KALEMAMA – Old Mandali of Meher Baba
[Born: Born on 12th February 1877 Died: 16th Aug 1954 at Meherabad Ashram]
Meher Baba Journal Sep 1941
RAMCHANDRA BAPUJI KALE, popularly known to Baba’s Mandali as Kalemama
* A series of life-sketches of Meher Baba’s disciples.
It was therefore a chance circumstance, that he received a call from a relation to see him at Arangaon (Meherabad) where he (the relation) was staying with Meher Baba for some private and important business of his own. A few months prior to this invitation, in the month of February 1926, Kalemama happened to receive a pamphlet in Marathi styled as “Satsamagam” and it contained among others a short account of Shri Meher Baba and his activities for the spiritual uplift of humanity at Arangaon (Ahmednagar Dist.). In the said pamphlet the author had quoted the words of Shri Meher Baba saying, “To serve man is to serve God.” The basic truth—universally acknowledged and sung—underlying the words of Meher Baba, found and touched a sympathetic chord in the heart strings of Kalemama—bespeaking the spiritual bent of mind that he had though unexpressed.
Thus the invitation of his relation for him to go over to Meherabad in May 1926 was eagerly availed of and he considered it to be a God-sent opportunity to have Meher Baba’s Darshan as well. Kalemama was allowed to stay at Meherabad for two days and what looked like a chance meeting and Darshan of Shri Meher Baba for him, proved to have a far-reaching effect on the future trend and career of his life. Hereafter he felt within himself an unspeakable urge and longing to see Meher Baba as often as possible, and he therefore availed himself of all holidays and weekends to run down to Arangaon from Dhulia where at the time he was functioning as Chief Officer to the Municipality. This ingrowing desire to have the benefit of Meher Baba’s ‘Sahavas’ (company) and to participate in his noble cause of service to humanity,found its fulfilment in the year 1930 when he retired from service.
Accordingly he went over to Meherabad and stayed with his wife there with a separate establishment of his own. After the demise of his wife in 1934*, he became a permanent inmate of Meher Baba’s Ashram at Meherabad, and he is there along with others since then. Besides the life of austerity and self-denial obtaining at the Ashram, Kalemama in spite of his age, has proved himself immensely useful in his professional capacity as engineer for buildings and other constructional works at Meherabad and Bangalore which fact has been greatly appreciated by the Master. To-day he is at Meherabad ever eager and ready to serve the cause of the Master in loving co-operation with the other Mandali members who own regards and respect for the seniority of his age, his genial temperament and his love for the Master.
[Publisehd in Meher Baba Journal Sep 1941 issue]
Note: Kalemama died in Meherabad Ashram on 16th Aug 1954. This above article was published in Journals in 1941 which is reproduced for reference.
Baba paid particular attention to Kalemama, and later it seemed that he had come all the way to Ahmednagar just to see him. Despite being 78 years old, Kalemama was in good health and happy, but the meeting proved to be his last, as three months later, at Meherabad on 16 Aug 1954, he departed this life. (Lord Meher page 3548)
Mrs. KALEMAMA
It is mentioned in Lord Meher biography of Meher Baba as; “during this same period, Kalemama’s wife Janki was seriously ill with heart trouble. Baba went to the Family Quarters to see her on Tuesday, 13 March 1934. She felt so happy at seeing Baba that she forgot her pain. Baba assured her, “You will be freed tomorrow. Do not worry.” The woman expired at 3:30 A.M. that night and was freed forever by the God-Man.”(LM page:1592)
After the death of his wife, Kalemama moved to the men mandali’s quarters and lived there the rest of his life until 16th Aug 1954 when he also died, and cremated at lower Meherabad. ] Her name was included in the list of dear departed ones by Baba, alongwith her daughter Chingutai (Mrs. Manorama w/o Rasaheb Pandit]
References from Lord Meher.
During November 1929, Baba went to the Pandu Lena Caves several times and once visited Gangapur Falls. On Saturday, 30 November, Kalemama came to Nasik with his wife Janki and his elder brother Krishna Rao “Annasaheb” Kale. Baba personally looked after them and ordered the best arrangements for their stay, for these three individuals were soon to become permanent members of his mandali.
[Lord Meher Page – 1124]
During this same period, Kalemama’s wife Janki was seriously ill with heart trouble. Baba went to the Family Quarters to see her on Tuesday, 13 March 1934. She felt so happy at seeing Baba that she forgot her pain. Baba assured her, “You will be freed tomorrow. Do not worry.” The woman expired at 3:30 A.M. that night and was freed forever by the God-Man. After the death of his wife, Kalemama moved to the men mandali’s quarters and lived there the rest of his life.
[Lord Meher Page – 1592]
Kalemama (Ramchandra Bapuji Kale or R. B. Kale – was commonly knows as Kalemama in Meher Baba’s circle) was Meher Baba’s close companion and one of the earliest Mandali, since 1926. A Civil Engineer by Profession graduated in 1903 from then Poona Science college, Kalemama held a number of responsible positions in Maharastra Govt services, as Chief Executive Officer of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, Estate Engineer at Ballarshah, and Chief Officer of Dhule Municipal Corporation etc. Kalemama was one of those disciples of Baba who also had the rare opportunity to meet Shri Sai Baba, Shri Upasni Maharaj and Shri Narayan Maharaj, a number of times. The Wedding of one of Shri Sai Baba’s very well known disciple Mr. Bhate’s daughter was proposed with Kalemama’s elder brother Anna Kale. Shri Sai Baba called the families to Shirdi, and Kalemama spent his Winter holidays at the Shirdi Ashram in 1910. Kalemama along with Mrs. Kalemama and Murli came to settle at Meherabad Ashram after accepting Meher Baba as their spiritual guide. Kalemama being a civil engineer supervised a number of construction activities at Maherabad. Mrs. Kalemama passed away at Meherabad on 14th March 1934 at 3.30 am early morning and Kalemama on 16 Sep,1954.
