Page 9 - NIS English 01-15 March 2022

Tribute
ata didi has departed for heavenly abode. This
is the end of an era in the Indian film music. Her
Lsoulful voice reverberated across the country,
winning millions of hearts. Lata didi, also known as
‘Swar Kokila' by her fans, had an intangible bond with
them. Lata Didi had immense affection for PM Modi.
PM Modi and Lata Didi shared the same birthday
month. She used to affectionately call PM Modi as
‘Narendra Bhai’. In 2013, when PM Modi was the Chief
Minister of Gujarat, he was invited by Lata Didi and
her family to inaugurate a super-speciality hospital in
Pune. The hospital was very close to Lata Didi as it
was built in the memory of her late father Deenanath
Mangeshkar. During the event, Lata Didi had said, “I
pray to God that we see Narendra Bhai as PM.”
She used to wish her “Narendra Bhai” on the
auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan every
year. In one of her video messages, Lata Didi had
expressed anguish that why she couldn’t send Rakhi
to PM Modi because of the COVID pandemic. She
had said – “Narendra Bhai, I would like to wish you
on the occasion of Rakhi and say pranam. I couldn’t
send a Rakhi and everybody knows the reason why,”.
To which PM Modi had replied that “her heartfelt
message gives infinite inspiration and energy. May
you be healthy and live long, this is my prayer to God”.
In an interesting episode of Mann Ki Baat in 2019,
PM Modi had shared with the nation a telephonic
conversation he had with Lata Didi before leaving for
his US Trip. He had called this cheerful conversation
as “it was like a younger brother talking lovingly to his
elder sister”. PM Modi also recounted his personal
relationship with Lata Didi in the same conversation.
He recalled how she always treated him to Gujarati
delicacies whenever he had the opportunity to meet
her.
In the same conversation he says, “There would
hardly be anyone who does not show utmost regard
for Lata Mangeshkar ji. She is elder to most of us and
has been witness to different eras in the country. We
address her as ‘didi.’ To this Lata Didi had said, “Even
you (PM Modi) don’t know what you really are. I know
that the picture of India is changing with your arrival
and that, that makes me very happy. It makes me feel
very good.” Lata Didi had also said that she took PM
Modi’s mother’s blessings on her birthday.
Lata Didi and PM Modi used to wish each other on
their birthdays. In one of the birthday-messages she
Lata Mangeshkar
WHEN FATHER HEARD HER SING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Lata Mangeshkar was born in Indore on
September 28, 1929. Dinanath Mangeshkar,
her father, used to sing and run a drama
company. He also used to teach music to
many of his students. In an interview, Lataji
said, "Once my father was teaching music
to his disciple. He had to go somewhere in
the evening, so he told the disciple that you
continue practicing, I will come. I was listening
to the disciple sitting on the balcony. I went to
him and said that you are singing this bandish
(composition) wrong. I sang that song to him.
After that, my father came, and I ran from
there. At that time, I was only 5 years old, and
my father had no idea that I also sang. After
the disciple left, my father told mother that a
singer was already in the house and that we
were teaching the people outside. My father
woked me up at 6 a.m. the next day and
handed me the tanpura.
FROM ACTING TO SINGING
The incident occurred between 1943 and
1944. A film was being shot in Kolhapur,
and the famous singer of the time, Noor
Jahan, had come to record the songs. In
the same film, a young girl also played the
role. The film's producer introduced the girl
to Noor Jahan, stating that she is Lata who
also sings. "Well, then, sing something,"
Noor Jahan said. Lata sang a classical
composition. Lata sang, while Noor Jahan
listened. Pleased with the song of the girl,
Noor Jahan said that you sing very well. Keep
doing Riyaz. Lata Mangeshkar, a girl who did
minor roles in films for a living, went on to
become a music singer.
New India Samachar March 1-15, 2022 7