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

52 THE GOD-MANbecause of heavy spiritual working in view of the coming death of Babajan, and partly becauseof the disturbances, wars, and disasters which were coming to the world and to India inparticular. After these disasters, he said, there would be a period of peace and tranquillity. Babaretired at ten-thirty that night after giving his final instructions. Next morning, Friday, 10 July,he left his hut at five o'clock as usual, and greeted everybody by means of signs and by writingon a slate, making enquiries as to health, sleep, food, etc. He was busy as usual during the daylooking after the affairs of the school and colony. Thus did the period of silence begin, whichwas originally for a year but has lasted unbroken until this day.The number of mandali increased so much that a new building had to be erected, which wasused from 4 September. The arrangement of the new building was such that each was allotted aseparate space in which to sleep and for his belongings. A central position was set aside forBaba's own seat. The post office verandah was extended and turned into a general store. One ofthe mandali was appointed as storekeeper. Store requisition forms were printed, and even apiece of soap could not he got without going through the formalities, thus, for disciplinarypurposes, a check was placed on the disposal of all kinds of supplies, including the mostnecessary articles!On the 20th of the same month a commodious dharamshala was constructed near the waterwell to provide shelter for the large number of poor and helpless and many sick persons who hadbegun to be attracted to Baba from far and near. By the end of the year there were many moresuch huts and sheds spread over the place, sheltering lepers, male and female destitutesseparately, and the families of those serving in the colony in different capacities. The largest ofthese structures built at the end of the first year was the Sai Durbar, a hall of corrugated ironabout ninety by forty feet, built near the school premises for visitors and ceremonial occasions.At one end a stage was erected with a small plain wooden cabin for Baba, with space for oneman only to lie down in it.For the first eight months Baba lived most of the time in the zhopdi (hut) built during theearlier period. Another seat was made for him under a neem tree along the main road. On aportion of this seat, or platform, a large wooden table was turned into a small cupboard-likecabin. From 11 October Baba began to retire for the night in the new cabin, and from 17November the platform became Baba's central seat both at night and day. These still remain tobe seen. On the 10th of the same month a dhooni (fireplace) was lighted near the seat at eleven