Dubai: While children elsewhere are waiting to see her recently unveiled wax statue at Madame Tussaud’s in New Delhi, a group of students in the UAE got a chance to interact with legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle on Tuesday.
Days after she mesmerised thousands of fans at Dubai World Trade Centre, in what is dubbed to be her final live concert, the melody queen of Bollywood spent more than an hour fielding questions from students at the Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Al Barsha.
Bhosle advised the children to be prompt in their studies and not to get addicted to online games and social media.
Speaking in Hindi, she told students how she regretted not getting good education in her childhood and not having good command over English.
“I have not studied much. When I go abroad to America or London, I regret a lot that I did not study much,” said Bhosle who has sung with Western singers and in English movies.
“I listen to their music and enjoy. But I can’t sing with their accent. Then I wish I had got better education.
“Had I known English better, I would have scaled bigger heights in singing English songs as well,” said the two-time nominee of Grammy Awards, who is also the first Indian to get that distinction.
She regretted that girls did not get educated those days. The singer who turned 84 in September said she still wishes to study more and has always kept her horizon widening by reading books in Hindi and Marathi including translated works from English and other languages.
“Only those who work hard day and night and strive in their work can be successful,” said Bhosle who has recorded over 12,000 songs in her career, which began in 1943.
The singer reminisced about her childhood days and also regretted not being able to have delicacies like ice cream and pani puri to avoid affecting her voice.
“I’m born to be a singer. I may not be performing outside any more. But I will continue to rehearse and sing for myself till I die. If someone listens and enjoys I will be happy,” she said.
Bhosle was the first guest invited by the school to attend its Leadership Lecture Series, said Atul Temurnikar, chairman and co-founder of Global Schools Foundation.
“Her visit is a continuing attempt to introduce bona fide examples of leadership so the students may imbibe the virtues they entail. It is not only her talent but her perseverance, commitment, and discipline that have earned her numerous accolades over a long period.”
He said the Singapore-headquartered group aims to instill in students these values through actual communication with people who are at the pinnacle of their fields.
