An era ends! Lata Mangeshkar no more; she was 92
By: Pallab Ghosh
Radiance News Service
The lines 'rahe na rahe hum... mehka karenge ..." sung by Lata Mangeshkar seems to be the perfect tribute to the Nightingale of India who not only compelled Indians to fall in love with her voice but the entire world simple love and admire her. Lata Mangeshkar passed away in Mumbai. She was 92.
It's very hard to mention one particular song as all her songs are iconic, and has historical relevance.
An era has come to an end with her demise as she not only worked with legends like Naushad Sahab, Madan Mohan, SD Burman, Khaiyam, OP Nayyar, Hemanta Mukherjee (Hemant Kumar), Salil Chowdhary, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, RD Burman, Bappi Lahiri, and the list is endless but also worked with young music directors like Jatin-Lalit, Gulzar, AR Rehman to name a few. She was the few who worked both with SD Burman and his son RD Burman. She has sand duets with all the legendary singers - Hemanta Mukherjee, Mukesh, Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey, Shailendra, Bappi Lahiri to the new entrants in the industry.
Lata Mangeshkar fondly Lata Didi was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in 1969, the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in 1999, and the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 2001. She also received France’s highest civilian award ‘Officier de la Legion d’Honneur’ (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in 2009.
She was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital in early January this year after she tested positive for COVID-19 and was also diagnosed with pneumonia. Subsequently, she was recovering but her condition started deteriorating and a health bulletin was issued stating her condition was serious. The death came around 8:15 am on Sunday morning after suffering a multiple-organ failure on Saturday night. Breach Candy Hospital CEO N Santhanam attributed the iconic singer’s death to post-COVID-19 complications.
Her mortal remains will be consigned to flames at the Shivaji crematorium in Dadar, Mumbai around 5:30 pm with full state honour. The central government has announced two-day national mourning as a mark of respect to the departed soul.