{"id":79,"date":"2015-01-03T22:15:59","date_gmt":"2015-01-03T13:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/niveditakhandekar.com\/?p=79"},"modified":"2015-01-03T22:19:46","modified_gmt":"2015-01-03T13:19:46","slug":"indore-marathi-bodys-members-face-jail-because-the-mangeshkars-failed-to-keep-their-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niveditakhandekar.com\/?p=79","title":{"rendered":"Indore Marathi body\u2019s members face jail \u2018because the Mangeshkars failed to keep their word\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sour Note:\u00a0The body says it took a loan and scaled up a project in memory of Mangeshkars\u2019 mother because the siblings promised help.<\/p>\n

\"Mangeshkar<\/a>
Mangeshkar siblings (Photo credit – AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A cultural organisation in Indore is on the the brink of bankruptcy and its office bearers face a possible jail term because it alleges the Mangeshkar family \u2013 mainly singing legend Lata Mangeshkar and her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar \u2013 failed to abide by an apparent funding promise.<\/p>\n

The Marathi Samaj, a non-profit umbrella body of several organisations run by Marathi speakers, in 1999 started constructing a cultural institution called the Shuddhamati Tatha Mai Mangeshkar Bhawan, in memory of Mangeshkars\u2019 mother . Lata Mangeshkar was born in Indore in 1929 and the Marathi community wanted to honour her mother by naming an auditorium after her. A loan of Rs 35 lakh was procured for the project by Marathi Samaj, office bearers contends, following a promise of financial help by the Mangeshkars.<\/p>\n

Hridaynath Mangeshkar told Scroll.in<\/em> that no assurances were given to the Indore body in writing.<\/p>\n

Scale increased<\/strong><\/p>\n

About 22 years ago, the state allotted a 35,000-sq-feet plot to the Samaj at a nominal rate at Sneh Nagar in south-east Indore. Today, it houses a three-storey building with an imposing fa\u00e7ade but incomplete interiors. The hall is complete with air-conditioning, but has no acoustic features.<\/p>\n

The original project plan was modest and manageable with the Samaj\u2019s resources. The Samaj alleges that the parameters were expanded in 1999 in keeping with the wishes of Hridaynath Mangeshkar when he visited Indore. So, it took a loan of Rs 35 lakh from the local Chhatrapati Cooperative Society 15 years ago.<\/p>\n

The project report was sent to the Mangeshkars in 1999 and there was a series of correspondence between the Samaj and the Dinanath Smriti Pratishthan, the Mangeshkar family trust for charitable purposes.<\/p>\n

Lata and Hridaynath Mangeshkar expressed happiness about the project through letters (see below). Hridaynath Mangeshkar promised, \u201cMai Mangeshkar sabhagruhachya nirman karyat aamhi Mangeshkar pariwar jaroor sahayog deu (We Mangeshkars would definitely help in construction of the Mai Mangeshkar Sabhagriha).\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\"Letter<\/a>
Letter by Lata Mangeshkar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pratishthan\u2019s secretary wrote a letter to the Marathi Samaj in May, 1999, conveying the decision of the trust\u2019s board. The Samaj says the Pratishthan gave an assurance that, among other things, Lata Mangeshkar would present a concert and all her siblings would attend it, free of cost, once 90% of the project work was complete. \u201cThe letter promised that the proceedings of the programme will go to the Samaj here,\u201d said Anil Kumar Dhadwaiwale, senior director of the Marathi Samaj.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, a bhumi pujan was arranged in October 1999 and was attended by then state Governor Mahavir Prasad and Adinath Mangeshkar, Hridaynath\u2019s son. As work proceeded, Hridaynath Mangeshkar and sisters Usha, Asha and Meena, who made several trips to Indore for music concerts, visited the venue several times, claims the Marathi Samaj.<\/p>\n

But no funds came the Samaj\u2019s way, it alleges. \u201cWe spent another Rs 5 lakh sending delegations to the Mangeshkars in Mumbai and the Pratisthan office in Pune over the last five years,\u201d said Dhadwaiwale. \u201cThere has been no response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the years, the loan amount with interest increased to Rs 1.10 crore. Even though the building is not fully complete, the Samaj claims, it started holding programmes and renting out the place since 2010 to lessen the loan burden. But with the Samaj unable to repay the full sum, a court at the District Registrar Cooperative Department, Madhya Pradesh, filed a case against it five years ago.<\/p>\n

Inference of commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hridaynath Mangeshkar said there was no formal agreement with the Samaj and expressed inability to provide any help. \u201cThere was no written agreement [that we will provide finance for the project],\u201d he told this journalist over phone. \u201cAt that point of time, it was not possible for us to spare any money. We had the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital project [in Pune] with Rs 100 crore budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

The veteran music director and singer recalls that the Marathi Samaj officials have been requesting a programme in Indore. \u201cIt was not possible then\u2026and considering Didi\u2019s [Lata\u2019s] health owing to her age, it does not seem possible now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ashok Chitale, a senior advocate who spends time between Indore and Delhi, said: \u201cThere may not be any expressed, formal indenture on stamp paper and signed in presence of witnesses. But available correspondence, the bhumi pujan<\/em> by Adinath leads to the inference of commitment to the project by Hridaynath Mangeshkar.\u201d\u00a0Chitale is not a member nor an office bearer of the Samaj.<\/p>\n

Last month, the final arguments in the default case were heard in a court at the Madhya Pradesh government\u2019s District Registrar Cooperative Department. \u201cThe judgment is expected anytime,\u201d Dhadwaiwale said. \u201cWe will know soon if we are going to jail because the Mangeshkars went back on their word.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Letter<\/a>
Letter by Hridaynath Mangeshkar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Letter<\/a>
Letter sent by the secretary of the Deenanath Smriti Pratishthan to Marathi Samaj, Indore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Mangeshkar<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This story was first published by Scroll.in on December 17, 2014. It can be read here<\/p>\n

http:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/693944\/Indore-Marathi-body%E2%80%99s-members-face-jail-%E2%80%98because-the-Mangeshkars-failed-to-keep-their-word%E2%80%99<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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