Yogesh Bhavan

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Yogesh Bhavan is the name of the house at 115, Napier Town, where Osho lived in Jabalpur the longest, in fact longer even than the seven years at 17, Koregaon Park in Pune. When he started living there is not agreed by the various sources, running from 1959 to 1961, but at least 1959 is from first-hand memory, and we have a letter dated from Oct 1960 with Yogesh Bhavan in the letterhead, so we'll lean in this direction.

Sw Ageh Bharti has recorded meetings with Devaki Nandan and his daughter Geeta, reproduced below. They are framed with his observations, more with Devaki but less with Geeta, whose memories are long and free-flowing:

Devaki Nandan

A meeting with Shri Devaki Nandan Jain, the owner of Yogesh Bhavan, 115, Napier Town, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India; where Osho lived from 1959 to sometimes in 1968. His son Shri Yogesh Jain has been quite friendly with my son-in-law Swami Govind Bharti and daughter Ma Kiran Bharti. Once during a conversation, I learnt that he is the son of Devaki Nandan Jain. Shri Yogesh told that if I met his father, the latter might tell me many things about Osho. I decided to meet him. So, very next day i.e. on 20th August, 2009, I saw him at his cloth shop but I can't trust his memory in toto because he told me that Osho lived in Yogesh Bhavan from 1968 to 1971. He, being 86 years of age, might have an impaired memory. I told him that 1971 was not correct year because I personally gave him a send off at Jabalpur Railway station to live in Mumbai (then Bombay) on 30th June 1970. Also I participated in the Public Honour, given to him on 28th June 1970 in Shahid Smarak Bhavan. Before shifting to Bombay he lived in Kamla Nehru Nagar. So 1971 is not correct at all. I had met Osho one to one for the first time in Yogesh Bhavan on 10th Feb 1967. And from then on I became his ardent disciple and never missed any program in the city. My guess is that Osho must have left Yogesh Bhavan some time in 1968. To be more certain, I stopped writing and called for Prof Arvind Kumar Jain, Osho's then secretary who confirmed that Osho left Yogesh Bhavan in 1968. Of course he could not tell the exact date and month.

Shri Devaki Nandan told that he had bought the house from Shri Yogesh Chandra Chatterjee. The name "Yogesh Bhavan" was given by Chatterjee only in his own name. When Osho came in 1959, only Arvind was with him. Kranti came later. He told that Osho used to have eight lungis (an indian loose lower wear) and that he used to change his lungi after wearing for one time. He told that he:

"had never thought that a plant appearing little shall become such huge tree to give shade to millions and millions one day. When a young son of Dr Seth Govind Das, a VVIP of the city, had died, Seth's condition had become so bad, almost suicidal. At that time Seth ji visited Osho frequently and he felt great relief. Another VIP Parmanand Bhai Patel too visited Osho on appointment. Big Big people started to visit. Osho spoke such hard truths in such offensive manner that people started to warn me to get rid of him from your house or else he will make your house put on fire".

One thing I know for sure that Osho asked us to search for another house because of difference in thoughts. And then Osho shifted to Kamla Nehru Nagar where he lived until 30th June 1970 evening.

Geeta

OSHO GIVES ENERGY EVEN NOW

After meeting Shri Devaki Nandan on 20th, the very next day i.e. on 21st August 2009, I went to see his youngest daughter Smt Geeta Jain who lives at Pachpedi, Jabalpur. It is a great pleasure to talk to her about Osho. Her voice is sweet and soft. She flows like overflooded Ganges. Osho lived in Yogesh Bhavan from 1959 as told by them until some time in 1968. Geeta told that:

On completion of first month, my father took Rs 60 from Osho as one month's rent but he felt a sort of guilt as if he ought not to have taken rent from this man looking like a sage. From next month he never took any rent. Osho wanted a swimming pool to be made on the vacant space but my mother felt afraid that she had small kids. It might be dangerous. Then Osho wanted a Hall to be made for his books and to meet people who come. Then the hall was constructed for him especially. It's foundation was laid by Kaka Kalelkar, the renowned author, freedom fighter and journalist. Osho created a very beautiful garden. He had got a good gardener. Slowly and slowly Osho became so influential and important that many people thought that he was the owner and we were the tenants.

Geeta was born in 1952 and is one out of eight brothers and sisters. Then came a time when Osho's third brother Aklank and Shashi (Geeta's elder sister) fell in love with each other which was not appreciated by Devaki Nandan. And we know well that Osho is all for love. In fact, he is against marriage itself but as long as society is not advanced enough in intelligence, at least marriage ought to be solemnised only after love, not vice-versa. When Osho learnt of difference of opinion, he asked us to look out for another house because he did not like to live in a house whose owner differs in opinion. And then Osho shifted to an independent house in Kamla Nehru Nagar.

