Several hundred people in Latur, Maharashtra, on Sunday paid homage to melody queen Lata Mangeshkar at a college named after her father. Mangeshkar had organised a special charity show around 40 years ago to raise funds to set up the educational institution. Lata Mangeshkar was the prime mover in the efforts that culminated in the setting up of the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar College in Aurad Shahajani in Nilanga tehsil, situated on the border with Karnataka.

Several villagers said they always felt a special bond with the departed legend, who had visited the village on December 4, 1976, for the inauguration of a hospital. She organised the ‘Sangeet Rajni’ event on February 28, 1981 to raise funds as promised to the Sharadopasak Shikshan Sanstha, villagers said. “Her help in the education field of Latur is invaluable,” Vishwanathrao Valade, the president of the Sharadopasak Shikshan Sanstha, said.