Sung by: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwal & Party
https://youtu.be/tozIjNbPM9I
https://youtu.be/l3VTSXUm5zQ
दिल को अपने लुटा के बैठा हूँ, गम को अपना बना के बैठा हूँ
क्या खबर मुस्कुराने वालों को, ज़ख्म क्या क्या छुपा के बैठा हूँ
कहते हो मुझसे इश्क़ का अफसाना चाहिए
रुस्वाई होगी आपको शर्माना चाहिए
खुद्दार इतनी फितरत-ए-रिंदाना चाहिए
साकी भी खुद कहे कोई पैमाना चाहिए
मट्टी ख़राब करते हो क्यों बीमार-ए-हिज्र की
जो तुमपे मर गया उसे दफनाना चाहिए
आँखों में दम रुका है किसी के लिए ज़रूर
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
थक गए हम करते करते इंतज़ार
इक क़यामत तेरा आना हो गया
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
क़ासिद, क़ासिद अगर वो पूछें तो कह दीजिये ये हाल
दम है लबों पे आँखे हैं दर पर लगी हुई
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
क़ासिद चला तो है खबर-ए-यार के लिये
इतना रहे खयाल कि आँखों में जान है
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
शब-ए-वादा ये रहा करती हैं बातें दिल से
देखें यार आता है पहले कि कज़ा आती है
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
बागों में झूमती हुई आयी बहार है
आजा ज़िन्दगी का कहाँ ऐतबार है
आँखों में दम रुका है, आँखों में . . .
आँखों में दम रुका है किसी के लिए ज़रूर
वरना मरीज़-ए-हिज्र को मर जाना चाहिए
वादा अँधेरी रात में आने का था ‘कमर’
अब चाँद छुप गया उन्हें आ जाना चाहिए
कहते हो मुझसे इश्क़ का अफसाना चाहिए . . .
May 1962,
On the morning of Sunday, 13 May 1962, Vishnu was sitting on the doorstep of the hall in Guruprasad. Baba saw him and remarked to Nariman, “Vishnu has one foot in this room and one foot in the grave.” At the time, none of the men understood what Baba meant. Vishnu was in a very pleasant mood that day; his cousin Sushila had come, and he was quite animated while talking with her.
That afternoon, Guruprasad was filled to overflowing during a program of qawaali singing held from 4:00 to 6:30 P.M. Many from Bombay and Poona were present, including the cricket players Polly Umrigar, Nari Contractor and his wife Dolly, and the Khilnanis. Siddiq Qawaal from Jaipur was the singer that day and he put his heart and soul into his music, making Baba very happy.
Francis had hurt his foot and was sitting uncomfortably. He would often ask Bhau, “What is this tune called?” and Bhau would reply, “I don’t know.” It irritated Francis, so Bhau started making up titles. Francis was satisfied and then started questioning Jim Mistry for translations of the songs. Jim, too, began making up lines to appease Francis.
When the program ended, Baba went to his room. Bhau and Vishnu both went for their evening milk, because Bhau would soon have to be on watch near Baba. It was already a bit late due to the qawaali singing. While having their drink, Bhau related to Vishnu how Francis kept pestering him to translate, and how he had fun misleading him. Vishnu laughed heartily.
After that, Bhau went to wash his face, and Vishnu went to give Goher a message. It was at about 8:20 P.M. when Vishnu rang the bell to call Goher, that he then collapsed. Vishnu’s worldly journey had come to an end. He had had a fatal heart attack. It was just a month shy of his 59th birthday when he attained union with the Divine. Vishnu had been suffering from coronary thrombosis for some time.
Baba was informed and came out of his room and sat near Vishnu, who was laid on the sofa. Although Vishnu’s heart and pulse had stopped completely and his eyes were half-closed, when Baba came and stood by him, one of the men said, “Look, Vishnu, Baba has come. Baba is here.” Vishnu’s eyes opened wide and gazed upon Baba, and they remained so until they were gently shut.
Baba remarked, “See how he obeys me, even in death!”
Eruch, who would go to Bindra House every evening and return to Guruprasad in the morning, had already left. He, Meherjee and Sadashiv Patil were informed, and Eruch, in turn, told Sushila. Later, Eruch accompanied Sushila to Guruprasad so she could be near Vishnu.
Adi, Sarosh, Rustom Kaka, Silla Kaku and Manek were also in Guruprasad that day and were about to return to Ahmednagar when Vishnu died, so they stayed for a while.
Eruch and Adi took over an hour to console Sushila, who was greatly distraught. and Baba sat next to Vishnu until then. He remarked, “The qawaali made me so happy today, that in my happiness I merged Vishnu within me!” He added, “Never before have I sat near the body of any of my mandali as I am doing today by Vishnu. He is indeed most fortunate!”
At one point Baba joked, “All these years Vishnu kept watch by me — now I am keeping watch over him!”
