WHY DID LATA REMAIN A SPINSTER ALL HER LIFE?

Lata Mangeshkar, who holds the rare distinction of being the first ever Indian playback singer to hold a concert at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London and the late cricketer and former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Raj Singh Dungarpur had more than a good bonding - Jyothi Venkatesh

Lata Mangeshkar, who holds the rare distinction of being the first ever Indian playback singer to hold a concert at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London and the late cricketer and former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Raj Singh Dungarpur had more than a good bonding.

While her professional life is filled with countless awards, trophies, honours and accolades, her personal life is lesser known and the fact that why she remained unmarried all her life was because of her alleged relationship with Raj Singh Dungarpur.

Lata’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar was a very good friend of Raj Singh Dungarpur. Their bonding made a close connection between Lata and Raj Singh Dungarpur.

After several meetings, Lata and Raj Singh reportedly developed a friendly bond and finally fell in love. Both of them also decided to get married. However, plans turned upside down due to aristocratic norms prevalent in society especially in the post-Independence era.

However, Lata Mangshekar belonged to an ordinary poor family with a simple lifestyle and noble thoughts. When Raj Singh informed his father about their willingness to marry, his father denied the proposal outright.

The reason behind it was that Lata wasn’t from a regal family. According to reports, Raj Singh who was besotted with Lata Mangeshkar used to call Lata Mangeshkar fondly as Mithoo.

Raj Singh belonged to the royal family of Rajasthan and was the youngest son of late Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, the then ruler of Dungarpur.

While the singer never opened up about the reason behind her stance, reportedly there were two prime factors that made Lata Mangeshkar vow to never get married to anyone till the end of her life.

The first one was the well-known fact that she had to become her family’s breadwinner at a young age and take care of her siblings- Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridayanath.

From getting them educated to getting them settled, Lata ensured that she provided for them in her young days. However, when she thought of embracing marriage in her life with Dungarpur, fate and destiny came in between to break her dreams.

This decision broke their dreams, and both decided to remain unmarried throughout their lives, though they remained very close friends.

Times were different then and Dungarpur took Maharawal Lakshman Singhi’s firm decision to heart and although did not contest it but vowed to not marry anyone else in his life.

Similarly, Lata Mangeshkar also vowed the same and the two remained friends for life. Lata was shattered mentally when Raj Singh passed away 13 years ago on September 12, 2009. Raj Singh Dungarpur took his last breath in Mumbai due to his prolonged fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This love story had a sad ending.

However, neither Lata Mangeshkar nor Dungarpur ever commented or reacted on the reports of their possible relationship. However, Lata Mangeshkar and Raj Singh Dungarpur’s evergreen love story will be remembered for its symbolism towards commitment, respect, love and trust for a lifetime.