Singer Lata Mangeshkar had decided to do a free show for the BCCI to raise funds for the 1983 Indian cricket world cup winning team led by Kapil Dev
Come Sunday and the entire country was fraught with the sorrow of the demise of Lata Mangeshkar. Failing in her battle, one she had valiantly waged for a month at the Beach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, the singer left the world owing to multiple organ failures.
Riddled with the grief of her being no more, the country came together as one to pay tribute to a name which had revolutionized the music industry in India. And among one of the more notable memories of her was the help she had lent to the BCCI after the Indian cricket team triumphed at the 1983 World Cup in England.
Video Of Lata Mangeshkar Singing At Function To Raise Prize Money For The 1983 World Cup Winning Team
Defeating West Indies in the showpiece summit clash, Kapil Dev and his men returned to India having stamped their authority on the global stage. Unfortunately, unlike today, the BCCI was frugal on funds, a body which was scrounging for money to reward the successful side.
Union Minister NKP Salve who was the BCCI President at the time had previously spoken about how Raj Singh had turned to the singer for help. “Raj Singh came up with a brilliant idea of requesting Lata Mangeshkar to do a musical programme in Delhi to raise money for the purpose, as the BCCI was not flush with funds in those days,” wrote NKP Salve.
And Lata Mangeshkar was more than willing to throw her weight behind the cause with her performing for free at a show in Delhi, one which managed to raise Rs.20 lakhs to ensure every member of the squad was accorded with Rs.1 lakh as prize money.
Lata Mangeshkar had spoken about the incident saying, “I said I would definitely do it. I reached Delhi on 17th August, and I did a special show. Suresh Wadekar and Nitin Mukesh, son of Mukesh Bhaiya, also supported this show.”
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