“It’s as if I merge with the song itself,” said Lata Mangeshkar, fondly called the ‘Nightingale of India’, in response to Maharashtra Government honouring her with ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award’ in Nagpur on November 19, 1997. More than 24 years later, this Sunday in 2022, when the news of demise of the undisputed melody queen came and her songs kept playing one after the other on television channels and on social media platforms, each Nagpurian realised how true were her words. From merging with the song, the legendary singer -- the Swaraswati -- merged into divinity. As the news hit the Nagpurians, the sense of disbelief gradually paved way for emotions welling up in countless many eyes. Lumps came to many a throat but as the songs in her melodious voice started playing in the minds, lumps melted away. People were baffled. For, they wanted to cry on her demise but could not because her eternal voice came as dispeller of grief. Many a heart were filled with emotional recollection of memories of the beloved Lata Didi’s visits to Nagpur. The legendary Master Dinanath Mangeshkar, her father, used to run Balwant Natya Mandal, which toured many places including Vidarbha region.

 

 

 

She had heard a lot about the region and Nagpur from him. In 1955, she had toured Amravati, Akola, and Nagpur. However, as an established singer, her first visit to Nagpur came in the year 1962. Sadly, due to some unfortunate turn of events during her programme, she got angry and said that she would not come to Nagpur again. As many old-timers recall, Lata Mangeshkar did not visit Nagpur again for years together. Finally, it was in the year 1996 that she came again. After much convincing and initiative by several leaders including Nitin Gadkari, the then Public Works Minister of Maharashtra; Atal Bahadur Singh, former Mayor; Manohar Mhaisalkar, President of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh; Kunda Vijaykar, the first woman Mayor of Nagpur, and others, the legendary singer agreed to come to the city. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) organised a grand programme to felicitate ‘Swarbharati’ Lata Mangeshkar. NMC felicitated Lata Mangeshkar on November 19, 1996. As per NMC records, the grand function was held at Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Civil Lines. On popular demand, Lata Mangeshkar and her brilliant music composer brother Pt Hridaynath Mangeshkar teamed together and she sang ‘Pasaaydaan’ to conclude the event. Speaking on this occasion, she had said that Nagpur was capital of ancient culture.

 

Also, she made it clear that she was not angry anymore with people of Nagpur and that she would come for programme. “If one song goes wrong, one does not quit singing. Similarly, I do not have any grudge against Nagpur. Tumhi bolva, mi lagech yete ki nahi te paha (You invite me, and I shall indeed come),” she had said in her soothing voice. Kunda Vijaykar, the then Mayor; Nikhare, Deputy Mayor; Nitin Gadkari, Datta Meghe, Gulabrao Gawande, and Atal Bahadur Singh and other dignitaries were on the dais in the programme. Lata Didi had also mentioned that she had familial chord with noted litterateur Principal Ram Shewalkar, ‘Ghazalnawaz’ Suresh Bhat, poet Manik Godghate alias Grace, stalwart leaders N K P Salve and Vasantrao Sathe. The very next year, Lata Didi came to Nagpur again. Maharashtra Government honoured her with the second ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award ceremoniously in the city. Manohar Joshi, the then Chief Minister, in presence of Pramod Navalkar, Cultural Affairs Minister; Shobhatai Fadnavis, EGS Minister; Nitin Gadkari, Public Works Minister; Anil Deshmukh, Minister of State for Cultural Affairs; Vinod Gudadhe-Patil, Minister of State for Forests and Labour; Devendra Fadnavis, the then Mayor; and Raj Thackeray, then Shiv Sena youth leader, and others.