At this, Shashi and Geeta felt very bad and their cheerfulness disappeared. They were crying badly. Devaki Nandan too felt something missing. So he went to Osho at Kamla Nehru Nagar and requested him with folded hands to come back to Yogesh Bhavan. At this Osho told that there was no point in going back because soon he will plan to move from there too. He has to expand his work.

No sooner she starts to talk about Osho, she can easily be seen to have transported to a different space. She just goes on and on as if she is possessed by Osho's energy. I may add here that when I came in contact with Osho for the first time by meeting one to one on 10th February 1967, I was sitting with Osho on the same wooden cot on which he sat and a girl was sitting on sofa at a distance absorbed in herself . That girl was this Geeta. I like to salute her because she witnessed my first meeting with the Master. So, Geeta flows:

Osho loved me very much. He taught me all. I used to arrange his books in proper order. It is he who taught all this. It was in his mind from the very beginning to create some city like Rajneeshpuram. Osho used to tell lots of jokes at which we both sisters used to roll into aisles. He used to tell us to live life laughingly, not seriously.
We both, Shashi and me, used to come from school by 4.00 to 4.30 pm. We used to run to see him first. Often we would find him walking because he was walking from 4 to 5 pm. He would ask us to go and eat something then come. 5.15 to 6 pm he would take bath. Between 6.00 and 6.30 he would eat his dinner.
Once the king of Bastar Shri Bhanjdev, had taken time from Osho. He was to come to see him. Osho had told us that we also could see how a king is. He comes on a horse. That day we had taken leave from school to see the king. And thus we had seen the king. We were sitting silently when the king was talking to Osho. When King was gone I asked Osho that he had told that he would come by a horse but he came by a car.
We used to go to school with heavy heart. Several times we used to run away from school early. Then Osho would ask, "Does your school close early? Others come by five o'clock?" He used to cause us belly laugh so frequently.
We both learnt from him how to light up stove. we learnt to cook in his kitchen and we cooked there often. He used to decide the menu as to what was to be cooked. We both sisters used to quarrel sometimes because each of us would like to cook for him.
Once Kranti and we both sisters accompanied him by his car to Chhindwada [aka Chhindwara MP, ~180km from Jabalpur]. We had stayed in the guest house. Osho and Kranti slept on one bed and we both sisters were provided with mattresses on the ground near them. Osho took so much care that words fail to express. [Her eyes become wet].
When Osho went out even for two days, we felt very bad. We used to weep while giving him a send-off. Osho gives energy even today otherwise how could I bear such big blows! It was very hard to bear. A son aged 25 died in an accident. Husband is lying in bed paralysed for 15 years [in 2009]. It could have been too hard to bear.
The mother of Chandrapur had sent the Akai Tape Recorder for Osho. The first car was also gifted by the same Ma. Osho learnt the driving here only. We both roamed a lot with him in his car. He would say that those who are courageous enough to die, should come with me. And we both would jump in the car. Mostly I did outings with him alone. I was always worried that no opportunity to be near him should be missed. I didn't feel interest in education. Somehow I did my Bsc and then M.Sc. too.
We were four brothers and four sisters. In those days we were not that free to go to him whenever we wished. There were lot of restrictions. When Osho lived in Mumbai, I had been to Indore with my son. From there I went to Mumbai to see him. Each moment with him was not less than a blessed event.
Sadhana Path, Krantibeej were the earlier books. Arvind Bhaiyya did a lot of work. He used to transcribe the discourses from Tape Recorder.
When we had to go to Cinema, Osho used to drop us to Cinema house. When we returned, he would listen the story from us. Rare were white hairs on him. He would get them picked by us. He was saying, "Keep them safe. It will be of use." We both liked to be near him. Even if he used to sit silently or reading, even then to sit near him was a bliss. Others are born kings but he became an emperor and lived like an emperor.
When at the time of renowned film music Director Kalyan ji, Anand ji orchestra program was disturbed (December 1969) due to over-crowding the capacity of the Stadium, and all the artists and Osho and me too were rescued in the hall behind the stage, Osho looked at me and said, "She is my chief guest" and the whole Orchestra party of more than a dozen artists started to look at me. (Ageh Bharti, then Shiv, too was there.) Osho too stood by the side. Naturally I was in the middle. Thus he made me the centre, the queen, amongst all the celebrities standing there. Also, I enjoyed to see the photo of that moment. All they are standing on both sides in queue. Osho too is amid them. Geeta ji stands in the centre. When Osho too stood by the side with all, then Kalyan ji, Anand ji, Indivar, Mahendra Kapoor, Kamal Barot, Kalyani Mitra and all they stared at me. For some time I became the central point amongst all those great celebrities. Osho is great! He can do any thing.
In 1961-1962, Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had invited him, then he had gone there.

As Geeta ji flowed, I have tried to present in the same order please.