THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE FINAL DECLARATION 277country, uncomfortable, searching, the outlook and mentality of whose people was so different from ourown that it was easy to misunderstand all that one saw and heard. A rich country, with an overpoweringstarving and ignorant democracy, the cradle of ardent wisdom and truth.I reached home without incident. Malcolm, however, stayed on in Paris for a few days before continuinghis journey to the U.S.A., and when he reached New York proposed to remain there a few days. On thesecond day, he was found dead one evening in the apartment that had been lent to him.After this final meeting Baba seemed to withdraw more and more within himself. He gave up the use ofthe board on 7 October. As many of the mandali as possible were present and he bowed down to the feet ofeach one individually. He then reduced all communication to the minimum of gestures, without recourse tomaking signs as of 'writing with forefinger'. In very exceptional cases, he spent hours making one of thosepresent repeat the English alphabet again and again, stopping each time the required letter was arrived at,to form the word or grasp the sense of what he wished to convey. This was a wearisome mode ofcommunication. Later he developed his own method of communication by gestures and fingers.Baba had mentioned during the Meherabad meeting an intended visit to Pandharpur, which would be hislast public appearance. Thus, he kept his promise to the aged Gadge Maharaj and visited the place onNovember 6th.Pandharpur is on the right-bank of river Bhima, about 160 miles from Ahmednagar, a place ofpilgrimage in the Deccan. Twice a year people come from all over India. Baba had made it clear that whilehe would gladly go to Pandharpur for the day, he would not give darshan to the masses. But at Maharaj'surgent request, he did so, saying that he would be at Maharaj's disposal for the full period of his stay oftwenty-four hours. He would not, however, take food, or sleep, but would make himself available to thepilgrims. The Maharaj was about eighty-five years old and for the past fifty years had devoted himself tothe many poor and depressed people, leading them to devotion to Krishna.Following this visit to Pandharpur, Baba gave to his mandali on 13 November, at Satara, the followingexplanation of the Final Declaration:Clarification and Confirmation of the Final DeclarationIt is really very difficult for anyone to believe and understand what