accident on May 24th. And for over 20 
years in her service to Meher Baba as personal physician, Goher 
enlivened the precept of service, caring for Him with absolute 
dedication night and day, as well as tending to His beloved Mehera and 
the other resident mandali.

In the years after Baba dropped His Body, Goher reached out with great 
love, kindness, warmth and compassion to not only the Baba-family but 
also the nearby villagers whom she cared for through the Meherazad 
dispensary for over 30 years. In Farsi, the language of Persia, Goher 
means jewel, and her life of love and service to Meher Baba and to all 
who came in her contact, truly exemplified the essence of her name.

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

Other Heart Talk letters can be selected at: 
http://www.ambppct.org/archives/collections/written_materials/correspondence/heart_talk.htm 

To learn more about the Avatar Meher Baba Trust Archives go to: 
http://www.ambppct.org/archives 

Heart Talk, Post 318, 17 December 2009 
Copyright 2009 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust