Both the Houses of Parliament on Monday paid rich tributes to Bollywood singing legend and ‘Bharat Ratna’ Lata Mangeshkar with Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu describing the country's "Nightingale and melody queen" as one who captured "every mood, moment and journey" of India during several decades of her illustrious career.
In the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, saying that "she unified the nation through her music."
Soon after the Upper House assembled at 10 AM, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressed sorrow at the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar. Her singing prowess has been as diverse as our country, he said.
In the Lok Sabha too, soon after the House met at 4 PM, Speaker Om Birla read out the obituary message for Lata Mangeshkar and then adjourned the proceedings for an hour. Birla also recalled her singing ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’ in Central Hall during the golden jubilee celebrations of Indian independence in 1997.
"Lata ji knitted our nation by representing us collectively and each one of us in our singularity. Besides defining the golden standard of playback singing through thousands of her melodious songs in many languages, she captured every mood, moment and journey of our nation for over seven decades,’’ the Rajya Sabha chairman said.
"Her distinguished and long career ran parallel to that of free India over the last 75 years, capturing the trials and tribulations of the times. India is struck silent with her passing away in the 75th year of Independence," the RS Chairman said.
Naidu also said that she was a great philanthropist and founded the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation, a public charitable trust which contributes towards the medical expenses of needy patients irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
She also started Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan, which provides assistance to students and contributes to the welfare of senior citizens, he added. Lataji also served as a Nominated Member of this House from November 1999 to November 2005, he said.
Describing her contribution to the field of music, Naidu said that she recorded over 25,000 songs and she captured every mood and journey of our country for over seven decades.
She was bestowed with several awards like Padma Bhushan in 1999, Rajiv Gandhi Award in 1997, Bharat Ratna in 2001 apart from many other awards for her songs. She was also awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke award in 1989.
The Members of the House, of which she was a nominated member, stood in silence for a while in respect to the departed soul and the proceedings of the House were adjourned by the Chairman.
The Central government announced two days of state mourning during which the National Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who paid their last respects to the music icon at Shivaji Park Sunday evening.