The Combined Diary
Whenever the well-known "outlaw" Sakhya Mang sets out to commit a crime he is haunted by Baba's "august presence and image," folios #2v172-2v175, March 25-26, 1927.
In the early morning hours the mandali quickly armed themselves with heavy bamboo sticks and searched the grounds in response to calls that thieves had entered Meherabad. Finding nothing amiss, they retired again. Later in the day they learned that a robbery had indeed been committed not far away. Baba "blamed" the mandali for confining their search to Meherabad proper and instructed them in the future to sound the alarm and come to the aid of victims even for robberies that take place beyond the borders of the colony.
The afternoon mandali meeting took up the question of locating the Ashram school at Meherabad rather than near the Cotton Market in Ahmednagar as had been arranged earlier. All agreed that the Meherabad site would be advantageous for observing that Baba's instructions and guidelines were being properly implemented and to afford the students the added benefit of Baba's constant contact.
It was decided that the present school would be moved to a cottage near Arangaon, the Ashram school would meet in the present Makan, and a new quarters would be built near the dhuni for the mandali. Mr. Borkar would be the "Head of the Institution," with Dhakay as Principal and Head of Education and Behramji as Head of Boarding and Lodging. Vishnoo would serve as their assistant. Mr. Satha had "backed out" and was no longer involved. Baba urged all the mandali to be "alert and active in this work."
In the evening while discussing robbery and crime the mandali learned how the well-known local "outlaw" Sakhya Mang gave up terrorizing local villagers. He confessed his crimes to Baba and promised to lead an honest life asserting that whenever he set out to commit robbery he was haunted by Baba's "august presence and image." He demonstrated to Baba and some of the mandali his criminal skills, particularly his ability "to climb the steepest wall with his back!"
The next day being Parsi New Year according to the new system of calculation, the mandali asked Baba "to give them a treat." He ordered that jelebies be distributed to the boys and the mandali at 4 PM.
That evening Baba gave the "peculiar" order that each mandali was to approach him individually the following morning and remind him to attend the marriage ceremony to be celebrated at the place of the Sub-Inspector of Police who had appealed to him for help two weeks previously. This "poor and crippled" suppliant had received help and the marriage was to take place the following evening.
Part 126: The Combined Diary
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