First-person testimony

Rao Bahadur S. B. Dhumal

Pleader of Nasik. Sai's affectionate "Bhau." Brought Booty to Baba. Lived in Nasik plague-house at Baba's direction without contracting disease. Defended the Shirdi Chamatkar criminal appeal in 1908-1910 with Baba's direct intervention.

"The whole of last night I had no sleep"

Once when Dhumal and Baba were alone, Baba said:

"Bhau, the whole of last night, I had no sleep."

Dhumal: "Baba, why so?" Baba: "I was thinking and thinking of you, all the night."

Dhumal was overpowered. He felt the love that found no other expression than tears.

Plague-house defiance (1907-1910)

Dhumal had lived in his ancestral house on the main road of Nasik all his life. When plague broke out and dead rats appeared, he wrote to Shirdi for Baba's direction before moving. Once Baba's reply came, he moved to a Nasik bungalow. The same night a dead rat was found near his nephew's bed at the bungalow. He wrote again; Baba's reply: stay. Against medical advice he stayed; no harm.

Later dead rats were found in the servant's quarters, the houses around, and finally in the well from which all their drinking water came. He wrote at once, anticipating permission, packed up and carted to his town house. A postal letter from Shirdi reached him as he tried to unlock the front door:

"Aapan kasala sodave tethech rahave" — "Why should we give up (i.e. change) our residence?"

He went back immediately to the infected bungalow. He drew water from the Godavari river. During plague season 14-15 deaths per day occurred in town. None of his family was harmed.

Wife's Sadgati (1909)

Dhumal lost his wife in 1909. He performed the monthly (masik) ceremonies. At the sixth-month ceremony Baba directed him to perform it at Shirdi and promised his wife Sadgati — a good start for her soul's further course. Baba asked Rs. 15 Dakshina. Dhumal gave it.

Friends urged remarriage; Dhumal said he could not act without Baba's order. His father-in-law (Rao Bahadur Bapu Rao Kinkhede, M.A., Nagpur pleader) took Dhumal to Shirdi, went to Baba alone, returned in five minutes: "I could read Baba's negative reply from his eyes; do not marry without Baba's express consent or order." Dhumal never married again. He had "a life of single blessedness," fairly successful, with slow detachment developing.

The Shirdi "Chamatkar" criminal appeal

Some 20-25 years before 1936 a Shirdi criminal case: Raghu, a Baba servitor, and five others were arrested for outraging a Marwadi woman's modesty and convicted on the testimony of many "eye-witnesses," sentenced to six months. Tatya Patel Khote took the papers to eminent lawyers — Khaparde, Dixit, Sathe — all said the judgement was strong, little hope on appeal.

Tatya went to Baba. Baba: "Go to Bhau (Dhumal) with the papers." Dhumal at Nasik, after reading the judgement, told Tatya to get eminent Counsel from Bombay or Ahmadnagar. But Tatya said Baba's order was Dhumal. Dhumal wrote out an appeal memo, took it to the District Magistrate at his residence.

The Magistrate — without reading the papers — asked what the matter was. Dhumal recited it briefly. The Magistrate: "It looks like a strong case." Dhumal: "The case and its witnesses are due to faction in the village." — "Do you think so?" — "Think! I am more than sure of it." The Magistrate pronounced judgement at once, orally acquitting all six. Then asked: "How is your Sai Baba of Shirdi? Is he Moslem or Hindu? What does he teach you?"

Dhumal returned to Shirdi. There that very day, the residents were going to attend the cremation of Dixit's daughter. But Baba had called some to the masjid: "Do not go away. I will show you some Chamatkar (miracle)." They saw none and went to the funeral. Shortly after Dhumal arrived with news of the acquittal. They found what the Chamatkar referred to.

Bone-broken appeal acquitted

Three brothers had been convicted of grievous hurt for breaking a bone, treated by an unqualified "quack" who held them in his private hospital 20+ days. Dhumal took the appeal. The Sessions Judge, a senior European, initially refused bail. Dhumal pointed out the bone-evidence was from an unqualified man; the Judge allowed bail.

