REMAIN CHEERFUL AND APPEAR HAPPY

(April 1950) It was quite cold at Manjri Mafi and Motichur. Due to the lack of proper clothing and diet, remaining on only dal and chapatis once a day, both the men and women companions’ health gradually deteriorated. All sorts of ailments began plaguing them. Pendu had pleurisy and pain in the chest; Eruch, lumbago and a sprained foot that was becoming chronic; Murli, a broken wrist, weakened further by the labor; Vishnu, a crippling rheumatic knee; Nilu, sciatica and left knee-joint trouble due to his duty of carrying water; Aloba, physically weakening and severe fatigue caused by fever, carrying loads of water and other labor; Kaka Baria, heart trouble; Baidul, aches and pains throughout his body; Gustadji, his old age and increasing weakness; sister Mani, fever and cough developing into bronchitis; and the youngest woman, Meheru, also sick. Yet Baba expected the companions to remain cheerful and appear happy – even when feeling rotten.