Born in Madras, Baba Sahib (ra) lived most of his adult life in Nagpur. The latent saint-like qualities of Baba Sahib (ra) were evident from his early childhood days. These potentialities blossomed greatly after his meeting with a Sufi Saint, Hazrat Abdullah Shah Qadri (ra). It is narrated that this Sufi Saint chewed some dry fruits and then gave them to the (then) young Baba Sahib (ra) to eat. The experience invoked a state of spiritual absorption (Istaghraaq) that continued and increased in intensity, over time.