EXTREMIST INTOLERANCE INEFFECTIVE WITH BABA

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EXTREMIST INTOLERANCE INEFFECTIVE WITH BABA

R. A. Tarkhad called Baba Saheb Tarkhad, told B. V. Narasimha Swamiji of the

following incident. One night when Baba Saheb Tarkhad and others were sleeping

at the chavadi on one side of Baba, Mir Jaman of Kandahar who was then with

Baba as a recent arrival was sleeping on the other side and suddenly got up at

3 a.m. and told Baba, "Hindus are spoiling you and the Islamic faith. Permit

me, I will cut throats of all these and effect your release." Baba Saheb

Tarkhad listened to those words with fear, and wondered if the wretch really

meant to murder him in cold blood. Baba, however placated Mir Jaman by saying

that he, Baba, was pagal and the Hindus worshipping him there were mad and that

he was responsible for their worshipping him. Contrary not only to the tenets of

Islam, but contrary to their own Hindu customs, the Hindus worshipped him. Baba

said they were not responsible for his madness, but he was responsible for

theirs. So, if anybody’s throat is to be cut, Baba said, "my throat is to

be cut". Saying this, Baba offered his throat. Then Mir Jaman kept quiet.

There was another intolerant Muslim, named Abdulla Khan of Nagpur, who stayed

for three or four months with Baba. He was a journalist and familiar with Buty

and Mahatma Gandhi. He was a Hindustani Pathan and not really a Rohilla. He

died at Ahmednagar. During his stay at Shirdi he occasionally complained that

Baba had deceived him. Once this man beat Nana Chopdar and was charged before

the Kopergaon Magistrate. He was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.

15. As he had no security to offer and so was in jail for a while. Buty sent

him Rs. 15, but he declined to receive it saying, "He that had deceived me

should pay the Rs. 15 and no other." So, Baba sent the Rs. 15 out of his own

pocket and got him released.

When Baba was in the flesh, Abdulla Jan once expressed his fear that Baba would

expire and all his work and influence would pass away with him. Baba said,

"Turban Hun Danda Hani, which is the Marathi expression for, "From within the

tomb I will beat with sticks." This meant the death of his body would not

terminate his influence or activity.

Written by: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore 641001, India)