Colonel  Merwan Sohrab Irani

Born : November 1878 - British India

Died : 10th January 1960 - India

Married : Shireen S.

Parents : Sohrab Salamat Irani (m) & Shireen

Siblings : Daulat ( married Jehangir H Irani ) - 3 kids - Mehera, Freiny, Kersasp

                 Freiny ( married Nowraj Driver ) - 4 kids - Farendoon ( Padri ), Keki, Homi, Rusi

                 Farendoon (m) (married Dowla ). They raised Jamshed (m) ( Baba's oldest brother )

                 Ardeshir (m) ( married Daulat ) - 2 kids - Piroja & ?

                 Khorshed

                 Dinshaw (m) ( married Gula )

INDIAN

The Colonel was Mehera Irani's mother's brother

Colonel M. S. Irani was once the highest ranking Indian officer in the British army. He was known as the Master’s archenemy; Baba called him "His Ravanna", who was Rama’s arch-enemy. Due to his constant thinking of Meher Baba, even though it was in an opposing manner, it brought good fortune to the Colonel in his next lifetime, who reincarnated into a close Baba family.

Courtesy of Frank Davis - Baba's Words.

http://www.avatarmeherbaba.org/erics/glossh-j.html

COLONEL Merwan Sohrab Irani was the highest ranking Indian officer in the British army during World War I. 

He was the brother of Daulat Jehangir Irani, and after her husband's death, he looked after the family's material affairs. He had been worried about Daulat's contact with Upasni Maharaj and then Meher Baba, whom he thought would steal her family fortune. For a long time he had been disturbed that Daulat and her daughter Mehera were living in an austere ashram instead of in the comforts they were accustomed to. He wanted them to move back to his luxurious house in Poona and live a normal worldly life, but as they refused, he became a fierce opponent of Meher Baba, using his power and influence to try to undermine Baba s work.

On September 20th, at seven-thirty in the morning, the Colonel, along with a professor D. Kapadia of Deccan College and a relative J. Kapadia, arrived at Meherabad. Rustom cordially led the gentlemen on a tour of the ashram; however, he was not acquainted with Colonel Irani who was his wife Freiny's maternal uncle. Rustom had heard that the Colonel had actively denounced Baba for years and written slanderous articles against him. When Behramji saw the group being shown around, he recognized Colonel Irani at once and informed Rustom to beware of what he said.

Professor Kapadia had known Mohan Shahane who had studied at Deccan College years before. Seeing him in the ashram, Kapadia critically remarked, "It is not good for a bright lad like you to waste your time here." Mohan pointedly explained to him about Meher Baba. Not impressed, Kapadia cynically asked, "Where does all the money come from for all this?"

Mohan replied, "I have nothing to do with that. I only know that the poor, sick and destitute are being served here."

Colonel Irani interposed, "It is all self-advertisement! This is all a show of false spiritual greatness!" These bitter remarks set off an unpleasant argument between the mandali and the antagonistic visitors. The mandali stopped arguing when the Colonel and Kapadia claimed that Zarathustra, Buddha and Christ were simply ordinary men whom legend had made great.

Despite all this contention, the visitors still wanted to meet the Master. Baba arrived three hours late at ten-thirty, but when Rustom asked the men to kindly take their shoes off before entering Baba's room, they were insulted and abruptly left.

Colonel Irani's other sister was Freiny, Padri's mother, who lived near Babajan's seat in Char Bawdi in Poona. He had also become disturbed by Freiny's daily devotion to Hazrat Babajan and her allowing her son to join Meher Baba's ashram. This same morning, Padri was in a very dejected mood and was thinking of leaving Meherabad. While being taken on tour of the ashram, the Colonel passed by the dispensary where Padri was prescribing medicines, but they did not see each other. This was fortunate, for had Padri seen him when he was in such a depressed state, he probably would have left with his uncle for Poona.

