OM SAI RAM
LOKMANYA TILAK’S VISIT TO SHIRDI FROM SANGAMNER 19-5-17
Shirdi-
I got up early in the morning, but so many people gathered that I could not pray. There was a movement to keep us here and not let us go till after noon and Kelkar appeared to throw his weight on the side of the movement, but most unaccountably I felt angry and insisted upon starting. So after a Pansupari in the house of Mr. Sant, a leading pleader of Sangamner, we started about 8-30 a.m.
We reached Shirdi, about 10 a.m., after a puncture of the way. We put up in Dixit’s Wada. Bapu Sahib Bootee, Narayan Rao Pandit, and the establishment of Bootee were there. My old friends Madhawrao Deshpande, Balasahib Bhate, Bapusahib Jog, and others gathered. We went to Musjid and paid our respects to Sayin Maharaj. I never saw him so much pleased before.
He asked for Daxina as usual and we all paid. Looking at Lokamanya he said, “People are bad, keep yourself to yourself.” I made my bow and he took some rupees from me. Kelkar and Paregonkar also paid. Madhavrao Deshpande asked permission for us to proceed to Yeola. Sain Sahib said “Why do you want to go in the heat to die on the way? Have your food here and then go in the cool of the afternoon. Shama, feed these people”. So we stayed, had our food with Madhavrao Deshpande, lay down for a few minutes and then again went to the Musjid and found Sayin Maharaj lying down as if sleeping. People gave Lokmanya a Pansupari in the Chawadi there and we returned to the Musjid again. Sayin Maharaj was sitting up and gave us udi and permission to go, so we started by the motor.
JAI SAI RAM