Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 6: “The end of an era”, “an artist born but once in centuries” and a “void that cannot be fulfilled”, is how prominent personalities, led by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi, mourned the passing away of singing icon Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday.
With moderate symptoms, the 92-year-old singer tested positive for Covid-19 and was brought to Breach Candy Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) on January 8, where she was treated by Dr Pratit Samdani and his team of specialists.
Mangeshkar’s condition had improved in January, and she had been removed off the ventilator, but on Saturday, her health deteriorated. She died of multiple organ failure on Sunday morning.
The President and the Prime Minister led the tributes for Mangeshkar who spent close to a month in the hospital before her demise.
“Lata-ji’s demise is heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over. In her vast range of songs, rendering the essence and beauty of India, generations found expression of their inner-most emotions. A Bharat Ratna, Lata-ji’s accomplishments will remain incomparable,” President Kovind wrote on Twitter along with a photo with the veteran playback singer.
“An artist born but once in centuries, Lata-didi was an exceptional human being, full of warmth, as I found whenever I met her… My condolences to her family and admirers everywhere,” he said in another post.
An artist born but once in centuries, Lata-didi was an exceptional human being, full of warmth, as I found whenever I met her. The divine voice has gone quiet forever but her melodies will remain immortal, echoing in eternity. My condolences to her family and admirers everywhere. pic.twitter.com/FfQ8lmjHGN
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 6, 2022
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also tweeted his condolences, saying that he is “extremely saddened” by Mangeshkar’s death. “India has lost its voice in the death of Lata ji, who has enthralled music lovers in India & across the globe with her mellifluous & sublime voice for many decades,” he added.
I am extremely saddened by the demise of Lata Mangeshkar Ji, the Nightingale of Indian Cinema and legendary singer. India has lost its voice in the death of Lata ji, who has enthralled music lovers in India & across the globe with her mellifluous & sublime voice for many decades. pic.twitter.com/C9m3PfexyP
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) February 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry expressed his condolences over the demise of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday and said she ruled the world of music.
Taking to Twitter he said, “A legend is no more, LataMangeshkar was a melodious queen who ruled the world of music for decades she was the uncrowned queen of music her voice shall keep ruling the Hearts of people for all times to come.”
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who visited south Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier in the morning, said that Mangeshkar was “the pride of our nation”.
“She took the country to greater heights, all over the world with her singing. Her voice was magical. Her loss is humungous, it’s a void for all of us. I visited the hospital and had her darshan. It’s the end of an era,” Gadkari told reporters.
Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu and a host of others expressed grief over legendary singer and Bharat Ratna awardee Lata Mangeshkar’s demise on Sunday.
Stating that Mangeshkar would be remembered by generations to come for her contribution to music, Harichandan offered condolences to the bereaved family.
The Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy called Lata Mangeshkar the notation to melody of Indian music. “The motif of classical and film songs, Lata Mangeshkar was music to the ears for over seven generations and remained the undisputed and indispensable voice of the nation,” Reddy said in a condolence message.
She held her uniqueness till the last stanza of her career and her passing away was a great loss to Indian music, CM Reddy said.
In a tweet, Leader of Opposition Naidu said, “Heartbreaking to learn about the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar ji. Renowned as the Nightingale of India, her demise will mark the end of a remarkable era which witnessed her melodious voice regale every household in India. Her contribution to Indian music will be eternal.”
Expressing his grief over the demise singing legend Lata Mangeshkar, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said she will live through her melody.
“Deeply saddened to know about the passing away of legendary singer #LataMangeskar. The Melody Queen of India’ leaves a void in our collective consciousness. She will live through her melody for eternity. My thoughts & prayers are with the bereaved family & her countless fans (sic),” Patnaik tweeted.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other leaders from the coastal state expressed condolences over the demise of veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar, while describing her as the soul of Indian music.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that singing legend Lata Mangeshkar, who died at a hospital here in the morning, will be accorded a state funeral. Thackeray in a statement said Lata Mangeshkar’s death was an end of a glorious era.
Her melodious voice was immortal, he said, adding that everyone was in grief after hearing about her demise.
“She will continue to live amongst us,” the CM said in a statement. The funeral will be held will state honours, he added.
“It is sad that Lata Mangeshkar has left us physically. She was a symbol of motherly blessing. Her voice has brought alive all situations in everyone’s lives. Her voice broke the barriers of language, region, caste, creed and religion,” Thackeray said.
The CM also said that Lata Mangeshkar shared warm relations with his family. “She was an avid photographer and had the knowledge about good cameras and different lenses. We often discussed photography and she was present at my photo exhibitions to bless me. Recently when I was hospitalised, she enquired about my health,” the chief minister said.
Shiv Sena MP and party’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Sunday expressed grief over the death of singing legend Lata Mangeshkar, and described her demise as the end of an era. Raut in a series of tweets condoled the singer’s death.
एक सूर्य
एक चंद्र…
एकच लता… pic.twitter.com/kRPOpeaZQP— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) February 6, 2022
Earlier, two-day “state mourning” was announced by government. Citing a wireless message sent out to state chief secretaries by the Union Home Ministry, they said the national flag will fly at half mast from February 6 to February 7 throughout India.
The central government has decided that as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, two-day state mourning will be observed from February 6 to February 7 and there will be no official entertainment in this period, they said. A state funeral will be accorded to her and the date, time and venue will be intimated later.
Regarded as one of Indian cinema’s greatest playback singers, Mangeshkar started her career at the age of 13 in 1942 and has sung over 25,000 songs in various Indian languages.
In her over seven-decade career, she has sung a host of memorable tracks, including “Ajeeb dastan hai ye”, “Pyar kiya to darna kya” and “Neela asman so gaya”.
The singer, known as Melody Queen of India was awarded with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, as well as the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