Colonel Irani had reasons other than mere spite to be openly against Meher Baba. He was a very successful man, but was unmarried and lonely; he suffered a deep disappointment that his closest relatives Daulat and Mehera, whom he dearly loved, willingly stayed with a Guru in what seemed to be a desolate wilderness. Thinking Meher Baba had duped his sister and swindled her out of her money and property, he had become Baba's fierce enemy. Being a warrior at heart, he decided to wage his own private war against Meher Baba. It was the Colonel who was responsible for publishing fictitious and misleading stories about Meher Baba in the Parsi newspapers, which at first created suspicion among the Zoroastrian communities about Meher Baba's claim to be a God-Realized Master.

It has been said that the Colonel's antagonism became as pronounced as Ravana's against Ram; for almost thirty-five years he continued spreading the worst kind of false propaganda against Meher Baba. But this enmity and opposition was a medium for the Master's inner work, for many people came to know about Baba through the Colonel's articles. Although the information given was critical and hostile, it stirred curiosity in many people, eventually inspiring them to go and see Meher Baba for themselves. Having his darshan, instead of being met with the alleged "poison of Meher Baba," they found the sweet nectar of his loving presence. In many Iranis and Parsis, a firm faith in Meher Baba's divinity awakened and they later became his staunch followers.

Viewed from this perspective, Colonel Irani unknowingly served Meher Baba tremendously. Because of his ardent devotion to strongly opposing Baba, he too eventually experienced Baba's love. Baba used to remark about the Colonel, "He is fortunate to be remembering me, no matter how. You have no idea how he really feels about me."

After Colonel Irani's departure from Meherabad, the Master commented about worldly-minded people:

Courtesy of Lord Meher : Vol.3, pages 842 & 844

Rustom then related, "Baba, the Colonel especially criticized the activities in Meherabad. He said that he had studied a great deal about Zarathustra's life, but that he was not impressed with the things he observed at Meherabad."

Baba replied, "Zarathustra did in his time what he thought proper under the conditions then prevailing. Now, I do what I think best. I am not concerned if the world accepts it or not. It is better you leave if you want to do as you like. What is it to me if your relatives, friends or the whole world follow me or not? I am what I am!"

Baba had previously foretold that the Parsis and Iranis would be the cause of his death, but this did not mean his physical death. The meaning concerned the bitter opposition to him and his work which, though none knew it at the time, was essential for his deeper purposes. A great work was done through this opposition and people eventually saw what beneficial results manifested.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.3 , page 845

IN 1928, Colonel Irani began publishing critical articles about Meher Baba in the newspapers, inciting in the Irani and Parsi communities ill will and hatred toward him. The Colonel became totally preoccupied with his misconceived, false propaganda and also started sending objectionable letters directly to the Master and certain close followers.

Concerning Colonel Irani's activities, on October 9th, Baba remarked, "All this has no substance. There is nothing in it. It is not real suffering for me. Jesus had no roof over his head and had to wander all the time. I have no such hardships, yet I want and rather invite them. Let him write and speak against me. It will bear good results."

So, in actuality, Colonel Irani was a powerful medium for the Master and his work because, due to the Colonel's blasphemous attitude, Meher Baba's name rapidly came into prominence. When the Master began gathering disciples, the Parsi and Irani communities were opposed to him, almost fanatical in their opposition to the extent of even plotting his murder. But gradually, as their hostility simmered down, those Zoroastrians who had been most antagonistic to him eventually bowed their heads at his feet.

In fact, Baba was giving inner help to Colonel Irani to spread more opposition to him as an impetus for his work. Baba had once warned, "Parsis and Iranis will be the cause of my death." It did not mean that he would physically fall victim to their attacks; Baba's allusion was to this opposition. And those who opposed him in the beginning were to find him nearer to them in the end because of it. Baba had to work inwardly very hard and quickly through their opposition to bring them nearer to him, and this labor itself meant his near death. But all this was Baba's wish – to excite his opponents and intensify their opposition. It was Baba's spiritual game and it is impossible to understand the inner work he accomplished through the Parsi and Irani communities. The important thing is that those whom Baba had said would "be the death" of him came closer to him later on, and they eventually realized who he really was.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.Vol.3, page 1104

1928

CRITICISM of Baba by the press was a regular occurrence those days. Behind it was Colonel Irani, who was quite clever and active in his propaganda campaign. He even went so far as to try to persuade Baily to his viewpoint by bribing him.

