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November 5, 1982:
Baba1 had slight fever all day, and at 8.15 in the evening had a
good deal of discomfort, with heavy breathing and a rapid pulse. The
doctors diagnosed a heart attack. Treatment was given and by the 7th
the condition was definitely improved.
The following evening, November 8, Baba refused to take either water
or medicine. Next morning he again refused to take water, medicine
or food. He did not speak but whenever these things were brought he
indicated his refusal. The medical bulletin ran: ‘There was a
definite and satisfactory improvement in health and every
possibility of a full recovery; but because of the determination not
to take food, medicine or water there is now grave danger.’
Although he was very tired, he would speak a word or two to anyone
who came to his side. Some he remem- bered by their work, others by
their names—a continuous flow of compassionate interest. On the 12th
the doctors reported no deterioration in his condition and on the
14th: ‘Weakness and tiredness notwithstanding, he is fully conscious
and his face shines with a spiritual radiance.’ That evening the
pulse became so feeble and blood-pressure so low that the doctors
agreed that the condition was critical, but an hour and a half later
both blood-pressure and pulse were again normal, and temperature
also. The doctors checked periodically till four in the morning;
everything was completely normal and they finally left off,
recognizing that this was an astonishing case.
At 7.30 that morning, the 15th, a French girl associate of the
Ashram, who had arrived from France the previous night, began to
press him earnestly to drink some water. He laughingly signed to her
to drink it herself and then pointed with his finger to a small
wooden board with ‘Rama-Hari’ written on it.
He was lying with his eyes closed, his face full of peace, his whole
body clean and clear, the only movement that of breathing and of the
feet keeping time with the inward chant of ‘Rama-Hari’, which in the
most difficult times had never been interrupted. Just at 9.30 a.m.,
quietly and easily, the breathing ceased.
As Vinoba had said so often, to so many gatherings, ‘This is the
end. Jai Jagat. My salutations to you all. Rama-Hari.’ |
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