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

THE FINAL DECLARATION 289On Sunday 2 December he went to Poona for the day, and, on the return journey to Satara, at a placeknown as Udatara, about fourteen miles away, there was an accident at 5.15 p.m. Eruch, who has drivenBaba many thousands of miles, was driving and with Baba was Pendu, Vishnu and Dr Nilkanth (betterknown as Nilu). The car was running normally and at moderate speed, but suddenly got out of control,crashed against a low stone culvert at the side of the road, turned over and landed in the gully. There wasno other traffic on the road at the time nor any pedestrians; it was a dull afternoon with high cloud. Allwere thrown out and seriously injured. A man on the way to Poona came along, and lifted Baba andVishnu into his car, the latter the least hurt, and brought them to Satara. Soon after, a truck arrived intowhich Eruch, Pendu and Nilu were put and brought to the hospital at Satara. Nilu did not regainconsciousness and died before arriving at the hospital. Eruch suffered four broken ribs and Pendu had hisleg badly damaged.The injuries to Baba were very serious. His head and face were badly hurt, his tongue torn, the right hipdamaged, the upper rim of the acetabulum being fractured, the broken chip of bone slightly displaced.There was at first thought to be no fracture of the parts of the upper end of the thigh so often sustained inmotor crashes, but a slight fracture was in fact found. He was looked after by Dr Donkin and Dr Goherwith the aid of an orthopaedic surgeon. English specialists were consulted and X-ray photographs sent, andthe possibility of an operation was discussed. Baba, however, refused the operation.When told of the devoted Nilu's death, he said, 'He is blessed to be with me'. He gave the followingmessage, 'Do not worry. All will be well. Faithfully carry out the instructions given by me.'Though he had good attention at Satara, Baba listened to the doctors' plans and was taken to Poonawhere there were better medical facilities. The healing of the fracture seemed to progress satisfactorily, buthe continued to be in great pain. At one point in his illness, the Hungarian uprising being in progress, Babamade one of his extremely rare comments on political affairs, saying, 'The Hungarians are suffering muchin their present struggle. Many lie wounded and helpless on the roads, away from their loved ones andfrom care and relief from pain. At least, I am lying on a bed, with the care of good doctors, and the love ofall my lovers, present and absent.' He continually said, 'I am happy. It is as I wanted it'.During December Gadge Maharaj, and the mast Ali Shah, who had been with Baba for many years, died,on the 21st and 27th respectively.