On December 27th, Baba found out about Baily's involvement with the Colonel and warned, "If Baily succumbs to graft to support his habits of wine, women and song, he will be like Judas. But I won't allow it to happen. I love him and will see that he does not slip off the path." Soon after, Baba sent Vishnu to Poona, and he returned with Baily the next day. Baily sought Baba's forgiveness with tears streaming down his cheeks. He promised Baba he would change his habits and said he would write a fitting reply to the Colonel's allegations. Hearing this, Baba explained at length about the current antagonism against him:

You should not hate him (Colonel Irani); the man deserves to be pitied. We should not act in the same way as he does. We should harbor no bitterness for his criticism nor try to get the better of him. Instead we should patiently tolerate his obstructive tactics. How beautiful it was when Christ said, "If a person slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other." This is the real thing; otherwise, there is no difference between the Colonel and Baily.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.3, pages1130-1

"While on this subject, let me tell you an anecdote. The Parsis defame me and call me 'Shaitan – Devil' simply because I do not eat meat and fish. I don't drink liquor and have never been to a brothel. Their definition of a Parsi is that he should be a non-vegetarian, drink wine and lead an immoral life while at the same time wearing the religious symbols of the sadra and kusti, visiting the fire-temple, and paying heed to the priests. Thus, by their behavior, they themselves have become devils in fact! In short, a Parsi may do what he likes, but he is considered a pucca (true, faithful follower) if he simply wears the religious symbols.

"A fellow Zoroastrian Colonel Merwan Sohrab Irani once came to Meherabad. At that time, I was staying in a small cabin shaped like a table, which seemed to look like a chicken coop to him, and the austere, simple atmosphere of Meherabad disgusted him. To vent his spleen, he involved my activities in the columns of the daily press, exposing my work on the pretext of disclosing unworthy wrongdoings of fake sadhus and saints.

"Colonel Irani's actions are an example of a misunderstanding. He is really a friend, because he too is mine. It is only one Soul inhabiting the persons of my friends and
enemies. It is the same one Soul in everyone. If a person gently rubs his cheek or slaps himself with the same hand, he would not feel upset at his hand, because it is his hand whether it soothes or slaps. Likewise, all my well-wishers and critics are mine. All belong to me and all are equal."

Upon mention of Colonel Irani, Gandhi interjected, "Is he the Colonel Irani from Belgaum?" Chanji answered that he was the Superintendent at Matheran hill station. Gandhi sighed, "I know him; imagine that."

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.4, pages 1396-7

Meher Baba had a secret motive in aggravating Brunton, causing him eventually to write attacks against him. The fact was that, just as Baba had wished Colonel Irani to oppose him in India, he wished an influential person from the West to oppose him in Europe and America. Baba chose Brunton for this purpose, as he had certain work to accomplish through Brunton's antagonistic attacks and criticisms. Three years later, Brunton was to publish a popular book entitled In Search of Secret India which, although critical of the Master, drew Europeans and Americans to become interested in Meher Baba.

In an uneasy mood, Paul Brunton left Nasik on February 8th, travelling to the Hindu saint Ramana Maharshi's  ashram before returning to London.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.4, page 1459

While he was visiting the West, Baba had been informed of Dastur's antagonistic attitude. Baba had laughingly replied to Chanji, "Dastur is a very good man, but he acts like a spoiled child. It was he who used to call me Divine Majesty. If he has now turned against me, what does it matter? Jesus' work was done by Judas. So it is with our friend Dastur. Just as Judas could not understand in spite of being with Christ for several years, so has Dastur been unable to grasp the secret of this life despite years of contact with me."

Baba helped Dastur express this hostility to a great extent, but Baba did not wish for Feram to play into Dastur's hands and be influenced by him. Baba indirectly cautioned and saved Feram from following in Dastur's footsteps. Like Meher Baba's Zoroastrian archenemy Colonel M. S. Irani, Dastur was a wonderful example of the Master's method of working, whereby Baba's antagonist received direct help from him and was even encouraged to indulge in nefarious activities against him.

