India's nightingale Lata Mangeshkar passes away

The 92-year-old singer tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms and was admitted on January 8 to Breach Candy Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU)

Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday, February 6, leaving behind a long legacy of songs and melodies that will resound in the ears of Indians for decades to come.

"Lata di died at 8.12 am due to multi organ failure after over 28 days of Covid-19 diagnosis," Dr Pratit Samdani, who was treating the veteran singer at the city's Breach Candy hospital here, told reporters.

The last rites will be held this evening.

RIP Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Didi, as the 92-year-old is known, was rushed to the Breach Candy Hospital on January 8 after she tested positive for Covid-19, coupled with pneumonia infection.

Mangeshkar remained in the ICU for more than two weeks, following signs of marginal improvement in her health, following which the doctors treating her had taken her off the ventilator on January 28.

However, she was put on the ventilator again as her health started deteriorating from February 5 after which the team of doctors employed aggressive therapy to revive her.

Didi was given the title of India's nightingale with a long career that started in 1942 and has spanned over seven decades. A recipient of the coveted Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, she had over 30,000 songs to her credit.

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Born on October 28, 1929, Lata Mangeshkar is the eldest daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, a Marathi musician and his Gujarati wife Shevanti, and has four siblings—Meena Khadikar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, and Hridaynath Mangeshkar, all legendary and in the field of music.

Her death plunged the country into mourning with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the tributes in a series of tweets.

"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," the President said.

The prime minister said he was grieving the demise of the legend with "my fellow Indians".

"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," the PM said in a tweet.

"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," he said.

Some of Mangeshkar's unforgettable songs include 'Lag Jaa Gale', 'Mohe Panghat Pe', 'Chalte Chalte', 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' , 'Ajeeb Daastaan Hai', 'Hothon mein aisi baat', 'Pyar kiya to darna kya', 'Neela aasman so gaya', 'Pani Pani Re', among countless others.

Considered one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema, she received several film awards and honors like Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and multiple National Film Awards.

(With PTI inputs)

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