LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR -- A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI-DEVOTEE

[Guest guest]

Desire to slay permanently at Shirdi

 

While working as Sub-Judge in Pandharpur, a court case regarding the '

Arati' rights of the famous Vithoba Temple came before him and as per his

usual truthful and distinct nature gave a decision generally not expected by

the public. Then he took some leave for rest and went to Shirdi along with

his family. When Tatyasaheb went to see Sai Baba. He lovingly said, "Tatyaba

! It's good you have come. How long are you staying?" Thereupon Tatyasaheb

replied, "Baba ! I do not feel like leaving this place. Now please let me

stay here. In the court I have decided a case concerning Lord Vithoba

Himself. Now do not make me hold the pen again to write decisions on cases

concerning human beings. It is enough now." On this Baba uttered. "Yes. so

will it be" as if prophetically.

 

Arrival of a school-friend

Tatyasaheb Noolkar and Babasaheb alias Nilkanth Ramachandra Sahasrabuddhe

were close friends while studying at Pune High School. But afterwards for

25-30 years they never came across each other. Now while Taiyasaheb .was

silting in Sathe Wada, one gentleman came near and wished him. So Tatyasaheb

said to him, "There is no doubt that you have recognised me but I am sorry

that I cannot recollect you". Thereupon the gentleman said. "You are

physically such that having seen you once nobody can forget you, while like

me there must be hundreds of individuals. We have also not met last 25-30

years. So it is quite natural that you cannot recognise me. But now see if

you can remember a person called Nilkanth Sahasrabuddhe known to you from

Pune High School." No sooner Tatyasaheb heard this, he jumped and embraced

Babasaheb lightly. After inquiries about each other's welfare and

whereabouts were over, Babasaheb narrated to Taiyasaheb as to how he landed

up at Shirdi from Bombay on insistence of Nanasaheb Chandorkar and

Kakasaheb Dixit, who not only paid him the railway fare but also gave a note

to Shri Madhavrao Deshpande. On this Tatyasaheb said, "We will of course

send for Madhavrao Deshpande, but from now onwards you are my guest and

making all arrangements of your comfortable stay at Shirdi is my right only.

 

After bath etc. they all along with Bapusaheb Jog went to the Masjid for

Arati. When Sahasrabuddhe bowed to Sai Baba, He said to him, "serve

Tatyaba". This order to Sahasrabuddhe was repealed by Baba on second and

third day also. Both Talyasaheb and Babasaheb could not understand the

implication of such order. Later on when Babasahcb, time and again, started

jokingly asking Tatyasaheb, "What service should I do to you as per your

Guru's orders ?" Taiyasaheb once replied, "What is the implication of His

orders, Baba alone knows. We will know when the time comes. Both you and me

are of the same class and after coming here I am absorbed here completely.

Perhaps you may also be similarly absorbed soon. However, please stop your

this joking manner. I feel very hurt thereby."

 

In between, Madhavrao used to open the topic with Baba about Babasaheb's

going back from Shirdi, but every time Baba used to say, "He will go after 4

days." Then at last one day he said, "Let him lie down in front of Masjid

like a dog. We want him here in future for some big job. You do not know. He

has not come here without any reason."

 

to be contd...

 

by Late Lt.Col Nimbalkar

Pune

(Source Shri Sai Leela May June 1991)