Goa's award is greatest : Lata
30 December 2000 23:48 IST "I received several national and international awards in the past and may even get quite a few in future. But this award would be the greatest among all", said India's nightingale and Padmvibhushan Lata Mangeshkar while receiving Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar here last night.
This is the most valuable award, said the 71-year old melody queen, because it is awarded to her in her own land of Goa on the day her father Master Dinanath Mangeshkar was born 100 years ago.
She was awarded a memento, citation and a cheque of Rs one lakh at the hands of union minister Lal Krishna Advani at a function organised by Chaturang to mark the concluding ceremony of the year-long Master Dinanath Mangeshkar birth centenary celebrations, at the Kala Academy complex in Panaji.
Recalling the victory of her father over poverty and struggle by achieving Sangeet Ratna award at the hands of Shankaracharya, she said it was a victory of Goa's musical tradition. His music takes you to the highest peak of the experience of your life, she added.
"My Baba was not lucky enough like us to be a successful man. But our success is entirely the strength of his 'sangeet sadhana'. In fact it is his soul which sings through us", said the eldest daughter of Master Dinanath amidst applause.
"If I had an opportunity of learning at least one fourth of my Baba's music, I would have conquered even another universe beyond this universe", said Lata Mangeshkar, who has a world record of singing 30,000 songs in 22 different languages.
Speaking highly about the musical tradition of Goa, Lata said the tiny state is the largest gift to the musical world and the list of known and unknown Goan musical legends could be more lengthy than Mahabharata.
Stating that Lata's contribution is amazing in every respect, Advani in his brief speech said such extraordinary individuals become institutions. "But it would be an understatement to call her just as an institution. She is a phenomena", he said.
Describing Lata as a living miracle on the earth, Dr Shankar Vaidya said it is unimaginable the way Mangeshkar family rose to heights with a 'tambora' and notebook of musical notes of their father and blessings of Lord Mangesh.
The function was also attended by the whole Mangeshkar family including Lata's sisters Asha Bhosale, Meena Khadilkar, Usha Mangeshkar and brother Hridaynath.
