TWISTING MY EARS IS EASY

 
For a long time now Baba had stopped his lovers and mandali from touching his feet, and also from offering salutation with folded hands. Every man was aware of it and was obedient to his wishes.

On August 18th, however, Ali Akbar (Aloba), who was sitting by Baba's chair, silently and quickly touched Baba's feet. No one noticed, but suddenly Baba became very grave. The mandali sat silent.

Without expressing any displeasure, Baba gestured to Aloba to stand before him without moving. Baba got up from his chair, approached him and bent over to touch his feet. Aloba shrieked loudly and jumped into the air.

To save him from falling on the stone flooring of the hall, some of the mandali leapt up to catch him. He landed on and injured Baba's hand. Without drawing attention to his hand, Baba motioned to Aloba to be obedient and stand still. Finally, with Aloba sobbing, Baba touched his feet.

It was then discovered that Aloba's full weight had fallen on the fingers of Baba's right hand. Although first aid was administered on the spot and treatment was subsequently given by Nilu and Donkin, Baba had to carry his hand in a sling for several days. His fingers became swollen, and at night he experienced throbbing pain.

It became increasingly difficult for Baba to "speak" through the alphabet board, because it was difficult for him to move his fingers, and only by painful efforts was he able to sign documents.

But later that same day, Baba pardoned Aloba, urging him to forget the incident and not to blame himself for his reaction. Addressing Aloba, he stated, "Carrying out my orders was the all-important thing. Compared to that there was no importance at all to my falling at your feet.

"How will it be possible for you to accompany me [on the New Life] if you are not fully prepared to completely fulfill the conditions? Possibly one of the conditions may be to the effect that the first thing to be done every morning by the mandali would be to spit on my face, or that every morning I was be touching your feet."

Baba asked Aloba if he would accept the conditions, and he replied, "It would be a question of going to pieces."

"No," Baba stated, "it is not that. It is only a question of carrying out the conditions." Baba then asked Aloba to come and twist his ear. Aloba did it willingly.

Anna 104 then raised his hand, and on Baba's inquiring he said, "I am ready to twist your ear too."

Smiling, Baba replied, "I want it only from Aloba and not from anyone else. But if any of you feel like giving vent to your pent up feelings to settle old scores with me, I would not mind my ear twisted this day by any of you without fear of my displeasure."

Amidst the roar of laughter, Baba remarked, "Twisting of my ears is easy, but following my orders is difficult."