Legendary singer, India’s nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday morning in Mumbai, leaving her fans and followers in India and abroad grief-stricken. On Sunday evening she was cremated with full state honours at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at her funeral. A two-day national mourning for Sunday and Monday was announced by Government of India. The national flag is flying at half-mast across the country.
Condolence messages poured in from around the country and the world. President Ram Nath Kovind said: “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.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended her funeral in Mumbai on Sunday evening, tweeted, “I am anguished beyond words. The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people.”
“I consider it my honour that I have always received immense affection from Lata Didi. My interactions with her will remain unforgettable. I grieve with my fellow Indians on the passing away of Lata Didi. Spoke to her family and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.”
After being diagnosed with Covid and pneumonia, Lata Mangeshkar was taken to Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai on 8 January. Despite having recovered from Covid, the singer was placed on ventilator support on Saturday as her health worsened; she passed away following multiple organ failures. The mortal remains of the legendary singer were brought to her residence at 12:30 pm and the last rituals with full state honours were held in Shivaji Park at 6:30 pm.
The vehicle in which her body was taken to the stadium was completely decorated with white flowers and had a massive photo of hers. The coffin in which her mortal remains were placed was also wrapped in the Tricolour as military personnel marched along.
Several celebrities were present at the funeral including actor Shah Rukh Khan, actor Ranbir Kapoor, actor Aamir Khan, actor Shraddha Kapoor, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, singer Anuradha Paudwal, musician Shankar Mahadevan, actor Vidya Balan and her husband and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur. They paid floral tributes to the late iconic singer.
Prominent politicians and ministers including Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Piyush Goyal and Sharad Pawar were also present.
Officials of the Indian armed forces carried her
mortal remains.
Eight priests dressed in white arrived to conduct the final rites. Blocks of sandalwood were placed on her body while the priests chanted the mantras. The late Lata Mangeshkar’s brother Hridaynath accompanied by his son Aadinath Mangeshkar lit the funeral pyre. She also received a gun salute during the last rites.
Sharing her last audio message to the world, veteran actor Anupam Kher tweeted, “Lata ji’s last message while singing the verse of Bhagavad Gita; In the second meeting of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Committee on Zoom on the afternoon of 22/12/2021, when it was Lata ji’s turn to speak, being a fan it was my eagerness, to record her voice! Listen! What did the great singer of the world say!” In the audio clip shared by Kher, Lata Mangeshkar greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the second meeting of the Amrit Mahotsav Committee and recited a verse from the Bhagwad Gita. “Yeh sab main kehne ke baad Bhagwad Gita mein Bhagwan Shri Krishna, ek unka shloka hai jo main sunane ja rahi hoon. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata. Abhythanamadharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham. Paritranaya sadhunang vinashay cha dushkritam. Dharmasangsthapanarthay sambhabami yuge yuge.”
She further said, “Bhagwan Shri Krishna ne yeh kahan. Woh hamesha hamare saath rahe. Aaj bhi saath hain aur aage bhi saath rahenge, yeh mujhe vishwaas hai. Main aap sabko pranaam karti hoon aur aagya leti hoon (Lord Krishna said this. He is always with us. He is with us today and will remain in the future as well. I greet you all and will take your leave).”
The acclaimed singer, known as the “Nightingale of India”, had sung over 30,000 songs in 36 languages, including English, Russian, Dutch and Swahili. Her love for music evolved as she was born into a family of artistes, and she, along with her siblings—Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar—eventually ended up carrying on the legacy of their father, Dinanath Mangeshkar, who was a Natya Sangeet musician and a Hindustani classical vocalist.
From 1999 to 2005, Lata Mangeshkar served as a Member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).
Her golden voice garnered her the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, which she ws awarded in 2001. She held the record of being the first Indian to perform at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall. In 2007, the French government awarded her with the Officer of the Legion of Honour. Her last song, “Saugandh Mujhe Is Mitti Ki”, by music composer Mayuresh Pai, was recorded on March 30, 2019, as a tribute to the Indian Army.
Leaving the world at the age of 92, she left an emptiness in the Indian music industry.
Social media has been flooded with tributes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “This is an irreparable loss for the whole country and especially for the field of music. She continued to contribute to the music till her last breath and for seven decades, with her contribution, she decorated and polished the Indian classical music and the music of the Indian films industry.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: “When anyone listens to Lata Ji’s song ‘Ae mere watan ke logo, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani’, then it is very natural for them to be teary-eyed. I, on behalf of all, pay tribute to her.”
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi said: “An era has ended. Heart touching voice, songs of patriotism and the struggling life of Lata didi will always be an inspiration for generations.”
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said: “India has lost a great daughter. Her passing away is an immense loss to our nation and the void is going to be impossible to fill.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Received the sad news of Lata Mangeshkar ji’s demise. She remained the most beloved voice of India for many decades. Her golden voice is immortal and will continue to echo in the hearts of her fans.”
Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “I consider myself fortunate to have been a part of Lata Didi’s life. She always showered me with her love and blessings. With her passing away, a part of me feels lost too. She’ll always continue to live in our hearts through her music.”
Former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli tweeted: “Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Lata ji. Her melodious songs touched millions of people around the world. Thank you for all the music and the memories. My deepest condolences to the family & the loved ones.”
Veteran actor Dharmendra tweeted: “The whole world is sad, Can’t believe you have left us !!! We will miss you lata ji, pray for your soul be in peace.”
Actor Akshay Kumar wrote, “Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hain, Gar Yaad Rahe…and how can one forget such a voice! Deeply saddened by the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar ji, my sincere condolences and prayers. Om Shanti.”
Music composer Shankar Mahadevan tweeted: “@mangeshkarlata will remain forever! Bless us didi.”
From across the border, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday expressed grief by tweeting, “With the death of Lata Mangeshkar, the subcontinent has lost one of the truly great singers the world has known. Listening to her songs has given so much pleasure to so many people all over the world.”
WITH AGENCY INPUTS
