Vivekananda Jha, Ranchi.‘Rahe na rahe ham, mehka karenge wade wafa mein’, indeed Latajee must have pondered over the wordings of these great stanzas, for every word she sang, would so evocatively resonate in her own case. Today, even though she had disappeared from our midst, yet she had left behind one of the richest legacies ever for the generations to cherish. Singing the countless songs which reverberated across the globe, with each of the syllables, in rythmic form, of her songs, left behind the footprints in the annals of time. ‘Tujhsey naraz nahi, Jindagi hairan hun main'(The song has left me wondering, as it would have impacted others, in reflecting over the eternal mystery of life) Significantly, the melifluous voice appears to be in cosmic dalliance with each other, purportedly penetrating the heart, leaving us flummoxed at the altar of ruminating over the oceanic vastness of the significance of each word being lent the celestial voice creating waves inside our hearts and minds. ‘O mere watan kay logon’, was another priceless song which has the magical potion to trigger the sacrifice of the highest nature–embracing martyrdom for securing the nation. No wonder, the song, as was reportedly sung before Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, purportedly evoked tears in his eyes. Regrettably, Bharat Ratna, the highest Civilian award, was accorded to her by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India’s statesman Prime Minister, whom Latajee would respectfully address as ‘Dada’. Congress leaders, who would now shed the crocodile’s tears now, had slighted her by ignoring her unparalleled contribution to mankind.
But then death comes to the mightiest of emperors as it inevitably engulfs the paupers of worst form, in its octopus like tentacles. Small wonder then, the physical frame of Latajee too has come to meet its destined end: her physical body to be reduced to ashes. Yet as the famous adage goes, especially when the favourite sons and daughters of Lord comes to His abode: ‘ Khud ko kar buland itna ki khuda har bande say puchay, bata teri raja kya hai’, Latajee, despite her humanly omissions and commissions–she was reported to have jeopardised the career of Vani Jairam and some other singers–yet the celestial voice which illuminated this physical world, shall henceforth, with its overwhelming luminiscence, will adorn the Astral and the Causal world. Latajee, despite having serious differences with an immortal Rafi Sahab, unequivocally the greatest male singer India has ever had, made the brilliant pair in duets. Besides, she also had sung good number of songs with Mukeshjee and Kishore da. Evidently, her demise will leave behind the vacuum which will be difficult to fill up. Moreover, Latajee was a living goddess whose voice mesmerised one and all. Small wonder then, the entire humanity will feel the vacuum which will never be filled up. However, as the great poet, Lord Tennison had penned the beautiful stanzas: Sunset and the evening stars, a clear call for me, and may there be no moaning at the bar, when I am put out to sea! I hope to see my pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar! Hence, it is the golden time for immortal Latajee to meet her Creator, hence, this celebratory moments for her should not be diluted by shedding tears, even though the droplets of tears glisten our eyes, yet, we all, the fellow compatriots, her billions of admirers with folded hands bid her goodbye, for we know that it is the time for her to illuminate the heaven through her melodious voice. The angel who mesmerised this physical world by singing in 36 languages, is destined to set the heaven afire. Let us all wish her the very best with the song: ‘ Meri awaz hi pehchan hai’, ‘ yes, we will treasure you eternally in our hearts and minds’. So long as the sun shines on the horizon of this physical word, the name of Lata Mangeshkar will remain carved in the hearts and minds of humanity.
Vivekanand Jha salutes the greatest female singer of the world, and earnestly prays for her place at the lotus feet of the absolute Brahman. May her soul find the highest place earmarked for the greatest of the self-realised saints.
