Many seers in Ayodhya have registered their opposition to the proposed Lata Mangeshkar Smriti Chowk in Ayodhya.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was on a visit to Ayodhya on Sunday when the seers voiced their opposition to him, reliable sources have told The Week. “We have the highest regards for the woman who was known as the nightingale of India, however she has no connection with Ayodhya,” one seer said.
No one was willing to be named after the proposed chowk and its design garnered publicity across the country.
To be developed at a cost of Rs 10-12 crores, the chowk will consist of a 10 feet statue of a veena on a stainless-steel stage in the midst of a pond with 92 lotus flowers. The number of the flowers signify the age at which the singer passed away. There is also to be a circulatory walkway around the memorial and Mangeshkar’s religious songs are proposed to be sung at the structure.
“There are countless men and women who are associated with Ayodhya and the struggle for the Ram Mandir. Some are known, some names will be known if we only care to go through the city’s rich history. It is after them that every street and crossing in Ayodhya should be named. However, it seems that the CM has approved this plan only for garnering some misplaced praise,” said another seer who was present at lunch with Adityanath in the Sunday meeting.
If the seers have their way, Ayodhya will have the unique distinction of having its wards named after those held in reverence in the holy city. In a proposal submitted to the city's civic authorities there are to be wards named after Abhiram Das—the saint who placed an idol of Lord Ram in the then Babri Masjid, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee—founder of the Bharatiya Jan Sangha and even Avaidhyanath—the guru of the state’s current chief minister.
The late Mangeshkar though seems to have struck a discordant note among the seers.
“This is a holy city and many have contributed to its sacredness. It is they who should be honoured throughout the city. Lata ji can be honoured in any part of the world,” said another seer.