August, 1973 for me.

As razor thin close to the line as Rawat deliberately came and overwhelmingly and undeniably implicit as it was, I think you're right.

Even when he sat on his throne in full Lord-like regalia… "holy lotus feet" proffered-up on a pillow... flute… Arti directed at him and him alone... admonishing premies: "when you sing Arti, mean it!!”

and stated emphatically: “Guru Maharaji. The Lord. All powerful." 

and even though he acknowledged, responded to and answered to "Guru Maharaji" by name all the time during questions and answers and what not, to the best of my knowledge, he never declared it in the first person.

Some years ago, I got into a friendly back and forth with Steve over this. In my youthful ex-premie enthusiasm, I insisted that of course Rawat
said he was the Lord! But no... I think it was always in the clever third person.

Or, more succinctly, what you said!