Meher Baba’s Silence day is coming on 10 July. On 10 July 1925, Meher Baba began his long silence, which he kept for the next 44 years. Every 10 July his followers or lovers observe a one day or 24 hours Silence from midnight of 9th until midnight of 10 of July.
Silence Day is the name the followers of Meher Baba give to their practice of commemorating July 10th of each year by maintaining verbal silence for twenty-four hours.
From July 10, 1925 until his death in 1969, Meher Baba was silent. He communicated first by using an alphabet board, and later by hand gestures which were interpreted and spoken out by one of his mandali (devoted disciples), usually by his disciple Eruch Jessawala. For many years, Baba asked his followers to undertake austerities on this date. These took various forms: in addition to keeping silence, Baba had asked his followers to fast, to pray, to repeat the names of God, and similar practices. In his last request to his followers on the subject, in 1968, he requested that they keep silent.
While Meher Baba did not establish any special ongoing requirement of his followers to keep silence on this day, the majority make it a practice to keep silent, on an informal and voluntary basis. Some stay in seclusion for the duration, while others attempt to engage in their typical activities; there are therefore many humorous anecdotes associated with keeping silent on Silence Day.
How Meher Baba Began His Silence – From Lord Meher Volume : 3: 734-38
On July 8th [1925], Meher Baba convened a meeting of the men mandali at Meherabad and for an hour instructed every person about their duties during the coming year of silence. A few close ones, like Chanji, Naval and Barsoap, had come from Bombay to consult with him regarding certain work.
On July 9th, final decisions were made in all matters. Besides verbal directions, general instructions were written down and posted at the Hazrat Babajan School. Behramji was appointed the head superintendent and Rustom K. Irani was named vice-superintendent; together they were to control the management of Meherabad property. Arjun Supekar was made the school superintendent and was also given the duty of improving the students’ conduct in class. Gustadji was placed in charge of the storerooms that supplied food for the Meherabad populace and met the various needs of individuals. Padri’s duty was to supervise the work in the hospital and dispensary.
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