Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, known as ‘Queen of Melody’ for her soulful voice, passed away at the age of 92 today. She was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital and was critically ill past few weeks.
Dr Pratit Samdani, who was treating Mangeshkar, told ANI, “It is with profound grief that we announce the sad demise of Lata Mangeshkar at 8:12am. She has died because of multi-organ failure after more than 28 days of hospitalization post COVID19.”
The Government of India has announced two days of state mourning as a mark of tribute. The National flag will be flown at half-mast in India on February 6 & 7. She will be cremated with full state honors at Shivaji Park today evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be in Mumbai to pay his last respects to the late singer, expressed his grief on Twitter upon receiving the sad news. “I am anguished beyond words. The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerize people.”
‘Bharat Ratna’ Lataji’s fanbase extended across the borders. Be it Pakistan, Bangladesh, or US, tributes poured in on social media as the world woke up to the sad news today.
Fondly called Latadidi by the film fraternity and her near and dear ones, she was born in 1929 in Indore. Her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, was a classical singer and theatre actor.
She started her career at 13 years of age in the year 1942 and went on to sing over 30,000 songs in various Indian languages.
In 1974, she became the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred to her in 1989. In 2001, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna. France honored her with its highest civilian award, the Officer of the Legion of Honor, in 2007.
