Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award in Mumbai on Sunday. The award has been instituted in memory and honour of the legendary singer who passed away at the age of 92 years in Mumbai earlier this year.
PM Modi received the award in presence of Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, among others.
“Music can give a feeling of motherhood and love. Music can take you to the pinnacle of patriotism and duty. We all are fortunate that we have seen this power of music, this power in the form of Lata didi,” Modi said. He added he is not knowledgeable about a subject like music. “But from cultural understanding, I feel that music is also a sadhana and an emotion.”
The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award was instituted in the memory and honour of Lata Mangeshkar, affectionately known as Lata didi, who died at the age of 92 on February 6.
In a statement issued by the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan charitable trust, the award will be given each year to only one individual with path-breaking, spectacular and exemplary contributions to the country, its people and the society.
Referring to Modi, who will be the first recipient, the statement added, “He is an international statesman who has put India on the path of global leadership. The spectacular progress that has, and, is taking place in every aspect and dimension of our beloved nation is driven and inspired by him. He is indeed one of the greatest leaders our great nation has seen in its glorious history of thousands of years.”
