In spite of going to bed late, all were up at five o’clock on Wednesday morning, May 18th, (1927) to celebrate Upasni Maharaj’s fifty-seventh birthday. A colorfully decorated bathing room was erected near the dhuni and nearby was a grand pavilion with flags and other decorations. The whole of Meherabad rang with a holiday
atmosphere as different village bands played their boisterous music. At eight o’clock Baba came to the tent where the women mandali washed his feet, followed by the ashram boys, and then the men mandali and various outside guests.
As soon as this ceremony was over, Baba took a bath by himself, allowing the men mandali to assist him, and then he changed into a fresh sadra. Rustom picked him up, carrying him to the main tent on his shoulders amidst deafening cheers. There Baba was placed on a richly decorated divan, where arti and puja were performed. The garlands and flowers showered on Baba were so profuse that he was completely covered. Baba signaled to begin serving the food while various musicians performed. Almost four thousand people were fed in honor of Upasni Maharaj, and the feast continued until late in the afternoon.
During the feast, a young boy in a pitiable condition came into the school. He was dirty, looked half-starved and was dressed in ragged clothing. He looked like a beggar but when questioned, he said that he was a Parsi. He was brought to Baba who asked him to tell his story and the boy began to weep. He said his name was Burjor Sarkari and claimed that he had been mistreated and abandoned by his relatives, and was now homeless and penniless.
But after being questioned more pointedly by Baba, the boy confessed that he had come from Poona where he had stolen money from his last employer. Baba encouraged him to return to the man, make a clean slate of things and ask for his pardon. But at the prospect of facing his former boss, the boy broke down and began weeping again. Baba comforted him and gave the boy some figs. He then directed him to take a bath and put on new clothes. Baba allowed the boy to stay at Meherabad and told Ramjoo to contact the man in Poona and find out more about what had happened.
After three days, a letter came from Poona describing in detail Burjor’s mischief and thievery. Baba sent for the boy and threatened to hand him over to the police. The boy fully admitted his guilt and begged to be allowed to remain in Meherabad. Baba pardoned him and gave him permission to stay, sternly warning, “Never think of repeating such actions even in your dreams! You may avoid detection of your crimes elsewhere, you may even succeed in running away from any other place, but this won’t be allowed here. I will fish you out even if you hide yourself in the very depths of the earth; there is no place where my eyes cannot reach! Not only that, but if you do anything wrong here, you will instantly become a cripple!” The boy, quite frightened by Baba’s words, readily agreed to obey whatever Baba said.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 3, pp. 937 – 938.