On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award, remembering the renowned singer as an artist who was a vital part of nation-building and who will be missed.
On receiving the award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid glowing tributes to the late great singer, whom he referred to as his “older sister” and cherished recollections of his time with her.
I was introduced to her by Master Sudhir Phadke. For me, she was my Lata Didi and Sur Samragyi. I always received love and blessings from her. The PM said and accepted the award from the Master Deenath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratisthan Charitable Trust and Hriday Arts in an emotional speech.
He stated that he had known the Mangeshkar family for over four decades and described Lata Didi as a “Ma Saraswati” who sang for four to five generations of actors, gliding from gramophone records to cassettes to VCD, DVD, pendrives, and the internet, leaving her mark and inspiring millennia.
Prime Minister Modi honoured her great contribution to the world of music and culture, stating that while her physical journey ended around the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence, she offered her voice to India long before freedom, and the country’s passage of 75 years is also associated with her.
The Prime Minister praised Mangeshkar’s patriotism, saying that her father was the source of Lata Didi’s conscious love for the country, who died on February 6.
Lata Didi considered music her “rashtra bhakti” (worshipping the nation) and patriotism was inspired by her songs like “Jai Hind Ki Sena” and “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon,” said the PM.
Lata Didi was like “a melodious manifestation of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat”. She sang thousands of songs in more than 30 languages, ranging from culture to faith, east to west and north to south. Her notes united the country, and she was India’s cultural ambassador, “Modi said, commending her long and illustrious career.
The Prime Minister stated that he is not used to accepting awards, but when the Mangeshkar family approached him with the honour in Lata Didi’s name, he couldn’t refuse it, and it became a reflection of her love and affection for him.
This award in her honour also belongs to the people. I dedicate this award to all my countrymen, “said Modi.
Apart from the PM, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award was given to Asha Parekh and Jackie Shroff for their contributions to cinema, Rahul Deshpande for his contributions to music, and the Dabbawalas’ Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust for their contributions to social service, with the show hosted by Harish Bhimani.
The whole Mangeshkar family, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, state Industry Minister Subash Desai, Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, and other dignitaries were there.
(Source- Odisha TV, Times of India)
