very radiant these days, and He looks thinner since His return from the south. Last night He called us over to see Jal K., when we were out, and Baba was peeved — so we expected a row this morning, but He seemed so pleased about the affair, that no row was given to us. At any rate it is really a privilege to be ticked off by Baba. I have such a deep feeling of satisfaction and love from Him, when He does it, even though superficially it is no joke. Baba has told me that henceforward I must be on the Centre Committee, because I am to be in charge of the hospital when it is built.

I still wonder how much of this scheme will come to fruition; (Donkin continues what is evidently his own comments that a change in the succession of the Ruler of the State at any time might mean new administrative arrangements in departments of the State - Ed.)*

4/12/1939    Baba had a big meeting of all the Mandali this morning to tease Dr. Ghani because he has breakfast before he cleans his teeth. Then He got Jal K. to describe how they got the new masts from Trichinopoly. The most troublesome was "Chatty" Baba, so called since he always carried his water chatty with him. After some trouble due to floods, when the car had to follow an irrigation bank for 80 miles, as the road had been washed away, they reached some place from Trichinopoly. Here Baba said the Mast was, though Kaka said no. Sure enough they found him and got him into the car. At the hotel Baba fed him and bathed him, and all Chatty Baba's local followers came to see him in the hotel. Baba told the others not to say who He was, but to call Him Uncle or friend who was unwell. When the crowds saw Baba bathing the Mast, they said "Look, your Uncle is O.K. now due to Chatty Baba". They got him to Tanjore all right, but there he ran out from the hotel; with great difficulty they got him back, and he began throwing earth over himself in the hotel compound. Then Baba started throwing buckets full of water over him, clothes and all, and thus calmed him down a lot. He would not often look at Baba, and would always stand up when Baba was there. In the train too he stood up when Baba sat, and Baba had to tell him to sit down. Baba says he is on the 6th plane. Now that he is here, he has lost his love for his water chatty, which is broken and thrown away. He has very clear eyes.

The Belgaum Mast "pinched" some food brought specially from a restaurant for Mr. Chakravatti, a visitor; when discovered he was very sheepish, but he bosses people about a lot. He is on the 6th plane too, Baba says. Baba is pleased as punch with all these new masts, and poor Mahomed has no longer the first claim upon Baba's attentions. He is between the 3rd and 4th planes. Apparently as well as helping the Masts, the washing, etc. of them by Baba gets rid of the sanskaras of the Mandali.

Today we operated on a papilloma in Sidhu’s brother's face. I hope it will heal O.K. with asepsis. We had Baba's permission. Today Baba said that the war is gradually involving more and more nations, and spoke of what might happen, with regard to the present grouping of the powers.

*Editor of first typed MSS