“I consider Nagpur as capital of Indian ancient culture and the people from Viarbha are honest and big at heart, these were the words expressed by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar.
She was replying to civic reception organised by Nagpur Municipal Corporation at Vidarbha Cricket Association ground in Vicil Lines on November 16, 1996. Kundatai Vijaykar, the then Mayor, Nikhare then Deputy Mayor, Nitin Gadkari, who is now Union Minister for Surface Transport, Datta Meghe, former MP, Gulabrao Gawande and Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh, former Mayor, were prominently present. Singh had made efforts to call Latadidi to Nagpur. The ground was packed byvthe audience.
While praising Nagpur and Vidarbha, Latadidi further said that there was a reference of Vidarbha in Mahabharat epic even before Maharashtra came into existence. Vidarbha was a flourishing state that time. Vidarbha stll preserved values of life in the culture, she said adding that she was proud of this.
Recalling disruption of her programme in the city around 40 years in the city, Latadidi stated that the event was disturbed due to certain misunderstanding. Some people had said that she then refused to visit Nagpur but it was not so. The allegation about not my coming is baseless she said adding “you call me and see whether I come here or not.”
Personalities like Principal Ram Shewalkar, NKP Salve, Suresh Bhat and Vasantrao Sathe were close to her, she mentioned adding the only thing was that she did not get opportunity to come to Nagpur. She had not kept anything adverse about this City, Latadidi said and narrated examples of Sangli and Pune.
On public demand she had sung ‘Pasaydaan’ in presence of Hrudaynath Mangeshkar.
Meanwhile, NMC paid rich tributes to Latadidi today.
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