Lata’s melodies transcended boundaries
With the demise of the ‘Melody Queen’, Lata Mangeshkar, India has lost one of her priceless crown jewels. Last month, the renowned artist got admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.
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One of India’s most significant cultural icons, her magical voice inspired generations, and her melodies transcended boundaries. She not only ensured hit movies with successful albums but remained a star-maker too.
The Bharat Ratna and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award are fitting recognition of her contribution to music. Her legacy will live on!
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Lata, a chronicler of India
Since independence Lata Mangeshkar has been an inseparable part of the soundtrack of our lives at public meetings, at corner shops, in homes, at village fairs, at school functions, etc. Her harmonious, democratising voice wafted into our ears, it was as omnipresent as the air we breathed. Like the Ganga and the Himalayas, she was always there, forever present. In antaksharis, college fests, kirtans, wedding sangeets, there was a song for every occasion, season and reason and in almost every Indian language. She transcended generations, seamlessly knitted our past with our present and was a chronicler of our times.
Lata’s voice encapsulated sweetness, purity and simplicity, traits matching the mood and predilections of the times when she rose to the pinnacle of her craft. Her vocals conveyed strength and resolve not power, shrillness and muscle we witness in songs today. An unwavering dedication to and pursuit of excellence, an uncompromising work ethic, meticulous attention to detail all enveloped in supreme talent ensured that even the most demanding of numbers was delivered on point.
Her voice was the courier of India’s soft power across the world, every singer worth her salt wanted to be Lata. The fabric of India will forever be intertwined with the warp and weft of Lata’s voice, she bid adieu to us and left for the great gig in the sky but shall always remain alive every time we hear her ditties somewhere. Thank you for the music Lata ji, the Gods must be enjoying your soulful melodies in heaven. Naman.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Stray cattle destroying cultivation
This has reference to the report ‘Stray cattle destroy vegetable cultivation at Arlem’ (Herald, February 7). It is sad indeed to see someone destroying the fruits of somebody else’s labour, whether is in the farms or anywhere else. Farmers at Arlem are facing such a situation where stray cattle have been destroying the vegetables they have grown in the farms with so much of effort and care. At the end of the day, it is all reduced to zero and that is heartbreaking.
While cattle need to have their feed, it is unfair that they feed on somebody’s labour in this fashion. Why are there stray cattle in the first place? Are the owners not in a position to tend to them? Perhaps, they should be advised to sell off their cattle for their meat or else, the State should take handle this issue tactfully.
And of course, the report points out that this cattle nuisance is restricted not only to the fields but they are causing inconvenience to the public on the streets as well. This again is not happening just in Goa but in other cities like Mumbai. What does one do when the cattle just decide to park anywhere in the streets or on the footpaths or just about anywhere they please? It’s time the authorities take a note of this issue and take steps to ensure that such cattle do not destroy somebody livelihood or become an obstruction to the free movement of the general people.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Lata, a singer par excellence
The passing away of the legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar has come as an unbearable sorrow and grief. Lata Mangeshkar, a phenomenon and a name synonymous with Indian film music, was a singer par excellence. Her brilliant, distinctive and mesmerizing voice played an important role in shaping the country’s film music culture. It is astounding to note that the ‘Nightingale of India’ has over 30,000 songs to her credit sung in several Indian languages, largely in Hindi and Marathi.
Her iconic songs include pyar kiya to darna kya from ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, kahin deep jale kahin dil from ‘Bees Saal Baad’, mera saaya saath hoga from ‘Mera Saaya’, tera bina zindagi se’ from ‘Aandhi’, and goom hai kisi ke pyar mein from ‘Raampur Ka Lakshman.’
One would be hard-pressed to find an award that Lataji hasn’t been honoured with, which include the Padma awards, the Dada Saheb Phalke, and the country’s highest civilian award of Bharat Ratna. How the awards are a legacy to her name, equally so her love and affection that she amassed over the years.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Goa needs well educated CM, MLAs
The CM of the State needs to be a man of integrity. He needs to be a man of ability besides winnability. It is important to select someone happy and able to laugh because he is less likely to be corrupt. Corruption happens because people are too serious.
There is a crop disease called ‘Kala Azar.’ Goa had its own taste of Salazar. The CM besides being well educated also needs to be street smart. The job of CM involves a lot of travel and attending multiple meetings. It would be wise to vote for someone with good cushioning behind. The CM also needs to be a man of incredible patience. He needs to be well versed with current affairs and local issues. He needs to be capable of dealing firmly with trade bodies and other unions seeking perks rather than solutions to problems.
Various people have attempted to dictate terms to the CM. This is borne out of their own frustrations. They should have stood for elections themselves and then solved the problems they wanted to address. Surely there is respect that comes with the post of emerging the topmost winner in a State by votes.
Women are welcome in politics. However, many women candidates are being fielded by their political husbands. So, it may be said that behind many a successful woman in politics there lies a crafty and cunning man.
Vote for whomever you wish but at the end of the day it is a ‘Divine Comedy.’
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
Unlimited freebies threat to democracy
Elections in India are the biggest festival of democracy. The promise of offering freebies to people by political parties if they are voted to power is now a common feature during elections in India. If the promises made are met post election then it is win of democracy, and hence idea of freebie is valid here. Empty promises are usually aimed at hugely subsidising or waiving off debts which in the long turn creates more deficit.
The campaign is usually marked by feverish speeches, allegations and counters. In their attempt to capture power, parties often dangle the tempting subsidies, waivers and freebies in front of the electorate.
Such situations are on the rise. Wasting public money by offering freebies is not good for democracy.
Most of them compete to announce renowned freebies with no prudent view on governance. Many times it leads to the unnecessary burden on the economy.
The very term freebies or subsidies are illogical. They are meant to drain the wealth of the government, increase the deficit, lack of funds for further development projects which may cause stagnation in development. The hard earned money of people should not go for the mere political gain.
K G Vilop, Chorao
