When Lata Mangeshkar, generally considered to be among India’s finest and most powerful singers, died a few years back, she was flooded with tributes. These narratives revealed lesser-known facets of her life, such as her passion for cricket. She got to know she got complimentary passes for all matches involving the Indian cricket team as a result of being close friends with former Indian cricketer-administrator Raj Singh Dungarpur. Considered her only “romantic partner,” Dungarpur was vital in her life.
Raj Singh was born in the princely state of Dungarpur and was the youngest son of Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, the prince of Dungarpur. Raj, who was passionate about cricket, played for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy and for the Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy from 1955 to 1971.Post his playing career, he served as a cricket administrator and later as the President of the BCCI during the 1990s.
Lata and Raj Singh’s lives met in the 1960s via her brother, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, who was buddies with Raj. Sources indicate that they became fast friends, though their relationship was not supported by both families. Raj Singh’s family did not like it because he was not the heir apparent, while Lata’s family expected her to wed a Marathi man. In spite of these problems, Raj Singh persisted in fighting for their relationship, although they never got married. They remained close friends throughout their lives.
Raj Singh, in an interview with Mid-Day in 2004, talked about not getting married. “This is a very personal issue. But we were from different walks of life; the ’60s was quite different. Maybe, both were very close to their respective families. It was one of those things that just didn’t occur. But that has neither added to the relationship, nor diminished. She is the treasure house of my admiration and affection, and I still remain in touch with her,” he clarified.
Lata, on the other hand, kept her affair with Raj Singh close to her heart. When questioned about being termed his “one true love,” she merely said in an interview with Hindustan Times, “There are some things only for the heart to know. Let me keep it that way.”
Raj Singh Dungarpur remained in service as a selector and manager of the Indian cricket team from 1988 to 2006. His last assignment with the team was as the manager on a tour to Pakistan. He died in 2009 at the age of 73. Lata Mangeshkar, however, sang well into her 80s and 90s, making a permanent impact on the world of music until her death in 2022 at the age of 92.
