Madhavrao Deshpande(Shama)

Madhavrao Deshpande was the teacher at the Shirdi village school, which stood next to the Dwarakamai. From his window he watched Baba for years and slowly became his closest companion. Baba called him "Shama", and spoke to him with a familiarity he showed to few others, sometimes scolding, sometimes joking.

When a poisonous snake bit Shama, he ran to the Masjid. Baba shouted, "Do not climb up! Go down!" Shama thought Baba was angry with him, but Baba was ordering the poison to go down, and Shama recovered. On another occasion a devotee brought a copy of the Vishnu Sahasranama for Baba, and Baba gave it to Shama, insisting that he study it, though Shama protested that he did not read Sanskrit. Baba wanted him to have the treasure of God's thousand names.

Shama often spoke to Baba on behalf of others, and Baba sent him in his place to weddings and on pilgrimages, including to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya with Bapusaheb Jog's family. He kept his mother's vow to the Goddess at Saptashringi with Baba's help. He lived in Shirdi until his death in 1940, and his house still stands near the Dwarakamai.