[ Chukhu Indu ]
ITANAGAR, 6 Feb: Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar died in a Mumbai hospital on Sunday due to multiple organ failure. She was 92.
The singer, whose name was written into legend years before she took her last breath in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, had been in hospital since 8 January when she was diagnosed with Covid with mild symptoms. She was also diagnosed with pneumonia.
“Lata di died at 8:12 am due to multi organ failure after over 28 days of Covid-19 diagnosis,” Dr Pratit Samdani, who was treating the singer at the Breach Candy Hospital here, told reporters.
The government announced a two-day state mourning for Mangeshkar, who had a prodigious almost eight-decade-long career in which she sang an estimated 25,000 songs in as many as 36 Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Kannada, and across classical and other genres.
There will be no official entertainment in this period.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the luminaries from politics and entertainment industry present at her funeral at Shivaji Park in Dadar area in the evening.
Lata’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar lit the funeral pyre of the singing legend.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and MNS chief Raj Thackeray were present as Lata’s mortal remains were consigned to flames in the presence of people from all walks of life.
Just before the last rites, the national tricolour in which the mortal remains were draped was handed over to the family members.
The mortal remains of Lata Mangeshkar, draped in the national flag, were taken in a truck from her residence Prabhu Kunj in south Mumbai to Shivaji Park for the last rites.
A large number of people thronged the roads from where the cortege passed as the melody queen embarked on her final journey.
Fans here in Arunachal also expressed their love for the legendary singer in their social media updates as they bid her adieu. One of the fans took to his Facebook page and wrote: “This is Heart breaking, May her soul rest in peace.”
“The musical world has become poorer with her passing away. The golden voice that spread love and happiness everywhere has gone quiet suddenly,” said IPR Deputy Director Denhang Bosai.
He recalled the times he spent listening to Mangeshkar’s songs, and said, “We all grew up listening to her melodious songs on the radio in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Later, we saw her perform live on TVs. Her soulful songs touched every heart and left a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of the listeners. Her voice was indeed magical and left the music lovers mesmerized by her singing prowess. She may have left this transient world but she will live on through her songs forever. I was a great fan of hers. Her demise has saddened me deeply. May her pious soul rest in eternal peace. Wherever she may be now, her new world will be filled with music and only music. Adieu to the legend,” said Bosai.
A fan from Naharlagun’s C Sector, Techi Kokololo recalled and sang her song ‘Meri awaaz hi pehchaan hai’, and said that the legendary singer was not only liked by her contemporaries but by people of all ages. “She made a lasting impact through her voice till her death,” Kokololo said.
Another fan, Taba Yania Techi, said that Mangeshkar’s passing has left a void and shocked her. “Even though she passed away at the age of 92, she could have still lived, and it is not that late as many lived for above hundred years too.”
Gom Tayeng, who teaches at Rajiv Gandhi University, said: “Hearing the news of her death this morning has saddened me and I felt as if someone close has died.” He described Mangeshkar’s demise as the passing of an era.
Lata Mangeshkar was cremated with full state honours in Mumbai on Sunday.
Governor BD Mishra also expressed profound sorrow over the demise of legendary singer and Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar.
“In the passing away of Lata didi, the nation has lost the voice that has mesmerized not only the country but the entire globe, cutting across race, religion, region, nationality and language,” the governor said in a message on Sunday.
“Lata ji’s song ‘Aye mere watan ke logo’ holds a unique emotional bond for every Indian. The song was written and composed following the 1962 Chinese aggression. Her demise has left a void in our national musical talent that cannot be filled,” the governor said. (With inputs from PTI & Raj Bhavan)
