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Lata Mangeshkar scores as politicians squabble

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

She was old enough to put in them in their place. And so once Goa's politicians had finished squabbling on stage, that ageing nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar, went up there herself and told them, in effect, to behave themselves.

"Don't get involved in linguistics and other petty local squabbles at this stage. Think of the national situation, and elect good people to rule us," Mangeshkar said, at the function that followed the laying of a foundation stone for the proposed Marathi Bhavan. Along with her were sisters Usha, Meena and brother Hriydaynath.

She was reacting to the charges made by Union Law Minister Ramakant Khalap about the Congress reluctance to make Marathi one of Goa's official languages in 1986. He was actually having a dig at Congress Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane.

Mangeshkar, who is herself of Goan origin, was visibly agitated about the language issue being used politically, said, "I don't agree with this Konkani-Marathi controversy. Goans speak Konkani and it's a language of Goa. Don't fight over it."

Mangeshkar and her brother Hridaynath are to be felicitated here on Saturday. In the past, she had expressed reservations about Goa, since her father Dinanath had often been humiliated by people of his native village, Mangeshi, and by other Goans.

Hridaynath was the first to mend fences; and this time Mangeshkar announced the donation of Rs 100,000 to the Bhavan, on behalf of the Dinanath Mangeshkar Trust.

In her impassioned appeal, Mangeshkar also appealed to the gathering not to get involved in such controversies but realise the real issue before the country today.

"Considering the Indian situation today, the real issue is whom to elect to rule us. May be because I am a singer I do not understand why people get involved in such issues," she said to thundering applause.

But the politicians hadn't understood plain Marathi. For Chief Minister Rane came up thereafter to charge Khalap himself for drafting the language bill that was ultimately passed by the Goa assembly. So, naturally, Khalap had to get up and deny it all over again. And the quarrel waxed anew...

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