BADI BEHAN KA SABSE KEEMTI TOHFA APNE CHHOTE BHAI KE LIYE PAHELA "LATA DEENANATH MANGESHKAR PURASKAR" PRADHAN MANTRI MODI KE NAAM . PM SWEEKAARENGE PURASKAR USHA MANGESHKAR KE HAATHO APRIL 24 KO .... BY ALI PETER JOHN

Sometimes it is extremely difficult to say , forget predict what will happen between morning and evening and even between one moment and another . I don't believe in astrology or palmistry , but I know there is some magic and mystery about time . I have experienced it all my life and I experienced it again on April 12 - Ali Peter John

I woke up to an invitation to a press conference at Prabhu Kunj ( who can forget Prabhu Kunj , not even time can ?) . At first I decided not to go , but as the day proceeded , I knew I had to go and I could go only if I had a vehicle.

I hesitantly called my friend for all seasons and times , Dr Trinetra Bajpai and within minutes I had a car and I was on my way to Prabhu Kunj which I couldn't go to during the entire mourning period for the greatest gift of God , Lata Mangeshkar .

I was traveling towards South Mumbai and as I looked out of the window , I had seen how Bombay had turned to Mumbai and how it was gradually growing into a city which had very little to do with the Bombay of my dreams.

I reached Prabhu Kunj and there was darkness in the lobby where I had met Lataji for the first time fifty years ago and when several times till the very end . Was the lobby also mourning the loss of the jewel of Prabhu Kunj ?

Not one of the men at the security recognised me as an entire new staff with smart uniforms had taken charge of Prabhu Kunj , but they allowed me to go in and sit near the stage where the announcements were to be made .

However , I found a part of my old paradise again when the Mangeshkar family headed by Usha Mangeshkar , Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar , his wife Bharati , their son Adityanath and his wife walked in and made me feel comfortable and at home even though I was meeting them after almost a decade . They were later joined by the singer Roop Kumar Rathod .

It was time to announce the winner of the awards and the one big surprise was the decision of the Mangeshkar family to institute a new and prestigious awards in honour of Bharat Ratna Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar, which was going to be the first major award to be presented in her name as "Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar "and was to be given away to only one individual who had made path - breaking , spectacular and exemplary contributions to the nation , it's people and society .

The small but dignified audiance was keen to know who the first winner of this never - before awards would be and they didn't have to wait for long for the announcement. The winner of the Puraskar was "Hon'bl Prime Minister Of India , Shri Narendra Modi Ji "

In a statement , the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan, Pune which has been doing this prestigious event said "we are pleased and honoured to announce that the first awardee of this is none other than the Hon'ble Prime Minister Of India , Shri Narendra Modi ji. He is our most Hon'ble Leader .

He is an international statesman who has put India on the path of global leadership. The spectacular progress that has , and , is taking place I every aspect and dimension in our beloved nation is driven and inspired by him .

He is indeed one of the greates leaders our great nation has seen in it's glorious history of thousands of years , and our family and Trust gratefully thank him for accepting this Award".

Usha Mangeshkar who will preside over the function will present the award to the Prime Minister on behalf of the family .

And she will also present the Master Deenanath Puraskar to Mr Rahul Deshpande for his contribution to Indian music , the Master Deenanath Puraskar ( Vishesh ) to Asha Parekh to her dedicated services in the field of cinema , the Master Deenanath Puraskar ( Vishesh ) to Jackie Shroff for his dedicated services to cinema and the Master Deenanath Puraskar ( Anandmayee Puraskar ) to the Mumbai Dabbawaalas , Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust and the Master Deenanath Puraskar for the best drama , Sanjya Chhaya , directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni .

The award function will start at 6 pm with an intermission and will be followed by a musical programme 8 pm onwards.

The music program , titled " Swarlataanjali " will be conducted by Roop Kumar Rathod and will feature Roop Kumar himself , Hariharan , Aarya Ambekar , Reewa Rathod , Priyanka Barve , Madhura Datar and Vibhawari Apte .

The music program is organised by Hrdayesh Arts and the 80s Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Punyatithi is being jointly organised by Masters Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan and Hridayesh Arts

And as I walked out of that mini auditorium at Prabhu Kunj , I heard someone important saying that the Mumbai University has allotted land at its Kalina Campus to build a Lata Mangeshkar University for music and I wish that the man's dream comes true .

EK LATA LAAKHO SAAL MEIN EK BAAR AATI HAI , TOH HUM KYA ITNA HI KARENGE UNKO HAMESHA HAMESHA YAAD KARNE KE LIYE. SOCHO LATAJI KE BHAKTO , SOCHO .