New Delhi: "The end of an era", "an artist born but once in centuries" and "a void that cannot be fulfilled", is how prominent personalities, led by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi, mourned the passing away of singing icon Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday. The 92-year-old singer had tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms and was admitted on January 8 to Breach Candy Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) where she was being treated by Dr Pratit Samdani and his team of doctors.
Mangeshkar's condition had improved in January and she was taken off the ventilator but her health deteriorated on Saturday. She died on Sunday morning due to multiple organ failure. The President and the Prime Minister led the tributes for Mangeshkar who spent close to a month in the hospital before her demise.
"Lata-ji's demise is heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over. In her vast range of songs, rendering the essence and beauty of India, generations found expression of their inner-most emotions. A Bharat Ratna, Lata-ji's accomplishments will remain incomparable," President Kovind wrote on Twitter along with a photo with the veteran playback singer. "An artist born but once in centuries, Lata-didi was an exceptional human being, full of warmth, as I found whenever I met her... My condolences to her family and admirers everywhere," he said in another post.
PM Modi also shared a photo with Mangeshkar and said the legendary singer's demise leaves "a void that can't be filled". "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 mesmerise people," he wrote.
"Lata Didi's songs brought out a variety of emotions. She closely witnessed the transitions of the Indian film world for decades. Beyond films, she was always passionate about India's growth. She always wanted to see a strong and developed India."
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also tweeted his condolences, saying that he is "extremely saddened" by Mangeshkar's death. "India has lost its voice in the death of Lata ji, who has enthralled music lovers in India & across the globe with her mellifluous & sublime voice for many decades," he added.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan also paid tributes to the legendary singer. He tweeted: "With the death of Lata Mangeshkar the subcontinent has lost one of the truly great singers the world has known. Listening to her songs has given so much pleasure to so many people all over the world."
President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari paid heartfelt tribute to Lata Mangeshkar and wrote, "I am saddened by the news of the demise of the famous Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, who has decorated many Nepali songs with her melodious voice. I pay a heartfelt tribute to the late Lata Mangeshkar, who was rich in extraordinary talent."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expresses his condolence, "Received the sad news of Lata Mangeshkar ji’s demise. She remained the most beloved voice of India for many decades. Her golden voice is immortal and will continue to echo in the hearts of her fans. My condolences to her family, friends and fans."
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who visited south Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital earlier in the morning, said that Mangeshkar was "the pride of our nation". "She took the country to greater heights, all over the world with her singing. Her voice was magical. Her loss is humungous, it's a void for all of us. I visited the hospital and had her darshan. It's the end of an era," Gadkari told reporters.
"I met Lata ji in Mumbai. She was kind to me. I would always cherish her memories. Her demise is a great loss to the world of music . May God give strength to her family, friends and fans. May her soul rest in peace", wrote Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, also tweeted his condolences, "Bharat Ratna" Lata Mangeshkar ji gave new heights to music with her rich vocals. Breaking the barriers of language, the songs sung by her reached every part of the world. Her death is an irreparable loss to the entire nation. May God give peace to the departed soul. Condolences to the family and fans."
The death of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar ji, a worshiper of Mother Saraswati, rich in prodigious talent, is an irreparable loss to Indian music. Condolences on the passing away of Swara Nightingale, who made the country proud in the world, she will always be with us with her music, may her soul rest in peace wrote Kalraj Mishra, Rajasthan Governor.
From the film industry, actors Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Hansal Mehta paid tributes to the singer. "The whole world is sad, Can't believe you have left us !!! We will miss you lata ji pray for your soul be in peace," wrote Dharmendra on Twitter.
Bachchan paid tributes to Mangeshkar, whom he described as "The voice of a million centuries". "... her voice resounds now in the Heavens! Prayers for calm and peace," he wrote on his blog.
Lalit Pandit of the composer duo Jatin-Lalit, who worked with the singer on films like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "Mohabattein", said she had a "fantastic sense of humour" and would always remember things. "Her memory was vivid. If she met you, she'd remember you, if you shared something with her, there's no way she's forgetting it. She was a jewel. There was no other Lata Mangeshkar, there is none and there won't be any. I will celebrate her life, today and always," he added.
Calling Mangeshkar India's national treasure, Azmi said her voice lit up our lives, gave us solace when we were sad, gave strength when we were low . "U will be missed our nightingale. But ur voice shall live with us forever ... #RIPLataji," wrote Salman Khan. Dixit-Nene remembered Mangeshkar as the one with the "angelic voice" that made us all swoon and fall in love. "Hearing Lata Tai's melodies over the years, remembering her image in 2 choti's & that childlike attribute has left like an imprint that will never ever leave our hearts," she said.
"'Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hain, Gar Yaad Rahe' And how can one forget such a voice! Deeply saddened by the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar ji, my sincere condolences and prayers," Kumar tweeted. Devgn wrote, "An icon forever. I will always savour the legacy of her songs. How fortunate were we to have grown up listening to Lataji's songs..."
Mehta said "the heavens are blessed" to be in the company of the Nightingale of India. Rahman, who composed Mangeshkar's song "Jiya Jale" from "Dil Se", posted a photo with the veteran and wrote, "Love, respect and prayers." Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan posted their tributes on Instagram. "Sad sad day for India as our nightingale leaves her mortal body. Lataji's voice has immortalised her for ever," Sharma wrote. "The music will never stop," Chopra Jonas captioned the photo.
"Rest in glory #LataMangeshkar," Kapoor Khan wrote in her Instagram Stories. Filmmaker SS Rajamouli also condoled Mangeshkar's demise. "She will live on in our hearts forever. My heartfelt tribute to the nightingale of India."