Coutesy : Lord Meher - Vol.5, page 1528

The rental complex in Bombay where Shireen, Beheram and Perin resided was called Banu Mansion. They resided there for approximately six months of the year and for six months at another bungalow elsewhere in Bombay. It was a large bungalow, and Shireen rented a cottage in the compound. The house was located in Dadar on the Main Road, almost directly opposite Manzil-e-Meem. Naoroji Dadachanji and his family had resided in the rear of the main building prior to moving to their new home, Boman Lodge. All the tenants of Banu Mansion were either Parsis or Iranis. It was well known that Shireen was Meher Baba's mother, and the other residents harassed her terribly, being vehemently opposed to Baba, believing he was committing heresy against the Zoroastrian religion by setting himself as a Master.

During this period, Daulatmai's brother, Colonel Irani, was still publishing defamatory articles in the Gujarati newspapers about Baba, misleading the Irani and Parsi community of Bombay with his baseless allegations. But there was also a group of Parsis and Iranis in Bombay, namely the Dadachanji, Katrak, Kotwal, Desai, Merchant, Baria and Pleader families, who were staunch followers of Baba. No amount of propaganda could sway them. These families tolerated insults and mocking taunts from their own communities and became ostracized by them. It was their rock-like faith in Meher Baba that made them hold to him. Thus, by facing such opposition, their love was tested.

Mother Shireen was the main target of these antagonists from the Zoroastrian community, and she was troubled the most. While she was residing in Banu Mansion, all her neighbors, except for three persons, approached the landlord and threatened to vacate the building if he failed to evict Shireen. They even signed a petition to this effect.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.5, page 2009

Meanwhile,Venkatapathaiya began corresponding with Colonel Irani and others opposed to Baba. He held his own public meeting on December 10th, for the said purpose "to examine the credentials of Shri Meher Baba and to protest against the establishment of the Meher Baba Universal Spiritual Centre at Byramangala."

Jal Kerawala, Dr. Ghani, Dr. Deshmukh and Norina had published a small booklet entitled, Meher Baba's Raj of Truth – Crown of Truth. It attempted to allay the public's fears about Meher Baba and to answer some of the opposition's criticism. With Baba's consent, they attended the meeting and tried to distribute the booklet.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.7,  page 2480

After the foundation-laying ceremony at Byramangala and the starting of the construction of the center, reports, both pro and con, began appearing regularly in the local newspapers about Meher Baba and his work. Meanwhile, the vindictive attorney Venkatapathaiya invited Colonel M. S. Irani to Bangalore to help in his campaign against Baba. The Colonel arrived from Poona in January. From the early 1920s, since his sister, Daulatmai, and nieces, Mehera and Freiny, dedicated their lives to Baba, Colonel Irani had been vehemently opposed to Baba, writing outrageous accusations in the Gujarati press. He had continued this hostile propaganda throughout the ensuing years and now in Bangalore he delivered two lectures at public meetings, and also one in Mysore.

About one hundred fifty persons attended his lecture entitled, "My Experiences With Pseudo Saints," on January 30th. The Colonel, however, disappointed his audience by attacking only one person – namely, Meher Baba. Even the chairman of the meeting, the mayor of Bangalore, objected to the Colonel's one-sided arguments. Norina, Nadine and Jal Kerawala attended the talk, and Jal asked pointed questions, which the Colonel could not answer well.

Yet despite all the Colonel's best efforts, how could this opposition detrimentally affect Baba's work? Even the Colonel's hostility was part of Baba's work and actually accelerated it further. After the Colonel's visit to Bangalore, Ghani Munsiff published a pamphlet entitled "The Spiritual Hoax of Lt. Colonel M. S. Irani," in which he defended Baba and answered all the Colonel's erroneous statements and mendacious accusations.

In his lecture, Colonel Irani at one point had stated that he had been to Sakori to see Upasni Maharaj, and had been told to read his books which he found "irrelevant matter."

