MUMBAI: Legendary Indian playback singer Mohammed Rafi’s 91st birth anniversary on 24 December was a date on which Rafi fan and family friend Hrishikesh Chury started an initiative 'My Pledge: Bharat Ratna for Mohammed Rafi Sahab'.

Reportedly, the demand has been supported by Rafi’s son Shahid Rafi, and members of Mumbai Congress. However, it was Chury who turned out to be the torch bearer for the Rafi family. Early last month he walked up to the Rafi family and shared his thoughts around the singer being honoured with the Bharat Ratna. The family backed his idea. “Rafi Saab’s family is extremely humble and they are always ready to help everyone,” said Chury.

With this thought in mind Chury who has sung ‘Hey Yaar Sunlo Jara’ for the Govinda starrer ‘Naughty @ 40’kick started the initiative. "I will do all that I can to get Bhart Ratna for Rafi Saab. I will first start with writing letters to the concerned authorities," stated the singer.

He further added, "There are millions of Rafi fans in India and around the world and I am one of them. I truly believe that Mohammed Rafi Sahab deserves the Bharat Ratna award and I shall try my very best for it."

The thought comes to mind as to why the issue was raised after so many years of Rafi’s demise and not earlier. To this Chury replied, “There is always a right time for everything, for me it was now.”