The Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation’s Board of Trustees has decided to change the name of its upcoming hospital project in Nandoshi from the ‘Lata Mangeshkar Institute of Medical Sciences’ to the ‘Lata-Asha Mangeshkar Institute of Medical Sciences.’
The inauguration ceremony is set to take place on April 16 at the site on Sinhagad Road, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar attending as chief guests. Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, the Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, will preside over the event, which will also see the participation of members from the Mangeshkar and Bhosle families.
The program will include a formal commitment to the hospital’s establishment and pay tribute to Asha Bhosale, who passed away on April 12. This announcement was made during a press conference on Monday evening by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the younger brother of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale, as well as the chairman and trustee of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar, Medical Director and trustee at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, remarked that Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale are celebrated icons in Indian music. He emphasized that the creation of a leading healthcare institution bearing their names serves as a fitting homage to their remarkable contributions.
In light of Asha Bhosale’s recent passing, adjustments have been made to the event’s agenda. Dr. Kelkar noted that alongside the foundation stone laying ceremony, a condolence gathering will be held in her honor.
The hospital is designed to accommodate 1,000 beds and will function as a multi-specialty institution, with each floor dedicated to different medical services, including wings for psychiatry and rehabilitation, as well as a fully equipped veterinary hospital. The trustees have expressed ambitions for it to become the largest hospital in Asia, along with a proposed integrated musical museum on the premises.
A musical tribute is also planned for the event, starting at 4:00 PM at the venue. The program will feature a vocal performance by Vibhavari Joshi, followed by instrumental acts from Shantanu Gokhale (santoor), Amar Oak (flute), and Pandurang Pawar (tabla). Dr. Kelkar described the event as a significant initiative that merges a renewed commitment to enhancing healthcare with a heartfelt musical tribute to honor a legendary legacy.
