HE IS A MONEY LENDER

 
It was on April 7, 1954, that I was going out of Mahableshwar for an important interview to Bombay. Before I left, I decided to see Baba. I knew Baba used to take early morning walks from his residence (Aga Khan's bungalow) on the Satara road. On that day, before I left for Bombay, I hired a taxi and asked the driver to take me to Satara road, a distance of a mile or so from my house.

As the taxi was approaching Baba's residence I asked the driver why Baba was not on his walk that day? The taxi driver appeared surprised and quipped "What! Did you not see Baba just pass by?"

I asked him to stop immediately, got out of the taxi and ran in the direction where Baba was. I saw Baba walking along with a Mandali member and without introducing myself I fell on Baba's feet. Not a word was spoken. I walked back to the taxi very elated and happy. I later left for Bombay.

When I returned from Bombay, my parents told me that since the day I had left, Baba's Mandali were calling at the shop every day and making inquiries about me. In fact the day I returned from Bombay, the Mandali was again there to see me. Eruch said, "You disobeyed Baba and he did not like what you did."

I replied "I could not help, and I felt a deep urge to meet Baba personally, so I planned it this way."

Eruch went on. "From now on do not try to approach Baba again. Baba has sent you his love." Before leaving Eruch once again repeated, "You should not approach Baba unless you are called upon by Baba himself to do so." I promised I wouldn't.

On May 20, 1954, Eruch and Pendu walked into my shop and told me that there was an important message from Baba which they had come to convey to me. I was extremely happy to hear that Baba had sent me a message and I demanded to know from Eruch and Pendu what the message was. Pendu said, "You have got an important work to do for Baba, but unless you are confident of doing this work for him we are not supposed to tell you what the work is."

Puzzled I asked Pendu what he meant. Pendu replied, "You are not to ask any questions or raise any doubt and unless you are cent per cent sure that you can handle this work and obey Baba we cannot tell you anything more."

I scratched my head and thought for a moment. I had been extremely keen to do some work for Beloved Baba and now the opportunity had come to serve him. Facing Pendu and Eruch I said I would do anything for Baba and abide by his orders. Eruch added, "Mind you, it's not going to be as easy as eating a chocolate."

But I insisted that they tell me the work Baba wanted me to do. As Pendu and Eruch wanted to talk to me alone I took them inside my house and soon came to knew the nature of work Baba wanted me to do.

Eruch explained, "Baba wants you to bring to him 56 persons -- men and women -- they should not be beggars, blind or lame persons, but they should be family people who work hard to maintain their respective families and try and make an honest living."

"Easy," I interrupted.

Pendu now took over and said, "On June 3, 1954, you have to bring these people to Florence Hall (Aga Khan's bungalow). Do not tell them as to where you are taking them and who is going to see them and what is required to be done."

I now got nervous and asked, "How can that be? I can collect 56 persons but I don't think it is easy enough to take them a mile away unless I tell them for what purpose they were to come with me."

Pendu turned to Eruch and said, "Eruch, let us go. This man is asking questions and has doubts about the work Baba is entrusting him."

In a nervous tone I pleaded, "Please don't leave, I just wondered as to how I could convince these people to go with me unless I gave them some reasons."

Pendu and Eruch were kind enough and went ahead with the instructions. I was told that Baba would wash the feet of these 56 people and bow to each one of them in turn. Further I was asked to prepare a list of the 56 people with a brief description of the nature of work they did.

As I had been given sufficient time to find the required 56 persons, I got on the job immediately, locating such deserving persons from every part of the town and community. When I was in doubt I got further information about the concerned person from the elders of that particular ward, without contacting the person who was to be taken to Baba til I had the required information about him and was satisfied that the person was hard working and eligible to be enrolled on the list of people to be taken to Baba.

Soon the required 56 persons were listed and on June 3, 1954, I led the whole lot of 56 to Florence Hall. Surprisingly, no one question as to where they were being taken and they just followed me like the rats that followed the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

We reached the gates of Florence Hall and then one after another they were taken inside the compound of Baba's residence. I read the names and each one was made to stand up on the stool before Baba. Baba washed their feet and bowed down presenting cash as prasad.

Meanwhile I kept calling out names and read out their occupation. During this process a man climbed up on the stool and Baba asked me to stop reading and said, "You did not take care to find out more about this man. He is a money lender." Baba however proceeded with his work and the man left. (Later I checked up on this man and found out that he was indeed a money lender.)

When Baba had completed his work with the 56 persons and after they had left, Baba expressed his satisfaction and said he was happy.