In reply to this, Ghani Munsiff bitingly wrote: "As for the Lt. Colonel not seeing anything enlightening in the books of Upasni Maharaj, we quote the words of a sage who said:

In reply to Ghani's publication, the Colonel financed his own vicious rebuttal in the form of a bigger booklet, grandiosely entitled Meher Baba, The Greatest Hoax of the 20th Century

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.7, page 2507

Colonel Irani, a Zoroastrian, was rumored to be planning a visit to Bangalore. Baba hinted he would like the Colonel to come and see him, so that once and for all this problem of his opposition might cease. "Then he and I both will feel at ease," Baba stated. Explaining further, Baba took pity on the stubborn man:

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.7, page 2498

However, because of Colonel Irani's agitation against Meher Baba in the newspapers, and having heard others of the Bombay Parsi community attack Baba, Sohrabji had no true feelings of reverence for Baba. But because of his son Noshir, he came to Meherabad seeking Baba's help to relieve his anxiety.

Baba first kept Noshir with him, sending Sohrabji and Hoshi out. Calling them back after a few minutes, he remarked to Sohrabji, "Give me Noshir; let him stay here with me." Sohrabji was shocked at the idea and immediately left with his sons. He felt confirmed that what the Colonel had said was all true. His mind revolted and he began having disparaging thoughts about Baba.

But within two to three months, his mental turmoil lessened and he repented for not surrendering Noshir to Baba. Noshir became even more abnormal. The boy would visit tombs and graveyards and spend the night there. Sohrabji arranged his marriage, but the boy's mentality did not change.

Sohrabji was later to come to Baba's feet again, and greatly repent for his mistake. The man who was so hostile to Baba in the beginning, became a staunch worker in Meher Baba's cause and was the one who, years later, opened the first Meher Baba center in Bombay.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.8, page 2892

But the Lord of Compassion was about to turn his key. On the way to Surat, at every station he directed Baidul to get down and inquire whether any telegram had been received about Adi's death. None was sent, and the child slowly recovered. Baba's insistent inquiries had saved his life.

A few Bombay lovers also journeyed to Surat for the darshan program, as did some Bombay Parsis who were adamantly against Baba – due to Colonel Irani's influence. By creating opposition, however, they were unknowingly helping to establish faith in the hearts of some other Parsis. For in fact, some of those who had come to oppose Baba left with their hearts at his feet. There was also a hostile element in Surat itself, and some of those people joined forces with those from Bombay in opposing Baba.

Baba arrived in Surat at five o'clock on the morning of September 18th. From the station, he was paraded in a beautifully decorated automobile to the home of Sohrab Vakil. Baba was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd. The opposition forces that had collected to shout slogans against him were outnumbered by his devotees. Amidst the crowd, here and there, a few people whispered against Baba, but not one had the nerve to come out openly with their criticism.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.9, page 3188

Lord Meher, 1st. ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 11, p. 3902.

Along with them came Captain A. V. Rajagopal. He too was given a private interview on June 6th. Baba remarked to him, "The final interview does not need even a split second, and within that fraction of a moment you know everything. Compared with the final interview, all other interviews matter very little." Baba then embraced him and he left.

Unfortunately, Captain Rajagopal later wrote several vituperative letters to Yogi Bharati, Adi Sr. and others, reminiscent of Colonel M. S. Irani's attempts in the late 1930s to stoke the fires of opposition against Baba. Rajagopal called Baba an "international fraud" – "a seasoned criminal who preys on the gullibility of the poor children of India" – "an unscrupulous rascal," and other regrettable terms.

Courtesy : Lord Meher - Vol.17, page 5768

From Bhau:

This morning (Thursday, 12th December, 2001), as usual, I was walking in front of my room. Every day, I walk for half an hour for exercise. So today also I was walking, when something Beloved Baba said came into my mind: that during this advent, He would have twelve Judases.

Immediately, I started thinking, "Who are those twelve Judases? And why would there be twelve Judases in this age?"

Then another thought came into my mind: In the beginning, when Beloved Baba started His mission, there was one Colonel M.S. Irani from Poona.

