Satsang TARKHAD FAMILY

TARKHAD FAMILY
(SHRI SAI LEELA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1991)
In Chapter IX of Shri Sai Satcharita, mention is made of Tarkhad
Family (father, son and mother).
Babasaheb (Ramachandra Atmaram) himself was a follower of
Prarthana Samaj (an off-shoot of Brahma Samaj founded by Raja
Ramamohan Roy in Bengal those days) and did not believe in
idol-worship, going on pilgrimages and visiting saints and sages.
Tarkhads were a great historic and wealthy family. During the
capture of Vasai Fort (District Thane, about 50 kms. north of
Bombay) by Peshwas, Tarkhads lost 21 members of their family
and were awarded 'jagir' of village Tarkhad nearly. At the end of 19th
century, Babasaheb's father Atmaram and uncle Raghoba shifted to
Bombay city and settled down there permanently. Those days
Tarkhads had each two big (studebaker) motor cars and they used
to move in the highest society of British Governors. Babasaheb
himself was the secretary of the famous Khatau Mills Group and
his monthly income was nearly four thousand rupees those days.
Naturally Babasaheb spumed at the orthodox Hindu rituals of
idol-worship, going on pilgrimages and visiting saints and sages.
But later the same Babasaheb not only became a staunch devotee
of Shri Sai Baba, but after Sai Baba's samadhi, took an active part
in establishing Shri Sai Baba Sansthan on a firm footing. This
transformation in his life and views was due to his devotional wife
and youngest son Jyotindra.

Mrs. Tarkhad was suffering from severe headache since many years.
In Tarkhad family there were many doctors, but their treatment could
not cure her headache. Then somebody advised her to go to Pir
Moulana, a very famous Muslim saint of those days at Bandra (now
a suburb of Bombay city). (The same saint is mentioned by Hemadpant
himself in Chapter XXI of Shri Sai Satcharita). One day Mrs. Tarkhad
accompanied by her youngest son Jyotindra went to the saint and
conveyed to him the details of her disease. The saint however replied,
"Dear lady! I have no cure for this disease of yours. But I have a brother
staying at Shirdi in Ahmednagar district, who will cure your disease.
So go to Him."

by
Lt. Col. M. B, Nimbalkar, Pune.
(Source :http://saileelas.org/articles/nimbalkar/tarkhad.htm
(Shri Sai Leela September October 1991)