-Dipta Joshi

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s family has objected to Mumbai University’s plans to set up a Centre for Excellence in Light Music in honour of the singer who passed away on Sunday (February 6) due to post-COVID complications. The university’s management council passed a resolution Tuesday (February 8) to set up a self-funded advanced study and research centre after the Bharat Ratna awarded singer.

The centre would offer degree, diploma, certificate courses and PHD for research and study on Lata Mangeshkar and her repertoire of music and songs. Equipped with state-of-the-art studio and musical instruments, it would be open to all national and international students thus promoting the latest research in the field of music.

The university also planned to set up a chair in the department of music and award postgraduate students excelling in music studies a gold medal in the late singer’s name. However, in a letter (dated February 9) written by music director Mayuresh Pai, on behalf of the Mangeshkar family, the university has been asked to abstain from introducing programmes using Lata Mangeshkar’s name.

Addressed to Suhas Pednekar, vice-chancellor, University of Mumbai, the letter states, “The Mangeshkar family is opposed to Mumbai University’s decision to set up the Centre for Excellence since the decision has been taken without taking the Mangeshkar family into confidence. We request the university to abstain from announcing projects without the family’s permission.”  

The Mangeshkar family’s refusal stems from the family’s disappointment with the university shooting down its proposal to set up an international college of music in 2020. The proposed institute honouring the Mangeshkar patriarch and renowned singer, Master Deenanath (1900-1942) was to be set up on five-acre land within the Mumbai University’s 243-acre Kalina campus.

Supporting the idea, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government too made a grand announcement to establish the ‘Master Deenanath Mangeshkar International Music College’ on the occasion of Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday in September 2020.

Consequently, a panel was set up to oversee the setting up of the first government funded college of music in the state was chaired by Hridaynath Mangeshkar (Lata Mangeshkar’s brother). The committee consisted of other Mangeshkar family members like Usha Mangeshkar (sister) and Adinath Mangeshkar (nephew) as well as distinguished  personalities from the music industry like Zakir Hussian, A R Rahman, Suresh Wadkar etc. 

However, land acquisition issues have continued to stall the project till date. While some senate members were opposed to having a government college campus within the university grounds, approval from the office of chancellor i.e. governor B S Koshiyari too has been pending. 

“The Mumbai University kept stalling the project since September 2020 and forwarded the proposal for approval by the governor only after we protested during a university senate meeting last year (May 2021). There has been no response from the governor who as a BJP appointee has always struck down the Maharashtra government’s proposals. So why should the family not oppose the university’s false show of sincerity now after Lataji’s death,” says Pradip Sawant, senate and management council member, Mumbai University.

Referring to the university’s refusal to allot land for the college of music the letter mentions, “We are saddened due to the university’s refusal to allot land, we were unable to fulfil the Mangeshkar family’s dream of establishing the state’s ‘Master Deenanath Mangeshkar International Music College during Lata didi’s (sister’s) lifetime.” It further mentions the family has requested the state government to establish such a college in honour of Lata Mangeshkar instead.      

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday (February 9) announced the setting up of the Bharat Ratna Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar International Music College. Announcing the decision, the state’s higher and technical minister, Uday minister informed the proposed college will be set up on 3-acre land belonging to the higher and technical education department near the Mumbai university’s Kalina campus. The college will also have a library with memorabilia belonging to the late singer.