After two days at sea, on the evening of September 27th (1933), while Baba was discussing matters with the mandali, there was a knock at the cabin door. Chanji opened it, and stepped out to find a very dignified looking old man standing in the hallway. Introducing himself, the old man said, “I am Sir Akbar Hyderi and I wish to see Meher Baba tomorrow morning if he will allow me to visit for a few minutes. May I know what time will be convenient for him?”
Chanji went inside to inform Baba, who instructed, “Tell him that, though I am not seeing anyone during the voyage, I will see him for five minutes tomorrow morning at ten.”
Chanji accordingly informed the old man who seemed very pleased, saying that he had heard much about Meher Baba and had longed for an opportunity to meet him. Akbar Hyderi was Prime Minister of Hyderabad, an important official similar to a governor. He came the next day to meet Baba, who was happy to see him. After the usual introductions and pleasantries, the conversation turned to spirituality. Baba explained about the three types of faith. Hyderi said, “Turn me toward the second stage where I can feel and experience God!”
Baba assured him of help, replying, “I will send you instructions for this tomorrow.” Hyderi requested that Baba give an appointment to his wife, as she would also be pleased to meet him. Baba indicated that the following day at 5 P.M. would be suitable. Hyderi left with his spirit greatly uplifted. Baba liked the old man very much; he was genuinely interested in spirituality, a trait Baba always appreciated. Baba also liked it that he was humble, despite his high government position.
That same day, September 28th, the celebrated Indian dancer Uday Shankar (1) came to see Baba. He had found out about Baba through the Swiss sculptor and art historian Alice Boner, who was defraying the expenses of Shankar’s visit to the West. It was during Alice Boner’s trip to India with Shankar in 1930 that she heard of Meher Baba. While in Europe, Norina Matchabelli, Elizabeth Patterson and Quentin Tod had also met Uday Shankar and had spoken to him of their Master.
Uday Shankar bowed reverently to Baba, who praised him and expressed appreciation for his mastering of the ancient Hindu art of dance. He told Baba, “I want to introduce and spread Indian classical dance to the West, but some organizations in India criticize me. They want money from me for their institutions, organizations and societies, but I have no money to give them.”
Baba spelled out on his board, “Every good work has to face opposition, and the reaction of the opposition offered always helps the work. You need not worry; continue conscientiously with your work, with double the zeal in the right direction.”
Shankar then said, “Baba, I would like to give a dance performance for you one day.”
Baba replied, “I would be delighted to watch you.”
Shankar was extremely happy to have Baba’s darshan, but Baba cautioned him before they parted, “Do not inform anyone on the ship about me, as I do not wish to meet anybody. See me before disembarking in Brindisi.”
That night, cables were received from Norina Matchabelli and Phelps Stokes in New York, and Kitty Davy in London, saying that the majority of delegates attending the All Faiths Conference in Chicago had left and it was about to end. This news made Baba feel relieved, as he was never keen to participate in the conference. It was only to please Mr. Stokes, Rustom and his other lovers that Baba had played this role by agreeing to attend. The chairman of the conference sent a telegram from Chicago that he understood that Baba was cancelling his visit because he was unable to attend. After receiving the cable, Baba decided instead to stay a month in Europe and then return to India.
The next day, Mr. Munshi, a Parsi from Hyderabad, came to see Baba. He had composed a poem in Persian about Baba which he wished to recite, but when the man came face to face with Baba he could not utter a word in the Master’s presence. He stood transfixed, gazing at Baba, then quietly left.
The following day, Mr. Munshi tearfully told Chanji, “I wanted to kiss Baba’s sadra, but could not do so, thinking it would be disrespectful. I could see nothing but light around Baba. I cannot explain it. It is the greatest good fortune to have had his darshan and my great luck to have met him. What a privilege to be travelling with him on the same ship! I feel that this is why I have been sent to the West – only so I could meet a Buzurg (Great Being) like Baba!” Mr. Munshi subsequently told some of the other passengers about Meher Baba.
(1) Uday Shankar was the older brother of the famous sitarist Ravi Shankar. Uday Shankar was thirty-three years old when he met Baba. At his zenith, his dance ability was compared in greatness with the Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, though it was classical Indian dance and not classical ballet.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 7, pp. 1813 – 1814.