"RAOSAHEB"

Born : 1902

Died :

Nationality : Indian

( L-R ) Raosaheb, Chanji, Meher Baba, Gustadji. Courtesy of Glow Int. magazine - Fall 2017 p.7

1922

Kaikhushru Espandiar Afseri (later called Raosaheb) was an Irani who had come to know of Baba from two fellow Iranis, Ardeshir and Behramji. In 1922, he had once come to Manzil-e-Meem for the Master's darshan, but, at that time, Baba was not seeing anyone and Afseri had to leave.

Afseri was bitterly disappointed, thinking: "What is the use of this darbar [divine court] in which no one's worth is recognized. I am a sincere seeker of Truth, but still Meher Baba refuses me his darshan." He resolved never to approach Baba again, and his mind harbored this grudge for a long time.

One night the Master appeared in Afseri's dream and said, "In the court of a Sadguru, one should lead a dog's life! Even if you are thrown out, you should come back again and again — begging to find the entrance." This dream made Afseri extremely restless.

Afseri happened to meet Baidul, who brought him to Baba at the Bharucha Building. Baba asked him, "What do you want?"

Afseri replied, "To remain in your darbar!"

Baba said, "The time will come when I will call you. Meanwhile, be prepared and keep ready to come to me as soon as I call. I may send for you tomorrow, after a fortnight, or after four months. Whenever I call, be prepared to come that very moment!" This made Afseri happy and he now eagerly waited to enter Meher Baba's court, forgetting his previous complaint.

Lord Meher Revised Online Edition Page 481

Early 1920s : Meher Baba with men. Raosaheb in the rear top row. Imahe courtesy of Lord Meher Vol.4 p.1233. Image rendering by Anthony Zois.

India : Raosaheb is at centre rear with his hand over Padri's shoulder. Courtesy of Lord Meher - p.1233

1928 : Toka, India. Image rendering by Anthony Zois.

Image courtesy of Lord Meher - Vol.2 p.698

5th October 1929

Baba intended to proceed to Aurangabad and farther north to Nagpur that very night. Leaving Raosaheb and Ali Akbar in Toka, he started for Aurangabad with Chhota Baba and Khak Saheb, but the car got stuck in the mud after covering only four miles. Baba and the group spent the night in a wayside shelter and returned to Toka the following morning at eleven o'clock.

Images courtesy of Lord Meher , various volumes : Bhau Kalchuri

1930s advertisent in the magazine "Meher Message"

1930 : Meherabad, India. Meher Baba and his men. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.

1930 : Baba & the men mandali at U. Meherabad. Baba's alphabet bordis in front of Raosaheb. Photo courtesy of Lord Meher Vol.3 p.897.

1920s : Meher Baba and his men mandali. Image rendering by Anthony Zois.

China, 1932 - Men mandali at the statue of Deng Shiru and his cave in Hangzhou, China, prior to Meher Baba's visit.

Raosaheb-1 Feb 1969 - Courtesy of Glow Int. magazine - Fall 2017 p10