Guest Author
By Girish Modi
On Saturday February 6, 2022, I was attending Maharashtra Mandal’s Sankranti event as a guest and talking proudly about Lata-ji’s memorable songs with the organizers and volunteers without even knowing that she had just died. I was telling them how much I loved her songs and respected her as goddess Saraswati though I don’t worship deities in general. After I came home, I was shocked to learn through the Internet that she had just died and I watched live broadcasts of her last rites with emotions but no tears.
At the Maharashtra Mandal program, I was telling people that a couple of months earlier, at Indian Idol program, I had gifted Lata-ji’s autographed photo to two young female contestants (one senior and the other junior) and had predicted before even judges announced their decision couple of hours later that these two will win first prizes, since they had chosen to sing Lata-ji’s songs. That shows how much Lata-ji’s voice has been ingrained in my heart and soul since 1949 when I was ten years old. Even today I hum her old songs day and night and even in my dreams.
Lata-ji died at the ripe age of 92. She had retired for the last 20 years and remained out of public life. So, her death was not a shock. She had become a legend like many singers including Saigal, Rafi, Mukesh, and Kishore Kumar. While people give a lot of credit to Lata-ji for making film songs popular, we forget to give equal credits to the composers like Shankar-Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, Naushad and Madan Mohan. Also, lyricists like Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri and Shakeel Badayuni’s contributions to the success of Lata-ji’s evergreen songs.
Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday on September 28 is a double celebration for me, because it also happens to be my son’s birthday. If I had a daughter instead of a son, I would have named her “Asha-Lata”, since I enjoy both sisters’ songs.
I had received Lata-ji’s letter in 1965 when I was in London, which I had shown to her and cherish it even today with other memorabilia. I met Lata-ji first time at her first concert in America in 1976 when she had come with Mukesh. While she was singing, I would close my eyes and listen to her live singing and could not believe she sounded just like the records I have been listening to.
I had gone to JFK to receive Lata-ji when she had come to America on vacation with her nephews and nieces in May 1980 upon request by the organizers who had planned her concert a couple of months later. At that time, I had chatted with her and met her fiancé Raj Singh Dungarpur, without knowing that he was chairman of Cricket Club of India. On our way to the hotel I had spoken very highly of Lata-ji’s and her songs and Raj Singh was so impressed that he told Lata-ji after we reached hotel that I am her “Bhakt”(great fan). Unfortunately, I did not attend her concert, since my employer had transferred me to Richland, Washington.
My picture with Lata-ji at the airport was taken by Raj Singh! At that time Lata-ji had commented after seeing my camera that she too likes to take pictures and had showed me her Pentax camera identical to mine, which had surprised me. I give away Lata-ji’s photo I had taken at that time to many singers as a souvenir and they appreciate it. I had visited Lata-ji’s house on Peddar Road in Mumbai when I had gone to India in December 1980 and wanted to show her pictures I had taken of her. Unfortunately, I had only met Usha and Hriday at that time, since Lata-ji had gone to Goa.
I will cherish my meetings with Lata-ji as long as I am alive.
Girish Modi is 85-year-old retired engineer who is passionate about Indian music and classical dances. He donates money to various Indian organizations and provides a free photo service. Contact: [email protected].
