The Passing of a Legend
The Nightingale of India, the Queen of Melody, the Voice of the Millennium, are titles given to a legend who sadly is no more with us. Lata Mangeshkar as the world knows her or Lataji as she is fondly addressed by her millions of fans, passed away on Sunday, 6th February 2022.
Lataji has sung and recorded over 20,000 songs across 36 Indian languages, an accomplishment beyond our imagination, a truly inspiration for all artists. The sweetness of her voice has enthralled people from all over the world. The quality, the range and the clarity in her voice has never failed to amaze her audiences. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is said to have been moved to tears on hearing Lataji’s rendition of “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon”. She is the second female vocalist, after M.S. Subbalakshmi, to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna award, India’s highest civilian award, in the year 2001. She has also won the highest civilian award of France, Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in 2007.
Lataji started her training in music from the early age of 5 from her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, a Marathi and Konkani musician. She started her career as a playback singer in the year 1946 but her first hit song was from the movie Majboor in 1948 and from that moment there was no looking back.
There are a few artists in the world who are born with God’s touch. One is stunned and amazed at their artistry, their ease and beauty through which they are able to connect to the audience through their art. Lata Mangeshkar is definitely one such artist and her loss is indeed very painful for all of us. The Government of India has announced a state mourning for two days with the National Flag flying at half-mast. This speaks volumes of the greatness of Lataji and impact of her death on the people of our country.
Our Salutations to this legend. Jai Hind