Baba decided that Vishnu’s body should be cremated in Poona that night, and the ashes sent to Meherabad. Vishnu’s body was carried away and placed in the DeSoto, as Baba stood and watched it until it was driven out of sight. It was taken to Vishnu’s family home (where Sushila was living) and cremated sometime after midnight.
[Vishnu’s ashes were given to Padri on 19 May 1962, with instructions that they be kept for burial at lower Meherabad until Baba returned from Poona.]
O Vishnu, our profoundest salutations to you! Age has recorded how Vishnu came into Baba’s contact as a teenage boy in 1918 and, from the days of Manzil-e-Meem in 1922, he was always with Baba. His almost 40 years of service, love and obedience to the God-Man were as close to perfect as perfect can be described. His mother, Kakubai, had died in Meherabad, and now Vishnu had laid aside his body at the Beloved’s side. Vishnu was incomparable in forbearance, and Baba was always pleased with him. Even under the most trying circumstances, he would never utter a word of complaint, and he put up with every hardship. Baba remarked to the mandali that Vishnu had held on to his daaman until the very end.
Vishnu was called one of the “four pillars” of Meherabad, along with Adi, Pendu and Padri. Among the men, he was sorely missed.
On Tuesday, 15 May 1962, at 4:00 P.M., another musical program was held in Guruprasad, featuring Ram Sindhi Qawaal. It lasted for two hours, and local Poona lovers were allowed to attend. Adi came from Ahmednagar for two days with Dhake, and they discussed with Baba what was to be done with the Belgaum land and Vishnu’s other property. The discussions continued the following day with Meherjee, Eruch, Ramjoo and Sadashiv Patil. Sushila came and met Baba briefly.
Vishnu’s relatives the Haldankars came on the 17th and wept before Baba, begging his forgiveness over the suit they had filed against Vishnu. Haldankar was made to sign a letter of unconditional withdrawal of his complaint, which Baba countersigned as having accepted.
Being a judge, Prem Khilnani had been called to effect a legal solution. During the discussion, Khilnani asked Baba’s opinion, “Do you think it would be better if the compromise is settled in this way?”
Smiling, Baba replied, “I do not think; I know!”
Lord Meher, page 4798
https://www.lordmeher.org/rev/index.jsp?pageBase=page.jsp&nextPage=4798
October 1939,
… On 13 October 1939, Nonny had a heart attack, and the next evening, at age 64, she closed her eyes forever with a sweet smile on her face.
Baba had been to Byramangala that day. On his way back to the Links, it began raining heavily and their car became stuck in the mud. All, including Baba, got out to push the car free. After they resumed their return, Baba began asking Chanji for the time repeatedly, every few minutes. At 6:40 P.M., he gestured, “Nonny has expired.” When they arrived at the Links ten minutes later, however, Nonny was still alive.
Baba went directly inside to Nonny’s room and looked at her intently. As Baba took Don, Nilu and Rano aside to ask how Nonny had been, Norina came running, saying Nonny was serious. They went to her bedside, and Baba placed two fingers on her closed eyelids. As he did this, Nonny gave a final sigh, and dropped her head to one side. The drop-soul merged into the Ocean of Love forever. It was as if Nonny had been waiting to have the Beloved’s darshan a final time before everlastingly entering his palace, where there is neither happiness nor suffering, but only infinite bliss!
Before breathing her last, Nonny uttered, “What beauty! What beauty!”
Hearing this, Don was deeply moved. He had never seen such a happy death — as if the departing soul were being led somewhere beautiful! Nonny’s smile filled Don’s heart and he realized once more how great was Baba’s love.
Baba took Rano in his embrace and spelled out: “Nonny was one of my greatest lovers. She always gave spontaneously for my work. It is because of her great share of timely contributions, among others, that the center plan could be presently started. Funds will come, and come in plenty, but to the dear, departed soul goes the credit of starting my work that is to serve mankind’s greatest need. I am happy her dear name will be connected and perpetuated with this unique institution.”
Later, Baba stated that it was the first time he had been present at the death of one of his disciples. To Rano, he revealed that he had given Nonny mukti (liberation).
Nonny’s physical remains were cremated in Bangalore the next morning, and 30 of the men and women mandali attended, including Memo. On the 16th, Baba sent her ashes to Meherabad with Adi Sr.
In December of 1939, a stone monument for Nonny was built adjoining Baba’s Tomb on Meherabad Hill. Sarosh had ordered the headstone from Poona. Baba had instructed that the words Nonny, Baba’s Lover be carved on it. Baba further ordered that food be distributed to the poor on the anniversary of Nonny’s death every year in commemoration of her deep devotion to him.
The day after Nonny’s death, on Sunday, 15 October 1939, Baba remarked, “Before the war ends, two more of the circle will pass off [on]. It may be two male members or one male and one female. But they will be the luckiest to have left their bodies at such an important and critical period of my great work of creating an upheaval all over the world.”
https://www.lordmeher.org/rev/index.jsp?pageBase=page.jsp&nextPage=2040
Meher Songs 