Lata Mangeshkar: As I know her
YEH zindagi oosey ki hay…Her most popular song. She was a loving legend & nightingale of the Bollywood. The people of India are completely devastated at the sad news of her demise. Lata was sick for the last one month due to deadly virus infection COVID-19 and was admitted in a local hospital in Bombay with pulmonary complications and expired peacefully on Sunday. Lata was born in 1929 and fell silent at the age of 92 years. She never married and lived a very simple life in a small flat with a servant. She started her singing career at the age of 13.
Lata was the most cherished and beloved playback singer of Bollywood in the sub-continent. She was cremated with full state honours. Her last respects were joined by all the state political and non-political admirers.
The Veteran singers’ death triggered outpouring grief to all overs of the music lovers in the sub-continent. The national flag of India has been hoisted half-mast for two days to honor the beloved singer. As far as the profession of play back singing is concerned, she always praised Noor Jahan and Mehdi Hassan with the remarks that bhagwan was present in their voice. Her un-paralleled contribution to the music world will never be forgotten.
How I remember her it is a long story. When I was a postgraduate student at Wolverhampton (UK), I used to enjoy her melodious songs in my leisure time. I used to switch on my TV in the morning and used to listen to her songs in the migrant program every Sunday. Her most popular song was “ tu jahan jahan chalega, mera saya sath hoga” from the film Mera Saya and it is still very lively and pleasant to listen today. Another song from film “Mahal- Aiga anay wala, Aiga anay wala” remained extremely popular.”
Due to the sweet and melodious voice these films remained over the screen for almost a year in London. Her most unforgettable song was “ Yeh Zindgi oosey key hay” will ever be liked by the music lovers.
The Book of Guinness World Record has listed Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artiste in history with more than 25,000 songs in many Indian languages. In recognition of her national services, she has been awarded the highest civil award by the government of India. To-day, the nation mourns the loss of India’s most cherished nightingale.
—The writer is a retired professor from Rawalpindi Medical University and Hon Professor of China’s Tianjin University.