He was opposing Baba, and he created a lot of trouble with his efforts to turn the Parsi and Irani community against the Avatar. He would distribute misinformation to newspapers. He would travel from place to place, lecturing against Baba. In 1939, he printed a book entitled MEHER BABA, THE HOAX, and when Baba was in Bangalore, Colonel Irani took two truckloads of this book to be handed out for free. He also arranged lectures in different Bangalore localities.

When he approached the city, one of the trucks toppled over. Nevertheless, he still gave lectures against Baba and distributed these books. Day and night, he thought about nothing except how to defeat Beloved Baba’s work and turn people against Him. Colonel Irani was also collecting stalwarts to work against the Avatar. The more opposition he created, the more people came to know about Beloved Baba.

He was a retired military doctor, and he had plenty of free time to do his work against Meher Baba. He had no other occupation except opposing Beloved Baba, and all the time, he was restless about how to accomplish Baba’s downfall.

He died in the 1960s, and his name was added to the list of Baba lovers!

From time to time, Baba would ask a mandali member to read aloud the list of those dead ones who had loved and served Him. Colonel Irani’s name was right there on that list. Generally, when Baba was in seclusion, He would ask the names of the dead lovers to be read out to Him. He would hear this list, not just once, but every day for 15 days, 20 days, 40 days. It would go on and on.

Baba would always remember Colonel Irani, whose work was like that of Judas. No one would remember Baba as Colonel Irani did. As everything happens according to Divine Will, whatever he was doing also fell under Divine Will. Though he was opposing Beloved Baba wholeheartedly, sincerely and honestly, he was also remembering Him wholeheartedly. There was no other work but opposition for Colonel Irani. Though he would go on opposing and opposing Him, he was Beloved Baba’s child, and Baba could not ignore him.

That’s why Colonel Irani’s name was put in the list of dead ones who followed Beloved Baba.

Colonel Irani’s actions were like those of Judas. But as he was doing Baba’s work according to the Divine Will, Colonel Irani was very close to Beloved Baba.

Judas betrayed Lord Jesus. He was the only member of Jesus’ Circle who could have done it. Jesus wanted Judas to carry this betrayal, and He made Judas do exactly that. Judas was following the Divine Will, and at the same time, he was obeying the Divine Wish because Jesus made him act according to His Wish. When he realized what he had done against the Lord, Judas hanged himself. He could not bear what he had done.

Colonel Irani acted according to the Divine Will, but he did not become aware of the Divine Wish.

During the time of Lord Ram, Ravana not only opposed Ram and did everything against Him that he could, but he abducted Ram’s wife, Sita, to Lanka. So what was he doing? He was behaving according to the Divine Will, but he never paid attention to the Divine Wish. Judas was following Jesus all the time. He was in His circle, and the Universal Work of Jesus required Him to make Judas betray Him. Judas could not understand this. After he betrayed Jesus, he repented and repented to the extent that he hanged himself.

The role of Judas was very, very important.

It was a very, very difficult one, and Judas played it unconsciously. Had he become conscious of that role, he would not have been able to carry it out. No one else could have performed it, so the Lord Himself made Judas do so.

Lord Jesus himself was crucified by the actions of Judas, but Judas had to betray Jesus because Jesus Himself made him do so. Colonel Irani’s role, however, was quite different from that of Judas.

What Lord Jesus did for the sake of humanity, nobody can understand, and whatever Judas did at the time was the culmination of the work of Lord Jesus for humanity. After His Crucifixion, Jesus continued to do His work, but no one in the world knows this secret.

K.F. Dastur was one of Baba’s mandali and edited the magazine, MEHER MESSAGE. He was a well-qualified and intelligent individual and would always be with Baba.

Dastur would employ flowery language in his magazine, addressing Baba as "His Highness Meher Baba..."

No one would pay any attention.

When Beloved Baba went to the West in 1931, He did not take K.F. Dastur with Him. Dastur became very annoyed. He started writing against Baba in MEHER MESSAGE.

