I've been doing more research, it's all from the newspaper clippings the Tamasin Ramsay has amassed,
here.
It seems Om Mandli most certainly was disbanded on May 22 1939 on the basis of the "disturbing the peace" charges. Lekhraj Kirpalani was given nine months to vacate Karachi premises. Many had already left for Hyderbad and their families by then. Om Radhe was back with her family.
From memory, this is quite different from the history the BKs taught which cast Lekhraj Kirpalani as victorious and the judgement being overturned. As with everything BK, this is a sort of half-truth or misinterpretation taken out of context. It seems there were numerous cases, e.g. in one Lekhraj Kirpalani was being sued for 1,000 Rupees by a husband for kidnapping his wife. Some the court refused to hear for legal reasons. Others they refused to appear at because they were disallowed to use advocates on their behalf (the tribunal wanted to hear the girls/young women speak). They definitely did not come off looking heroic. Om Mandli was declared unlawful.
In one of the reports, Lekhraj Kirpalani is clearly stated as believing himself to be an incarnation of Krishna and the girls his gopis.
Interestingly, it opens up a new avenue of inquiry ... what happened to the cult during this period? There's a big gap between the heydays of 300, 400, 500 people coming to the satsang and leaving for Mount Abu.
And how did "god" cope with being found unlawful and losing his property? As ever, the BKs are tiresome as hell when it comes to getting a straight and honest account of their affairs.
Disbandment of "Om Mandli"
Girls Weep at Parting
Karachi, July 9
The last scene of the "Om Mandli" drama was enacted, when the police raided "Om Nivas" and completed the disbandment of the institution by sealing the premises.
Touching scenes were witnessed in the Mandli the previous night when Dada Lekhraj preached his last sermon to the inmate firls who, with tears intermingled with sobs, prayed to Dada Lekhraj to let them remain with him and permit them to defy the Government order and face the consequences.
In the course of his sermon, the Dada advised his disciples to propagate "the Gyan Cult" among their friends, parents, relatives and neighbours.
Dada Lekhraj will continue to remain in his bungalow along with his family. Om Radhe, the president of the Mandli, will live with her relatives, while other girls will join their parents.
- Associated Press
Requisitioned by Sind Government.
Karachi, June 10: The Sind Government have taken possession of the Om Mandli premises under the Land Requisitioning Ordinance. Om Mandli had been disbanded when it was declared unlawful early in 1939, but some of its members continued to live with Dada Lekhraj in a bungalow near Clifton, a sea side resort. The Government have now requisitioned this bungalow along with a number of other buildings, including the bungalow of Mr. H.K. Kirpalani, the former Chief Secretary of Sind.
- A.P.I.
Om Mandli
Mention of Om Mandli in the Sind Assembly recalls a picturesque chapter in Sind's history.
Not so long ago the activities of Dada Lekhraj attracted attention not merely in the provence but throughout the country. The world likes enterprising messiahs, Dada Lekhraj with his message of celibacy for mankind struck a novel note but when wives en masse went on strike in response to the Dada's call, the mere male became resentful.
Agitation assumed embarrassing dimentions and the Sind Government were compelled to cry 'halt' to the Dada's activities. The Om Mandli was banned. So a character who might have graced a comedy by Aristophanes was forced to abandon his Messianic role. No man, it seems, is a prophet in his own province.
The Times of India March 13 1940.
09 Aug 2015