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

50 THE GOD-MANperformed by Rustamji. The work of the hospital was divided among the members of themandali. During the two years in which the hospital was open, there were nearly seven thousandout-patients and not less than five hundred in-patients.At the end of March the Hazrat Babajan school was opened to impart free primary education tothe village boys and girls of all classes and creeds, mostly untouchables. Free boarding andclothing were also provided. The school started with about twenty boys, and grew to one hundredand fifty boys and girls. The boys' and girls' schools were separate. At first the untouchables weretaught apart, but after a few months all were taught together. The vernacular Marathi was taughtto the girls, who had a woman teacher; the boys were also taught English.During April and May the colony grew continually; the newcomers belonging to all religions.On one occasion Baba with the school teachers and others of the mandali were washing aboutthirty boys attending the untouchable section of the school, a process which took about three anda half hours, for they were undeniably filthy. During the bathing some Brahmin visitors came forBaba's blessing, and as they bowed to him Baba said, 'I am bathing untouchable boys. It is no usethus having darshan unless you are prepared to do the work I do.' They felt the force of his words,and joined Baba and the others in bathing the boys. This washing of untouchable boys wasconstantly done. Baba played cricket and football with the boys and made a practice of givingpersonal supervision to their feeding and general conduct. Bathing was part of the daily routine.The birthday of Upasni Maharaj was celebrated on 10 May. From eight o'clock in themorning crowds of people began to appear from the surrounding villages. They were suppliedwith food, and throughout the day dramatic recitals, lectures, and songs, chants and musicwere provided by devotees and others who had come to help Baba to entertain the company.A special procession of untouchables came from Arangaon. To conclude the festivities therewere fireworks and an open-air film show. Baba received some thousands of people, andretired to his hut at 2 a.m. the next day.A darshan was held by Baba every Thursday, in which devotees from many miles aroundpaid their respects in their various ways - the Hindus prostrating themselves at Baba's feetand placing their foreheads on his toe, the Muslims kissing his hand, others joining theirhands and putting them to their foreheads in obeisance, and so on. Visitors came from earlymorning until late at night. The fasts and