At argument the Public Prosecutor invited Dhumal to ask only for clemency. Dhumal put on a brave face and argued for full acquittal. The Judge, when the Prosecutor argued that 20 days' hospital stay proved grievous hurt: "That is an argument you can advance before a 3rd Class Magistrate. Remember you are arguing before a Sessions Judge." The Prosecutor collapsed. The appellants were acquitted.

Pre-influenza dakshina drill (1918)

A few days before Baba's Mahasamadhi, influenza raged in Shirdi, Poona, and elsewhere. Dhumal's brother's wife at Poona had a serious attack. He took Rs. 80 in his pocket and started, halting at Shirdi for blessings and Udi. Baba took dakshina repeatedly until the Rs. 80 was cleared. When Dhumal asked leave to go, Baba: "Udhya pah" — "We shall see tomorrow." Baba stopped him three days. A wire from Poona announced the patient had expired.

Baba then gave leave. Baba had seen the outcome and judged it best for the sister-in-law to depart and for Dhumal to reach Poona only after — and to spend three last days with Baba in the flesh. Baba's Mahasamadhi followed shortly.

The thousands of signatures (District Local Board)

Dhumal was the first Non-Official President of the Nasik District Local Board (1 Nov 1917 to 13 May 1925). He personally signed thousands of papers daily without a facsimile seal. One evening a visitor stayed talking till midnight; signatures had to be postponed. The next morning he sent the unsigned papers back to the office.

When he returned at night, only that day's papers awaited him. The previous day's papers all bore his signature. The peon had been sent away for his meal at midnight. How thousands of signatures had been affixed Dhumal could not guess. "I have no other explanation for it except Baba and his superhuman powers."

The 1910 Bilayat consultation

In 1910, Booty had agreed to lend Dhumal sums to maintain him in England for Bar studies, plus support his family in India. They went to Baba for approval. Madhavrao asked: "Should not Bhau be sent to Vilayat (England)?" Baba: "What for?" — "To study for the Bar." Baba:

"No. His Illayat (natural aptitude) and Vilayat (will of heaven) are not in Bilayat, but in this country. Why should he go to England?"

Dhumal: "The best laid schemes of mice and men do often go astray."

"He that slays saves; he that saves slays"

Once at the Handi, Baba was personally cooking for hundreds. A Fakir came and put some flesh into the Handi. Balasaheb Mirikar, disgusted at vegetarian charity turning to meat, asked: "Why all this Himsa (cruelty)?" Baba:

"Jo marila toche taril; jo taril to chamaril" — "He that slays saves; he that saves slays."

Dhumal's gloss: it refers to the tripartite functions of God (create, maintain, destroy), and more particularly to Satpurushas like Baba who give Sadgati to one (human or sub-human) who dies at their feet.

Dixit's Rs. 30,000 dream

Dhumal recounted Dixit's own narration. Dixit was financially embarrassed; Rs. 30,000 came due in four days. He dreamed the creditor tormenting him; he replied in the dream "Do not fear, I know Sri Chimanlal, Sir X and Sir Y." Waking, he wept at his stupidity in relying on human supports rather than Sai.

The day before payment was due, in his office, the son of his late banker-friend called. He had Rs. 30,000 and asked Dixit's advice on investment. Dixit, unwilling to take advantage of the friendship, explained he could not return any deposit on time. The visitor insisted — that was precisely why he should accept. Dixit paid his creditor on the due date. "Sai had shown himself capable of wielding tens of thousands and moulding people's wills."

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes from this statement

1. Bhau, the whole of last night, I had no sleep. I was thinking and thinking of you, all the night.
2. Aapan kasala sodave tethech rahave (Why should we give up — change — our residence?)
3. Go to Bhau with the papers.
4. Do not go away. I will show you some Chamatkar (miracle).
5. Udhya pah (We shall see tomorrow).
6. His Illayat and Vilayat are not in Bilayat, but in this country.
7. Jo marila toche taril; jo taril to chamaril (He that slays saves; he that saves slays).
8. At every step of yours I am taking care of you. If I did not, what will become of you, God knows.
9. Why do you say 'God', 'God'? God is in my pocket.