New Delhi: On a day India mourned one of its greatest daughters, grief pervaded many across the border in Pakistan as well. Leading the nation in paying homage to singing stalwart Lata Mangeshkar was none other than its Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Taking to his official Twitter page, Khan posted, “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.”
The cricketer-turned-politician couldn’t have spoken a truer word as the melodious nuggets of the singing doyen transcended boundaries and tugged at the heart strings of billions across the sub-continent.
Battling for life over the last few days after contracting Covid, 92-year-old Mangeshkar, known simply as ‘Lata tai’ (Marathi for sister) to many of her fans and acolytes, passed away on Sunday morning after suffering a multi-organ failure.
Born in undivided India, Mangeshkar’s golden melodies seldom failed to touch a chord across the border. And, the sentiment was conveyed in no small measure as tributes came pouring in from Pakistan.
The country’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry, who is currently visiting Chinese capital Beijing as part of a delegation led by PM Imran Khan, said Mangeshkar dominated the sphere of music through several decades and her melodious legacy will live on forever.
News agency PTI quoted Chaudhry as tweeting in English, “A legend is no more. Lata Mangeshkar was a melodious queen who ruled the world of music for decades. She was the uncrowned queen of music. Her voice shall keep ruling the hearts of people for all times to come.”
Pakistani singer-composer Shafqat Amanat Ali, who has crooned for Bollywood, tweeted in tribute to the singing legend, “The Beat stopped the Sur and she reached the ‘Sum’ of her mortal life today. Your voice will remain etched in the memory of this civilisation for all times to come. There are no words for what you gave us through your music #LataMangeshkar ji. My humble tribute!”
Mangeshkar was laid to rest with full state honours at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a long line of dignitaries in paying tributes to the icon. The nation will observe two days of national mourning as a mark of tribute to the singing stalwart, with the Tricolour flying at half-mast.