Ahmedabad: On Oct 4, 2024—barely a month after celebrating her 91st birthday—Asha Bhosle stepped into a recording studio in Versova to lend her voice to a devotional song praising the compassionate and nurturing qualities of Ashapura Mata, the deity revered as a ‘kuldevi’ by several communities in Gujarat.The bhajan conveyed that anyone who approaches Ashapura Mata with a child’s innocence will be lovingly embraced by the Mother and have their heartfelt wishes fulfilled. As her soul-stirring voice filled the studio, the atmosphere turned deeply devotional.“We couldn’t control our tears,” recalls Mahesh Rathore, the Amreli native who, as secretary-cum-caretaker to Lata Mangeshkar for 28 years, has closely observed Asha for just as long. It was on Rathore’s request that Asha promptly agreed to sing this bhajan.“Pujya Bhaijee, the reverred saint of Ashapura Mata temple in Padavla (Gondal), requested Maheshbhai to put in a word to Asha Tai. We were not sure if she would agree immediately, but she said yes the moment Maheshbhai conveyed the request,” said Yuvrajsinh Zala, who directed the video. The song was penned by Mumbai’s Ravi Chopra and set to music by Shiva Chopra.Zala said they Usha Mangeshkar had earlier recorded a bhajan of Ashapura Mata in 2021 and Lata Didi, who believed in the diety’s powers, had sent a letter of appreciation after hearing it. The 54-year-old’s voice choked with emotion as he spoke about the affection Asha showered on him and his family. “She was very happy when I told her about my eldest daughter Gayatri pursuing law. She told me to ensure the best education for all three daughters and my son, and asked me to make Gayatri a collector,” said Rathore, who now lives in his native Morangi village of Rajula.Though Rathore left Mumbai after Lata’s death in Feb 2022 and settled in his village, he remained in constant touch with Asha, who spent much of her time in Dubai. “Whenever she visited Mumbai, she would call me to help manage several of her works. I feel blessed that someone like me from a remote village of Gujarat received so much affection from her,” added Rathore whom Lata tied a rakhi for years.
