PM Modi receives Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, Uddhav skips occasion 

By PTI

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the primary Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award on Sunday and remembered the enduring singer as an artiste who was an integral a part of nation-building and will likely be missed on Rakhi.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray skipped the occasion amid a tussle between BJP and Sena.

“Lata Didi, apart from being the queen of melody, was my elder sister. She taught generations the language of love and compassion. I feel fortunate that she loved me like an elder sister. After many decades, this will be the first Rakhi when Didi won’t be here,” Modi stated in his award acceptance speech.

Lata Mangeshkar died at 92 in February following multiple-organ failure.

Thackeray and his members of the family met 80-year-old Chandrabhaga Shinde, who grew to become the face of protests by Shiv Sena employees towards Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana a day earlier, at her residence in Parel within the night.

Maharashtra minister and NCP chief Jitendra Awhad tweeted the invitation card of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award ceremony, saying it did not point out the title of Uddhav Thackeray.

“The Mangeshkar family avoided mentioning the name of the Chief Minister on the invitation card of the Lata Mangeshkar Award Ceremony. Their role is incomprehensible. This act of the Mangeshkars is an insult to 12 crore Marathi people,” Awhad tweeted.

In his speech, PM Modi stated Lata Mangeshkar’s voice enthralled the viewers for over 80 years, from the period of “gramophone, CD, DVD, pen drive, digital music to apps”.

“The journey of songs and the world ran through the journey of Lata Didi, who gave voice to five generations of actors and made India proud. Her journey on this planet came to an end at a time when our country is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. She gave voice to India, even before its Independence. The 75-year journey of the country was always tied to her ‘sur’. Our entire nation is grateful for the contribution of the Mangeshkar family to the country. Apart from singing, the passion of ‘rashtra bhakti’ that was within her, was due to her father,” the prime minister stated.

Modi acquired the award on Sunday, which marked the eightieth loss of life anniversary of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, the singing legend’s father.

The prime minister stated he usually stays away from felicitation ceremonies however made an exception to obtain the primary Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award named after the legendary singer whom he thought of his “elder sister”.

“I generally keep myself away from such felicitation ceremonies. I cannot adjust myself (in such programmes). But when an award is named after an elder sister like Lata Mangeshkar, then it becomes an obligation for me to accept it because of the affection and right of the Mangeshkar family over me,” he stated.

Modi stated when he was contacted for this award, he advised his assistants to verify his presence directly.

“I informed my staff that I will plan other things later. I could not say no to such an event. I dedicate this award to all Indians,” the prime minister added.

He stated Lata didi all the time used to say that an individual turns into nice by his deeds and never by age.

“I think we all can learn from her thoughts,” the PM added.

Noted musician and Lata Mangeshkar’s youthful brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar could not attend the occasion as he was admitted to a hospital, his singer son Adinath Mangeshkar stated on the operate.

The 84-year-old musician, youthful brother of Lata didi and Asha Bhosle, will likely be discharged inside ten days, Adinath stated with out divulging the reason for his hospitalisation.

Modi wished Hridaynath Mangeshkar a speedy restoration in the beginning of his tackle.

The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar will likely be given yearly to a person who has made a “path-breaking, spectacular and exemplary” contribution to the nation, its folks and society, in line with the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Charitable Trust, which has instituted the award.