One of the biggest upset in Indian cricket happened in 1983, when they beat mighty West Indies in the final of 1983 World Cup at Lords to become the world champions. Even this was not expected by the governing body BCCI which didn’t have the money to reward the world champions.
BCCI was not used to be that rich in those days and to honour the team, it was decided to organize a fund-raising concert. The person who came to their rescue was none other than India’s iconic singer, Lata Mangeshkar who at the request of the then BCCI president N.K.P Slave performed at Delhi’s Indraprashtha Stadium and raised Rs.20 Lacs. The fund raised was distributed among the players with every member of the champion team receiving 1 lakh rupees each. The greatness of the singer reflected when she didn’t even ask for a single penny for her benevolent act for the BCCI.
One of the main highlights of the concert was the song Bharat Vishwa Vijeta, which was specially composed by Mangeshkar’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar and penned down by famous lyricist Indeevar for the victorious team. The members of the World Cup winning Indian team formed the chorus to back the voice of Mangeshkar.
Two decades later in 2003, When Lata Mangeshkar needed the fund for her hospital - Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, built in memory of her father in Pune, BCCI came forward to repay the old debt and organized a fundraising match for the hospital. The match was played right after the 2003 World Cup between India and Sri Lanka and money collected went to Mangeshkar hospital.
Sahir