Ranu Mondal's daughter, Elizabeth Sathi Roy, said that many have been blaming her for negligence, although she is the only one among Ranu's four children who has been taking care of their mother
Internet singing sensation 59-year-old Ranu Mondal hit the limelight after a video of her singing Lata Mangeshkar's Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai went viral. Mondal has also recorded Aadat and Teri Meri Kahaani for Himesh Reshammiya's upcoming film Happy Hardy And Heer.
Before recording for the who's who of Bollywood, Ranu Mondol was living on Ranaghat railway platform in West Bengal's Nadia district. After she hit the spotlight, her daughter, Elizabeth Sathi Roy, reunited with her mother, saying the two of them were always in touch.
Also read: Ranu Mondal from Kolkata railway station to sing for Himesh Reshammiya's next
Ranu Mondal's daughter speaks about mother's condition:
Elizabeth Sathi Roy also claimed that she was unaware that her mother used to sing on the platform of Ranaghat railway station. Elizabeth also said she could not visit Ranu regularly. "I didn't know that ma used to sing at the railway station because I could not visit ma regularly. I had been to Dharmatala (in Kolkata) a couple of months ago and found her sitting aimlessly at a bus stand. I told her to go home immediately and gave her Rs 200," Elizabeth told a news agency.
Elizabeth is now facing criticisms for abandoning her mother. She said that she is the only one among Ranu's four children who has been taking care of their mother. "I used to send her Rs 500 as and when possible using an uncle's account. I am a divorcee and I run a small grocery shop in Suri (a small town in Birbhum district), where I stay. I am a single mother looking after my younger son, so I have my own struggles. Still, I try to look after ma as much as I can. I tried to get her to stay with us several times, but my mother does not want to stay with us. Despite this, people are blaming me. The public is against me. Who do I go to now?"
Ranu Mondol's family:
Elizabeth said Ranu has three other children from her two marriages, and she is the daughter of Ranu's first husband. "My father passed away a few years ago. Ma's kids from her second husband probably stay in Mumbai now, though I am not sure. Her second husband is still alive. I am her first husband's daughter, and I have an elder brother and a half-brother and half-sister. We are not in touch with each other. Why don't the other kids take responsibility of ma? Why is nobody blaming them? I want them to come forward and take care of ma along with me."
Elizabeth blamed the members of Ranaghat's Amra Shobai Shoitaan club, who are looking after Ranu Mondal, for not letting her get in touch with her mother. She also accused them of threatening her.
"It feels like as if Atindra and Tapan (club members) are my mother's own sons. They, and other members of the club, have threatened to break my leg and throw me out if I try to get in touch with my mother. They don't let me talk to ma even over the phone. Also, they are brainwashing ma against me. I feel helpless. I don't know what should I do. I am not taking any drastic step because that will create an impact on my mother, and she will not be able to concentrate on her music and recordings. She is mentally imbalanced and, on top of that, the media is annoying her," said Elizabeth.
Sathi is waiting for her mother to return from Mumbai and now wants to take her back again. "Even though everybody is blaming me, I will continue to support ma. I will request ma to come and stay with me in Suri, but I will never force her. If she decides to shift to Mumbai, I will go and stay with her along with my son. I love her. She has been through a lot in life and is finally getting recognition for her gifted voice. I am proud to be her daughter," Elizabeth concluded.
Who is Ranu Mandol?
Ranu Mondal is known as the Lata of Ranaghat is from West Bengal's Nadia district. Atindra Chakraborty had first heard Mandol singing a Mohammed Rafi song at Ranaghat station, and requested her to sing more song, so she sang Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, which Atindra recorded on his phone. He shared the video on his Facebook page and it turned viral. Ranu Mondal always wanted to become a singer and was passionate about singing since her childhood. It’s no surprise that Lata Mangeshkar is her inspiration.
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