Meher Baba letters to Nirmala Kale wife of Babu Kale (Shreedhar) s/o Kalemama
Nirmala Kale (in black saree) was daughter of Shridhar Pandit of Nagpur. Pandit was working in Indian Railways at Ajmer but died in service. After fathers death Nirmala’s uncle who was District Judge at Nagpur brought all the children to Nagpur for further education. Nirmala’s younger brother Bhavani Shankar Pandit was a well known Marathi Poet. B.S. Pandit was Proff and HOD of Marathi in Govt College of Nagpur, and wrote many childrens story books and poetry. Nirmala herself was a poet, philosopher and social worker. She married Mr. Kotibhaskar who unfortunately died young and later while she was at Panchgani for work, Nirmala met Shridhar Ranchandra Kale or Babu (Kalemama’s son) and married him. During early 1950’s while she was Matron of Central Jail at Jabalpur, Kalemama came to Jabalpur after he fell sick at Meherabad ashram during 1952 or 53 and stayed about a month or so for treatment and relief, before returning to Meherabad. Since Babu and Murli (Kalemama’s son) both were with Meher Baba since prem ashram boys days of 1927, Nirmala came into Meher Baba’s contact and started writing poems on Meher Baba which were occasionally read out to Baba.
Nirmala was instrumental in requesting Baba to release Murli from New Life and as resident mandali so Murli could come and stay with her at Jabalpur and practice homeopathy, and look after her as well. Baba though released Murli through New Life Circular no 27 to go to Jabalpur. Later Murli got married in February 1958, both of them looked after Nirmala’s old age till she died on 12th July 1968. She met Meher Baba in 1962 and 1965 during the darshan program alongwith Murli and family. Even after retirement the Central Jail authorities invited her every Sunday to give sermon to women prisoners. Nirmala Kale wrote many poems and songs for Baba which were read out to Baba and Meher Baba highly appreciated them. In one of the letters through Bhau, Baba conveyed the message to her as below:
“Fortunate are those who remember God very often from the bottom of their heart but still, more fortunate are those whom God himself remembers”
“You will be very happy to know that Baba remembered you very much just two days before and asked me to convey His fond love to you”
Yours Sincerely
Bhau Kalchuri
Dt: 19.04.1957
When Nirmala Kale passed away on 12th July 1968 and news reached Meherabad, Baba sent a telegram through Eruch to Murli Kale on 14.07.1968 as below”
“BABA SAYS YOUR LOVE AND KALEPARIVARS LOVE FOR HIM HAVE BROUGHT BABU’S WIFE CLOSER TO HIM TO REST IN HIS LOVE BABA SENDS HIS LOVE BLESSINGS TO YOU AND FAMILY – ERUCH “
