Meri awaaz suno, over memorial for Lata didi

Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday. File pic/Ashish Rane

A day after Lata Mangeshkar's death, there was a debate over where a memorial dedicated to her should be constructed. While a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and the state Congress chief demanded a memorial at the iconic Shivaji Park, where the legendary singer was cremated on Sunday, the Shiv Sena has asked that the issue not be politicised.

BJP's local MLA Ram Kadam said in a video statement on Monday that he has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, requesting him to build a memorial for Mangeshkar at Shivaji Park. "It is a popular demand from Lata didi's fans, music lovers and well-wishers of the Mangeshkar family to have a memorial where she was cremated. The memorial will inspire the entire world. The CM should announce the decision immediately," he said.

Currently, Shivaji Park has the late Balasaheb Thackeray's make-shift memorial which was created after he was cremated there nine years ago. The new memorial will be housed in a neighbouring bungalow (the Mayor's residence). The state government is building it.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and Ram Kadam, BJP MLA

The Sena slammed the politics in the demand raised by the rival party MLA. The party's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the demand was unwarranted and there shouldn't be politics over the memorial. "I know, some people have demanded it, but there is no need to raise such a demand now. Lata didi is a global icon. The state and Central governments will definitely have a memorial of international standards. She wasn't a political leader. She was our country's precious treasure," Raut said, adding that building a memorial for her wasn't an easy task.

Congress endorses BJP demand

State Congress president Nana Patole also said the memorial should be at Shivaji Park. "There must be a memorial for Lata didi at Shivaji Park. The Congress expects it to be big and at par with international cultural and tourism destinations," he added.

Patole had previously, in the press conference, said the memorial should be either at Shivaji Park or another appropriate place. However, he revised his statement at the end of the interaction and insisted on Shivaji Park as the memorial site.

Sources in the government said that the issue could be discussed in the forthcoming weekly cabinet meeting. "There could be an informal or formal discussion on how to go about it. It will also be interesting to see what the union government decides. But there will definitely be a decision, sooner or later, to have a memorial as a mark of respect for the Bharat Ratna awardee. The site could be anywhere. Like for Balasaheb, there could be a make-shift one for Lata didi," said a leader.

Mixed reaction on social media

Social media was overflowing with reactions to the development. Most of the people wanted a memorial, but the opinion was split about the site and the format of the memorial. Some suggested that the memorial shouldn't be a conventional one, but like an institute that should work for the betterment of talent in the music world.

A Facebook post by Ruhita Kamble said Shivaji Park's sports culture should not be disturbed with land for the memorial, and instead, suggested building a hospital or a school in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar.

"Memorials don't serve any purpose. Don't use Shivaji Park, instead use other land for a museum-like memorial which can also work as an institute to help the poor and needy artistes hone their skills," wrote another Facebook user, Mohan Vaje.

A twitter handle @That Marine Guy requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the highest music award in the name of Mangeshkar and also build a memorial where all the memories related to her life, all her songs could be displayed.

A Twitter post by @ThulaseedharanS said a music academy should be formed under the society's act. "The government must not have a role in it, except granting adequate land free of cost. The academy should be governed and administered by experts from the field of music," it added.