History of Avatar Meher Baba’s Darbar Pose
On Tuesday, 5 May 1959, an artist and professional photographer of Poona named D. D. Rege came to Guruprasad. He had previously written, requesting permission to photograph Baba. Permission was granted, but he was informed to come a day in advance of the actual taking of photographs. He told Baba he wished to photograph Him in a small room, but when he came the next day, Baba was seated in the large hall surrounded by people. Baba said He would move to the smaller room if necessary, but Rege said He could stay where He was, provided those in front moved away. Rege set up his lights and posed Baba, by turning Baba’s head slightly to one side, and took several pictures. Baba asked when He could see the contact prints, and Rege said he would bring them on Sunday.
The following Sunday when Rege returned, Baba held all four prints and commented, “Look how beautiful I look in them.” He handed them to the Maharani of Baroda, who was sitting at His feet, and also showed them to the others. Rege asked Baba which He liked best, and Baba replied, “They are all beautiful.” Rege insisted He choose His favourite, and Baba finally indicated the three-quarter profile shot. Rege went home and printed the largest copy of the picture he could and painted it. When he presented it to Baba, Baba asked if He could give it to the Maharani, and Rege said, “Once it has been given to You, Baba, You can do with it what You like.” The Maharani had the painted portrait hung at Guruprasad for many years.
Excerpt from Lord Meher online Page 4537 (1959)
https://www.lordmeher.org/rev/index.jsp?pageBase=page.jsp&nextPage=4537
Lord Meher Page 4537 – Footnote: The photograph taken by D. D. Rege was kept at Guruprasad for several years and was later kept in the Blue Bus at Meherazad. Rege was interested in collecting personal items of different saints and advanced souls and was given one of Baba’s sadras.
Excerpts from Dr. Hoshang Bharucha’s book “Glimpses of Guruprasad” JUDGE NOT OTHERS LEST YE BE JUDGED – story BY BAL NATU pp 121-122
…One day, I found a letter in my pile written to Meher Baba by a photographer, Shri Rege from Pune. My reaction to its contents was not favourable. In it, the man expressed his wish to photograph Baba, saying that Baba should pose for him and that the photographer himself should be allowed to have his picture taken with Baba. The man also mentioned a list of dignitaries whom he had previously photographed. To me, it did not appear to be a letter of request, but more of a demand on Baba. I judged for myself that the attitude of the photographer was not right because I felt it was not fitting to place expectations on the Highest of the High in this way. So I put this letter in the bottom of my mail pile, thinking that I would not have to read it to Baba for days since He generally listened to only four or five letters before asking me to stop. To my surprise, on that particular day, Baba allotted Eruch less time than usual. He then pointed to me, indicating it was my turn. I was sure that He would tell me to stop reading after a few letters, but, to my further surprise, He did not. After each letter, I thought, “Now He will surely tell me to stop.” He continued to listen, and as I continued reading, I wondered if I would have to read out the photographer’s letter. Baba still did not stop me, and, in time, I reached the bottom of the pile, and the only letter left was the one I had so carefully avoided. I told Baba the gist of the letter, and even expressed my resentment and my opinion that its writer did not make his request to Baba in the way he should have. I felt confident that Baba would agree with my views. Instead, He beamed a smile and gestured that from the credentials, it seemed that the photographer must be a good one. He then asked me to read out the letter in its entirety, which I did with some reluctance. After I finished, Baba instructed me to write to the man and ask him to visit the following Sunday. As if this was not irony enough, I was told I would be the one to receive him and attend to his needs. Of course, I obeyed Baba and replied to the letter, telling the photographer that his request to Baba would be granted in full, and giving him the specific time and date when he could come. The man replied to me directly confirming the date and requesting Baba’s permission to arrive a day early to set up the shot. Baba agreed. The following Saturday I was on the verandah, ready to receive the man, inwardly feeling how nice it would be if he didn’t come.
The next day, he came armed with a large camera and other accessories necessary in those years – cables, plugs, and special lights intended for the photography session. After greeting him, I showed him the location of the electrical outlets, and as soon as the wires and spotlights were arranged, Baba entered the room. The photographer offered his salutations; Baba smiled in return and inquired about the arrangements, then sat down in His cushioned armchair. Before the photos were taken, Baba asked the photographer what direction He should face, and if His hands were in the right position or not. To my amazement, the photographer did suggest some changes and continued to do so before every new pose. He even touched Baba’s hands once to demonstrate the way in which he thought they should be placed. As Baba agreed to each suggestion, He would give me a look which seemed to be a silent lesson that I should not judge others. In all, the photographer took photos of Baba in four different poses, then stood alongside Him for a fifth one.
History of Darbar Pose framed at Bombay Centre…continued:
Input from Mrs. Perviz Shridhar Kelkar: Before Baba settled in His cushioned armchair, the shawl was draped over the arm chair as seen in this photo. This shawl was presented to Baba by Kharmen masi about whom Baba had indicated that when He will come back after 700 years, she will be His father.
As narrated by Mrs. Dolly & Mr. Jal Dastoor: Out of three photographs Mr. Sorabji Siganporia (one of the founder members of Bombay Centre and Centre’s first President appointed by Baba Himself) selected this photo of Baba for Bombay Centre because it has a subtle smile on His face and because of His feet seen in this photo. Sorabji in his studio in Bombay got the black and white photo hand-coloured by his studio artist and framed it for Bombay Centre.
Presumably that is how this coloured photo has signature of Sharad and photographer Rege’s name missed out from Baba’s favourite photo in which He handsomely posed. Baba presented Himself as seated in Darbar and so this photo has become known as Darbar pose. This photo is signed by colouring artist, Sharad and dated. 25 Feb 1961 – exactly one year before the Bombay Centre was officially inaugurated by Maharani Shantadevi Gaikwad of Baroda on 25 Feb.1962.
Over the decades, the hand-coloured, framed photograph at the Bombay Centre gradually bore the marks of time. From 1962 to 2025—a span of sixty-three sacred years—Baba’s gaze shone through clear glass, and later through non-reflective glass set in a gold-coloured wooden frame. With the passage of time and visible signs of aging, the need for restoration became evident. It was deemed appropriate to undertake a respectful and timely makeover of Baba’s revered photograph.
In May 2025, a new Darbar Pose photo was created using advanced digital imaging technology of the time, by digital artist Homyar Mistry-Homz and signed 25 Oct. 2024. The previous photo, housed in an old wooden frame, was relocated to the newly constructed annex of the Bombay Centre and the new photo is installed in its original location. Baba’s radiant new smile is now preserved behind non-reflective glass, beautifully set in a golden fibre frame – an artwork within an artwork, timeless and sublime.
Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai
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