The lights dimmed at Pandit Deenanath
Mangeshkar Sabhagruha, but silence came first — not the silence of emptiness,
but the silence before prayer. Didi Aani Mee was not a concert; it felt like a
return to a home built of notes and memory. It honoured Bharat Ratna Lata
Mangeshkar and heralded the 89th birthday of Bhav Gandharva Pandit Hridaynath
Mangeshkar — the younger brother who still speaks of her as an elder, a mentor,
a divine force.
The Mangeshkar family — Hridaynath
Mangeshkar, Bharati Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar,
Adinath Mangeshkar — were present as guardians of an inheritance crafted
by discipline, humility and sacred silences. Hon. Ashish Shelar, Dr. Anil
Kakodkar, Swami Janmejayraje Vijaysinhraje Bhosale Maharaj of Akkalkot, Gautam
Thakur, and artistes Roopkumar and Sonali Rathod were present — not merely as
guests, but as witnesses to history breathing gently on stage.
When Hridaynath ji spoke, his words felt
like a prayer whispered to his sister. “For us, Didi was the commander — the
Senapati. We are only her soldiers. We simply follow the path she created. Her
discipline, her dignity and her devotion to music still guide me every day.”
The hall did not applaud; it absorbed.
Ashish Shelar shared stories the nation
rarely heard — of Lata Didi speaking at Prabhu Kunj during photographer Mohan
Bane’s book launch, describing cricket with such precision that even seasoned
sportsmen were left astonished. And how, in this very auditorium, she once
discussed ancient composers and India’s musical history with Hon. Home Minister
Amit Shah — with such clarity that even time stood still to listen. “Her voice
was immortal,” he said, “but so was her mind.”
Then came a moment of quiet grace. Swami
Janmejayraje Vijaysinhraje Bhosale Maharaj, head of the royal house of
Akkalkot, rose and said softly, “To be present here today is a blessing. To
receive the affection and ashirwad of such an illustrious family like the
Mangeshkars is my honour.” It was not a blessing offered — it was respect
returned.
And then, legacy became commitment. In
honour of Hridaynath Mangeshkar’s birthday, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
Smruti Pratishthan made an announcement from the stage. They spoke of how the
Trust was founded in 1988 by the Mangeshkar family to preserve the memory of
Master Deenanath Mangeshkar and to organise his annual remembrance ceremony on
24 April — a tradition upheld continuously for 36 years. On that day, stalwarts
from various fields are honoured, and music flows as prayer. The Trust has
honoured over 225 personalities so far and supported many artists in need.
Since 2022, the Trust has also been
bestowing the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award to individuals who have made
unparalleled contributions to India. The recipients so far — Hon. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, Asha Bhosle, Amitabh Bachchan and Kumar Mangalam Birla
— reflect the magnitude of this honour.
Ravindra Joshi, Trustee of the Pratishtaan,
further announced that every 28 September, Lata Didi’s birthday, a special
musical programme is held in Pune, where young artists are blessed by Pandit
Hridaynath Mangeshkar. The programme has become a tradition — complete with
music, memories, and a meal prepared with Lata Didi’s favourite dishes. To
ensure that this legacy continues forever, the Trust declared the creation of a
separate permanent fund. All income generated from this fund will be dedicated
exclusively to organising this annual programme. A committee — Hridaynath
Mangeshkar, Bharati Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Adinath Mangeshkar,
Swami Janmejayraje Vijaysinhraje Bhosale Maharaj, Ravindra Joshi, Shirish
Rairikar, and Nischal Latad will oversee it. And as the first offering,
Hridaynath Mangeshkar himself announced a contribution of ₹25 lakh.
Contributions from well-wishers were welcomed with grace. The Trust remains a
registered public charitable institution in Pune, eligible for income tax
exemptions on donations.
The evening ended not with applause, but
with folded hands, moist eyes and quiet reverence. Because some lives do not
end — they become the air left behind after music stops.