 

The programme was held at the Vidhan Bhavan lawns on November 19, 1997. As ‘The Hitavada’ archives reveal, in her acceptance speech, Lata Mangeshkar took a short trip down memory lane, recalling how her father, the late Master Dinanath Mangeshkar, had guided her and taught her the first lessons not only in music, but also in life. Nagpurians got to know from her how her father consoled her when he accidentally broke the bow of a musical instrument she had won in a competition. “You will win so many awards in life that you will get exasperated accepting them,” he had said then. Recalling that, she told the audience that his words turned out to be prophetic. Also, Lata Mangeshkar recalled that her father was strictly against children singing film songs. In fact, he had turned down the idea of a relative that young Lata should participate in a film songs contest in Pune. As she had recalled then, “He had told me that one should perform without a sense of competition, and with a sense of service and dedication to music.” Also, she had shared with Nagpurians that she insisted on playing the part of Narad in a play at Pachora when the regular actor had falllen ill. She had even boasted that she could earn ‘once more’ for a song that the character had to render during the course of the play. Master Dinanath Mangeshkar conceded, and, Lata did earn an encore. While accepting ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award, Lata Mangeshkar had said that music was devotion personified. “It’s as if I merge with the song itself.

 

I virtually enter the body of the actress who is going to appear on the screen ultimately,” she had said. Earlier that year, entire Mangeshkar family had come for award function of Dinanath Smruti Pratishthan at Yeshwant Stadium in April 24, 1997. Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh and Saptak had made all the necessary arrangements for the programme. Thespian Dilip Kumar could not come but he was to be honoured. Legendary classical singer Gangubai Hangal, Kiran Bedi, Prof D B Kulkarni, Sudhir Bhat, Blind Relief Association, Rasik Ranjan Natya Sanstha were honoured with the award for contribution in respective fields. Addressing a press conference a day prior to the award function, Lata Mangeshkar had told mediapersons about music and success that music was God’s gift with the individual’s success depending on how hard he or she worked. Apart from Lata Didi, the other Mangeshkar stalwarts present at the press conference included Asha Bhosle, Pt Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, and Meena Khadikar. Raj Thackeray, a young Shiv Sena leader then, also was present. Then, it was on November 19, 2005, the ‘Bharat Ratna’ recipient had come to Nagpur. The occasion was felicitation of noted litterateur Principal Ram Shewalkar with his wife, in a programme held at Dharampeth Science College ground. Datta Meghe, then MP; Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, Nitin Gadkari, Anil Deshmukh, Atal Bahadur Singh, former Mayor; Prabhakarrao Mundle also had shared the dais on this occasion. Lata Mangeshkar had special bonding with Shewalkar and Mhaisalkar families. She respected Principal Ram Shewalkar for beautiful appreciation of ‘Dnyaneshwari’. In fact, she presented various compositions of Sant Dnyaneshwar in her melodious voice. Similarly, she lent her voice to the wonderful compositions of noted poets Suresh Bhat and Grace from Nagpur. Once, Lata Mangeshkar described poet Grace as a ‘father figure and friend’, and had fondly mentioned the song penned by him and sung by her -- ‘Bhay Ithale Sampat Nahi...’ that was title song of tele-serial “Mahashweta’. Lata Didi is gone, but her voice will remain. Nagpurians will never forget the memories, and keep on listening to her immortal songs. For, there won’t be another Lata Mangeshkar. 

 

‘And... Zakir Hussain wiped Didi’s feet’ Nagpur’s Shewalkar family shares a familial bonding with the Mangeshkars. Ashutosh Shewalkar, son of late Principal Ram Shewalkar, said that in Lata Mangeshkar’s demise, an avatar in music world had come to an end. “An era has ended,” he said. Ashutosh Shewalkar shared a memory of a programme at Panaji (Goa) where Chaturang Pratishthan had honoured Lata Didi with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. Lata Didi and Asha Bhosle were sitting in front row in the audience during Tabla performance of Ustad Zakir Hussain. “As soon as he concluded his performance, he jumped from the stage and sat near the feet of Lata Didi. Zakir Hussain wiped her feet clean with his handkerchief, and then took the handkerchief to his forehead. Everyone was stunned. Lata Didi responded immediately and she gifted him her diamond ring,” Shewalkar said.