You can read his personal diary describing his meeting the Perfect Masters
For a brief translated English version of Kalemama’s story from the original diary pages, follow the link to Bhopal Center web site above …
Kalemama also had the rarest opportunity to meet the living Sadguru’s Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, Sadguru Shri Upasni Maharaj of Sakori and Sadguru Shri Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon-Bet. It was during 1939 while he was at his daughter’s place in Panchgani, who was married to Shri Raosaheb Pandit founder Principal of the well known “Sanjeevani Vidhyalaya” of Panchgani, Kalemama wrote his memoirs of his meeting with the Perfect Masters. The Rare Scanned images of Kalemama’s original Diary in his own handwriting mentioning these privileged meetings with the Perfect Masters and Meher Baba are available in this section of our Web Site for general information and record.
You can read his personal diary describing his meeting the Perfect Masters
[Kalemama’s diary pages are his handwritten documents describing his personal meetings with the Perfect Masters like Shri Sai Baba, Shri Narayan Maharaj and Shri Upasni Maharaj on several occasions. Kalemama also met Meher Baba in 1926 and the followed Meher Baba as his Spiritual Master and Guide and became a Mandli and later passed away at Meherabad on 16the Sepctember 1954. Please freely contact www.trustMeher.org for permission before publication of images,excerpts,extracts or translation of Kalemama’s story.)
MURLI KALE – Mandali and New life companion of Meher Baba
Murli Kale and his elder brother Shreedhar were both amongst the fist 10 students of the Hazrat Babajan School at Meherabad in 1927 during the prem ashram days. He was also Baba’s New Life Companion. Murli later became a qualified Homeopath, and attended the Homeopathic dispensary at Meherabad Ashram, as a Doctor. He gave medicines to the mandli and the poor villagers. Later Murli accepted the conditions of New Life and joined New Life. Baba highly appreciated Murli for his implicit obedience and cheerfulness in adverse conditions of New life, as a Mandli and as a Companion. There are many humorous stories of his wit during the hardships of Ashram days, in various books and references on Meher Baba. Murli also wanted to go to England for higher studies in Homeopathy and his passport was issued with permanent address as Meherabad in 1952, which he but could not go as Baba, through a New Life Circular No: 27 permitted Murli to settle at Jabalpur and practice homeopathy, and Murli came to Jabalpur in 1952. At Jabalpur he started a Meher Charitable Dispensary, and a number of new Baba lovers came to know of Baba through him, and he was always a source of joy and inspiration for the Baba lovers. He often visited Baba during the darshan programms. He married Sulbha (Maiden name Miss Gangoo Mahashabde) and a son Niket Kale was born to them, whom Baba called Meheroba. When the baby was born, Murli sent a letter to Baba with a thumb impression of the child himself. Baba replied that it was for the first time, He was writing a letter to a child who was not even a year old, because it is for the first time He received a letter from a child not even a month old. Murli Kale passed away on 6th Feb 1977 at the age of 64 and became one with his Beloved Meher Baba. Later Murli’s son Niket Kale married Meera Pankhraj, one of Meher Baba’s very well known disciple Pankhraj’s daughter, and they still carry the torch of Meher Baba’s love …. and their two daughters Nikita and Amrita are well known amongst young Baba lovers ..
Kalemama and Murli Kale -with Meher Baba – Mysore India 1936
Kalemama with Meher Baba and Eastern and Western Mandli Meherabad
Kalemama with Meher Baba and Eastern and Western Mandli Meherabad
Murli Kale with Meher Baba Panchgani 1935, Murli on baba’s left
Kalemama with Meher Baba Panchgani 1935, Kalemama on baba’s left
Kalemama with Meher Baba as one of the priest , reading Geeta
Lower Meherabad, approx 1937 – 1938. Tea on the west verandah of old Mandali Hall. Nilu is at the head of the table, Padri is standing on the right. From left: Gustadji, Pleader, ?, Raosaheb, Jal, Ghani, Nilu, Kalemama, possibly Murli, Baidul, Padri.”
Kalemama reading Geeta for Meher Baba – Meherazad India”
Murli Kale with Meher Baba and others – Muniraj raja sagar Kher, Sullu Meshram, Subedar – Meherabad Hill 1954
Sahavas Well behind the Dharamshala building, Kalemama breaking the Ground – Photo by Padri. Taken at Lower Meherabad, the ground breaking of the Sahavas Well behind the Dharamshala building. July 27, 193…? Masaji, Ghani, Kalemama break the ground, Adi K. and Pendu watch…workers in the background.Pendu center in solar topee; Vishnu right”
Baba to touch the first doorframe of the new Mandali Hall building, Kalemama with Stick”
Kalemama, Anna Kale and Murli Kale with Baba and New life Group”
Murli Kale Post Office ID Card Meherabad issued for New Life”
New Life Circular – Meher Baba highly praising Murli
New Life Circular 27 – Baba releases Murli Kale to practice Homeopathy at Jabalpur”
Meher Baba with Mandali – Murli Kale sitting on Baba’s right, behind Adi Sr.”
Murli Kale Meher Babas doctors – In His Service”
Kalemama Family Tree
Other Men Mandali of Meher Baba
