New Delhi, Sep 28
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar won't celebrate
her 87th birthday on Wednesday as 18 Indian soldiers recently
died "so brutally in Uri". She is saddened by the
darkness all around, including the deteriorating relations
with Pakistan. But she hopes they stay happy and live in peace.
The September 18 terror attack left 18 Indian soldiers dead
at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. So, this year Lata won't celebrate
her birthday.
"Not when our soldiers have died so brutally in Uri.
My sincere request to my well-wishers, please don't waste
money buying me flowers. Instead send money to the bereaved
family of martyrs. Jo shaheed huey hain unki zaraa yaad karo
qurbani," she said.
There is hatred everywhere, especially between India and
the neighbours. What is her message to her fans?
Lata said: "Everything has changed. Human beings and
even the climate is now unpredictable. Extreme weather conditions
play havoc with our lives. I am deeply saddened to see children
suffer in natural calamities and during war."
So what according to her, is the solution to the current
crisis in mankind's existence?
"I don't know if I am qualified to comment on such matters.
But yes, I do wonder why nations don't keep their own house
in order instead of creating havoc in others' domain. Why
hurl bombs at nations? Hatred kills. Why not work on making
our own country beautiful?"
She cites the example of Switzerland as an idyllic state
of existence.
"Switzerland is considered the most peaceful country
in the world. Why? Because they've concentrated on making
their own country better and more developed and they do not
look at other countries to harm them. We never hear of violence
perpetrated by the Swiss."
Her message to her fans in Pakistan?
"Woh khush rahen shanti se rahen (I hope they stay happy
and stay in peace). Aur humen bhi khushi aur shanti se rehne
den (And let us also live in peace and be happy). I know the
people there are just like us. They want peace. Only some
elements don't want peace."
On a more cheerful note, Lata Mangeshkar has been conferred
West Bengal's highest civilian honour - the Banga Bibhushan.
And Lata, who has received India's highest civilian honour
the Bharat Ratna, is ecstatic.
"My connection with Bengal is karmic. I've sung numerous
Bangla songs including Durga Pooja songs and Rabindra Sangeet,
the two most popular genres of singing in Bengal. I hold my
visits to Kolkata very close to my heart. Do you know, Bengal
is where I've performed the maximum live concerts in India,"
said Lata, recalling with pleasure the times when she recorded
Bangla songs for the two Bangla maestros Salil Chowdhury and
Hemant Kumar.
"Hemant da's songs were sweet and transparent, like
the man himself. His tunes were very melodious. Salil da used
to record really intricate layered Bangla songs with me and
then he would record the same song with me in Hindi. For example,
'O sajna barkha bahaar aayee' ('Parakh'), 'Na jiya laage na('Anand')
and 'Niss din niss din' ('Annadata') were all Bengali songs
first."
Lata's brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar also recorded Bangla
songs with her.
"Hridaynath converted some of his famous Marathi numbers
into Bangla," she revealed.
She recalls every visit to Kolkata with pleasure. "I
love the food there, and the saris. But most of all, I love
the language. It is so sweet. I am honoured to get their award.
The fact that West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamta Bannerjee
will take the time to personally come to Mumbai to give me
the award makes it all the more special. I couldn't have hoped
for a better birthday gift."
What do awards mean to the Nightingale at this stage of her
career?
"Oh, they mean a lot! It's never too late for recognition
and praise. When I received the Bharat Ratna in 2001, all
my friends said there is nothing more to achieve. But I am
still learning. I still feel like a student. Every word of
praise whether it comes from the government or a listener
who appreciates my songs, is equally important." |