REPORT OF THE 80TH SILENCE ANNIVERSARY OF AVATAR MEHER BABA Jal P. Dastoor and Shridhar Kelkar

Telegram: "MEHERBABA" Ahmednagar Meherabad Office Email : jaimeher_anr@sancharnet.in Telephone No (0241) 2343666, 2347093 Ahmednagar Office (0241) 2548777, Trustees Office, Meherabad Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust Post Bag No. 31, King's Road, Ahmednagar - 414 001. Meherabad 19th July, 2005 The Chairman, Avatar Meher Baba Trust. Sub: Report of the 80th Silence Anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba. Jai Baba Dear Bhauji, We believe Beloved Baba's merciful Nazar was definitely on the 80th Silence Anniversary Programme which ended very successfully yesterday in spite of so many limitations that we experience at Meherabad. Accommodation: Though we expected around 1300 pilgrims as Beloved Baba's Silence day was on Sunday, due to heavy rains in many parts of Andhra, almost to the critical level, there were lots of cancellations. They say that Hyderabad received 50% of the average annual rainfall in just 2 days. But this shortfall was again made up by many who just dropped in without any intimation and this brought us with a modest figure of 1040 staying in the Hostels of 'C' & 'D' and the big hall of 'B', including 38 pilgrims accommodated in Meher English School. Due to constraints of space we constantly had to restrict the pilgrims through our volunteers to take nothing more than 2 ft. wide space for their bedding. Beloved Baba be praised that the pilgrims are so understanding and co-operative that they accept all the limitations with a smile on their face. This shows that they really come for Baba's sake and all other personal inconveniences have no effect on them. They are just happy to be at Meherabad with their children playing and roaming about all over Meherabad, as we must have had at least 200 tiny tots regaling the atmosphere of Beloved Baba's love. Besides so many souls at Meherabad we were quite surprised to see an invasion of the flies. It appears that they decided to have "All India Mukkhy Mela" at Meherabad. Water: We have been very fortunate in getting plenty of water from Ahmednagar Municipality as we are told that Mula Dam is practically full with water due to good rains in that area. Very often, Beloved Baba threatened us with dark clouds but resultant "few drops" did not even make the soil wet. Security: Due to paucity of rains, the farmers having nothing to do, we are witnessing thefts all around Meherabad, some of them are very alarming. One dacoit gang took away entire pump set from the well along with some goats from a local farmer and another farmer lost 10 to 11 goats in one night. Probably you would have heard that dear Jangu Sukhadwala's house was also broken into a few days back, but the dacoits found nothing of value and they just ransacked the cupboards and all. This year the Pardhies again created trouble specially taking advantage of our observing Silence on 10th. Medical Emergencies: One of our grand old men from Andhra dear Jagannath fell down near the Toilet Unit in the early hours of 10th and was removed to Meher Hospital under the care of Dr. Anne. Till 13th afternoon he was having constant fever and Dr. Anne suspected some infection. His son came from Hyderabad and took him to Hyderabad in a vehicle. Another lady from Andhra had hernea problem and had to be removed to Meher Hospital where she was given medical treatment and she also left on 13th. Besides these two cases there were some 140 cases of chronic ailments such as fever, loose motions etc. Stalls: The awning which was erected at Hostel 'C' for the Young Adult Sahavas was kept as it is and converted into small cubical stalls. Some 7 to 8 Baba lovers were able to exhibit and sell their Baba publications, gift items etc. Samadhi Darshan: The pilgrims had a hey day in taking Beloved Baba's Samadhi Darshan. A generous tally would show that most of them had darshan at least 3 to 5 times on the 10th & 11th when they had 2 full days at Samadhi without any distraction or major programmes and we had a hard time closing Beloved Baba's Samadhi in the evening as they all wanted to have more and more and still yet more Darshans. Film Show: The attendance being so large the pilgrims had to be divided into 2 groups to show Baba movies in 2 shows on 10th at 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. and all were very happy to see Beloved Baba in person again and again. Visit to Meherazad: For the first time in many years as Baba's Moun Divas was on Sunday there was only one Meherazad day left for the pilgrims on 12th July and arrangements had to be made for more than 600 pilgrims to be transported to Meherazad and back. With the limitations from all the sides like: (a) We had only 5 big buses and a small van. (b) The school buses were required to be back at the school by 1 o'clock. (c) Meherazad wanted us to bring in the pilgrims only after 10.30 a.m., we had to send two buses from Meherabad at 8.30 a.m. and unload the pilgrims at the entrance of the Meherazad private road. The buses came back to Meherabad to take other pilgrims to Meherazad by 11.30 am. The pilgrims were asked to proceed up to Meherazad gate but not before 10.30 a.m. We were happy to hear from Meherazad family that the pilgrims did not disturb them before 10.30 a.m. but some pilgrims were not happy that they had to walk such a long distance. On reaching Meherazad the pilgrims were asked to queue up and take Beloved Baba's Darshan at Mandali Hall and then proceed to Baba's room for Darshan and finally meet the Mandali who were at the portico. Many pilgrims were ready to go back to Meherabad at about 11.45 a.m. and they were asked to leave in the school buses, so that the buses can be returned to the school by 1.00 p.m. No doubt the last bus from Meherazad left at about 1.30 p.m. reaching Meherabad after 2.15 p.m. and the arrangements were made that the pilgrims from MPC would get their Lunch by that late hour. Transport to Railway Station: About 500 pilgrims preceded to Ahmednagar Railway Station and were very happy that we provided them the Trust buses from time to time so that they did not have to go through the hustles to hire rickshaws as the rates have gone up very high. Earlier since the pilgrims were arriving at the middle of the night on 7th, 8th and 9th July along with their children after traveling several hours in the train, buses were provided to pick them up even in the night so that they could come to Meherabad, register and take rest before going to Beloved Baba's Samadhi Darshan. Dear Seetamahalaxmi's family from Machilipatnam undertook the catering arrangement for pilgrims from breakfast on 8th to lunch on 13th July and served wholesome and delicious food. The entire family was in attendance all the time to ensure that hygiene and cleanliness is maintained. Our resident volunteers also helped them, specially in collecting the money and issuing meal tokens. Vote of thanks: We must thank many Baba lovers who volunteered to come early and look after the arrangements. We also thank all Meherabad residents as also the staff for showing exemplary devotion to duty and commitment to serve His lovers. Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!!! In His Service, Jal P. Dastoor      Shridhar Kelkar cc: Chairman’s Office — 2 copies for next Board Meeting. cc: Meherazad. cc: Meherabad Trustees.