When Baba returned from the West, He asked Dastur, "How did you manage to release MEHER MESSAGE in My absence? Did you take a loan from anyone to print the magazine? Collect all this money you spent from Rustom (one of Baba’s Mandali), and don’t spend anything from your own pocket."

Dastur was writing against Baba in His Own magazine, and Baba was financing it!

And see what happened? More and more people started flocking to Baba!

Dastur was very lean and thin, and when he went with Baba to Madras, he was giving a lecture before Baba. "Do you know who is Meher Baba? He is His Highness Meher Baba. His name is so sacred that you should take blood from your body and go on writing His name." What do you think of His Highness Meher Baba! He is so high that we can praise Him only when go on writing His name continuously with the blood of our body.” And Baba asked someone quietly, “Just go and see whether he has any blood.”

Baba, smiling, asked someone sitting near Him, "Whether Dastur has blood?"

Dastur would be with Baba, and what did he do?

He felt that he was the only person qualified to deal with Westerners, and Baba did not take him to the West. He wanted to accompany Baba, and when the Avatar did not take him to the West, Dastur, the same person who had been writing flowery praises of Beloved Baba, started writing against Him. In this way Dastur also did part of the work which Judas had done.

Colonel Irani was honest and sincere. That’s why he will be placed in the Memorial Tower, while K.F. Dastur was Judas.

But Baba has said that He will have twelve Judases, and that His Universal Manifestation will take place only when Maya (Illusion) reaches the zenith.

Courtesy of :http://www.jaibaba.com/mandali/bhau/bhau_12_12.html

The Excellence of Zoroastrianism Fact or Fiction

11 page pamphlet

Courtesy of :

http://archive.org/details/TheExcellenceOfZoroastrianismFactOrFiction

Extract from "A Mischievous Chicken "

p.31

Sailing to Hind (India)

Qissa couplet
Line 110: "If not, we will be caught in a snare, our wisdom will be of no help and all our effort will be naught.
It is for the better that we flee from the evil ones towards Hind (India)."
In fear of their lives and for the sake of their faith, they sped towards Hind.
In haste, a ship* they readied and hoisted its sail
After the women and children had boarded the ship, they set sail for Hind.

[Note: * Hodivala's translation refers to one ('the') ship. The translation in Colonel M. S. Irani's book first mentions 'the ship' in couplet 113 and then 'ships' in couplet 114. Again in couplet 120 we have 'ships' and then in 121 we have 'ship'.

Regarding the reason the migrants chose a sea route and a coastal area for settlement, we wonder if perhaps some of the refugees were traders or knew other Zoroastrian traders who owned ships and who wished a establish a home port away from Iran, but in a place they were familiar with and one that was part of their existing trade routes between the Middle East and China. In this manner, the ship(s) they used for the migration would continue to be used for trading and the settlers would provide a home base for the traders' families. The migration could have started with an initial sailing and once a settlement had been procured the ships would go back, spread the word and others especially, those familiar with trading and extended travelling would follow.

http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/history/qissa1.htm

Interview with Naosherwan Anzar by Margaret Magnus

The collection has one-of-a-kind material, specially the material inherited from Col. M. S. Irani, a critic of Meher Baba who collected an enormous amount of material in its original format in order to launch scurrilous attacks on Meher Baba. These materials ended up in the hands of my mother's maternal uncle, Major Sohrab Bamji, also a critic of Meher Baba, who eventually handed it all to me. It is an incredible record of Meher Baba's life, ironically collected and preserved by the Avatar's critics.

http://www.belovedarchives.org/index

The Clayton mission
to Sana'a of 1926

by JOHN SHIPMAN

Clayton arranged for Antonius to be appointed Secretary to his Sana’a Mission; other members included Lieut. -Colonel M. C. Lake and Shaikh Muhammad Salim from the Aden Residency; Lieut. -Colonel M. S. Irani from the Indian Medical Service; Shaikh Yislam Ba Ruwais, transport officer; and four servants. Lake, who played no direct part in the Mission’s negotiations, probably took the photographs of Sana’a.

http://www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/shipman01.htm