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

THE FIRST TEN YEARS 75where the boys spent much of their time in meditation, though their studies were not neglected.On 1 April Babajan paid a visit to the school, to see 'The place of my child'. She came withoutwarning, and her stay at the school during that day was a great event. A fortnight later, 15April, Baba ended his fast, which had lasted for five months and fifteen days, and took somefood.At the beginning of May it was suggested by a visitor that there was a site near Poona whichwould make an ideal place for the ashram, and Baba immediately said that he would see theland, which, however, he did not like. The day that he made this trip was the occasion of asecond visit of Babajan to the school. When Baba returned he said that this second visit made itnecessary that the ashram should be removed, and another site being proposed at the village ofToka, which is midway between Ahmednagar and Aurangabad - a site which Baba liked - hegave instructions for the removal, which was completed within fifteen days, and on 3 June themandali and ashram were transferred to Toka.The change in the location of the school brought Ali's father on the scene again, but he wassoon satisfied, though not for long, for in August he returned with the request, 'I want to takeAli with me'. After fruitlessly discussing the matter for two days the father resorted to law toupset the agreement under which his son was at school, and Ali was handed over to his father.At the same time several other boys were taken away by their parents. During this period anincreasing number of boys were engaged in meditation, getting up at early hours of themorning for the purpose, and Baba suspended all the regulations of the school so far as theyaffected the boys' relations with himself and allowed them to come to him at any time. Hespent many hours with them, taking part in their games.From 10 September Baba resumed fasting, and on the 23rd he and the boys included in thePrem-Ashram took up new quarters which had been erected, Baba occupying a room built oflime and bricks having three windows and a door and measuring seven feet by seven feet. Theother building for the boys consisted of thirty-two rooms, each seven feet by four feet, with aspecial verandah for Baba.Twenty days after he had been taken home Ali made a further attempt to return to the school.He got as far as Ahmednagar, when he was recognized by one of his father's friends andbrought back to Bombay. He made another attempt on 4 October, which was successful. Babawas now continuing to fast, but was serving meals to the boys in the Prem-Ashram and washolding classes two, sometimes three, and at other times four a day, when he 'discoursed' tothem