Letters | India’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar will live on in her music
- For the last 60 years, her songs have touched Indians, Pakistanis and South Asians across the world. She was India’s national treasure and a true global icon
She sang for generations of film heroes, from Dilip Kumar to Rajesh Khanna to Amitabh Bachchan, all the way to Shah Rukh Khan, and for actresses like Nargis and Madhubala all the way to Madhuri Dixit. Indians, Pakistanis and South Asians across the world were the fans of her music, which cut across boundaries. She was rightly dubbed “the nightingale of India”.
India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears when she sang the song Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon (Oh! People of My Country). The Indian government conferred on her the highest award for a civilian, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001. She received the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1989, and the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan awards from the government in recognition of her art and contributions to music. She also won three national awards and seven Filmfare awards for her songs. Through all the accolades and honours bestowed on her, she remained humble, unassuming and modest.
Mangeshkar started performing in her father’s musical plays at the age of five and recorded her first song aged 13. She acted in Marathi plays and films too. She also learnt the Urdu language.
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‘Nightingale of India’ Lata Mangeshkar dies at 92, Bollywood superstar honoured with state funeral
Mangeshkar will always live on in our hearts and memories through her songs and the music. She was India’s national treasure. However, she was also a gift to the music world and a true global icon.
Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai, India
