Fortunate to Love Him
Khorshed K Irani
Softcover, 412 pages.
From the unabridged Love Street Lamp Post this is one of many great articles on Meher Baba's Khorshed, by Anne Moraine:
Khorshed Kaikhushru Irani left us on 4th August 1999 to be reunited with her Lord, Avatar Meher Baba. She had been with Him since her childhood, and her life encompasses most of Baba's history. What a life she had!
She was born on 2nd May 1910. Her parents, Soona Masi and Kaikhushru Masa Beheram Irani were spiritual seekers. Her childhood memories were of Sheriarji coming to visit her father and talking about his wanderings in the desert in search of God; of going to Sakori with her mother and meeting Upasni Maharaja; of being treated by Hazrat Gilori Shah for a stomach ache; of having visions of Laxmi Devi asking her not to marry - hers was no ordinary childhood!
Khorshed was also present at Sakori in May 1922 when Upasni Maharaj announced to his followers gathered for his birthday that he had "given his key to Merwan". She would recall how Maharaj had asked Shireenmai, Gulmai and Soonamasi to prepare bajias with neem leaves to distribute as prasad for this occasion.Later, when Baba was staying in Manzil-e-meern He instructed Khorshed to stop by and visit every day before going to school.
In 1925 Baba called her along with her mother to stay at Meherabad to be a friend to Mehera. They lived in the Post Office building, cooking, stitching clothes for Baba to distribute to the poor doing whatever Baba ordered them to do. The only daughter of rich Bombay jewelers accepted this austere life because of her immense love for Baba. Later, Mehera, Khorshed and the other women moved to Nasik while Baba spent most of his time traveling. In November 1933 they returned to Meherabad. Khorshed loved to tell the story of Baba walking the women up the Hill and surprising them with the key to the East room where Mehera, Mani, Korshed and Soonamasi stayed for some years with Naja and Valu. It was Baba's order that Mani or Khorshed should always be with them the fragrance of those early years when Khorshed was among the select few who had earned the honor of being a companion to the Avatar of the Age. Khorshed was probably the last person alive to have heard Baba's voice, to have heard Him sing. What a witness she was.
When her body was brought to Beloved Baba's feet in Meherabad's Mandali Hall, I felt as if it was Christmas. The hall seemed unusually bright, alive, vibrant. And Khorshed had such a smile on her face that it left no doubt that she was with her Beloved. All men and women mandali came from Meherazad. We sang "Ishtiake" ..."Deva maza mi deva cha" ... and also Swanee". the English song that Baba had learned from Mehera.
Sudam lit the pyre and the wind whipped the names. It burned beautifully. The Christ's Cradle cactus in the Pilgrim Center had bloomed that night as it had for Mehera, and for Mani. The smoke from the pyre was blue. By Baba's order she is one of the women mandali whose ashes are to be interred on Meherabad Hill next to Baba's Samadhi.
Yes, dear Khorshed you really had a great life. An incomparable life. We will miss your company. We will remember you as we continue the singing of God's songs. Thank you Khorshed! Thank you Baba! Jai Meher Baba!
Vol One of Three Khorshed's Oral History Documentary Film
Khorshed Irani Vol One
Fortunate to Love Him was compiled from video and audio recordings of Khorshed telling her life stories during the 70s, 80s and 90s. Secondary sources included notes from interviews with Khorshed as well as her personal diary translated from Gujerati. Included are over 170 photographs illustrating this most precious life lived for her Beloved.
