Shirdi Diary Of GS Kharpade: Lokmanya Tilak's Visit To Shirdi From Sangamner

19-5-17

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 Paan-supari 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 on the way. We put up in Dixit's Wada.

Bapu Saheb 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 the Masjid and paid our respects to Sai 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. Sai Saheb 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 Masjid and found Sai Maharaj lying down as if sleeping.

People gave Lokmanya a Paan-supari in the Chawadi there and we returned to the Masjid again. Sai Maharaj was sitting up and gave us udi and permission to go, so we started by the motor.