The
Prime
Minister,
Shri
Narendra
Modi
attended
the
Master
Deenanath
Mangeshkar
Awards
Ceremony
in
Mumbai
today.
On
this
occasion,
Prime
Minister
was
conferred
1st
Lata
Deenanath
Mangeshkar
Award.
This
award,
which
has
been
instituted
in
memory
of
Bharat
Ratna
Lata
Mangeshkar,
will
be
given
every
year
exclusively
to
one
individual
for
exemplary
contribution
towards
nation
building.
Governor
of
Maharashtra
Shri
Bhagat
Singh
Koshyari,
Members
of
Mangeshkar
Family
were
among
those
present
on
the
occasion.
The
Prime
Minister
started
by
saying
that
though
he
does
not
have
too
deep
a
knowledge
of
music
but
by
cultural
appreciation,
it
is
felt
that
sangeet
is
both
a
'sadhna’
and
an
emotion.
He
continued
and
said
“the
one
that
expresses
the
unexpressed
is
word.
One
that
fills
the
expressed
with
energy
and
consciousness
is
'naad’.
And
the
one
that
fills
conscious
with
emotions
and
feelings
and
takes
it
to
the
extreme
of
creation
and
sensitivity
is
'sangeet’.
Music
can
fill
you
with
valour,
motherly
affection.
It
can
take
one
to
the
pinnacle
of
patriotism
and
sense
of
duty.
“We
are
fortunate
to
have
seen
this
capability
and
strength
of
music,
in
the
form
of
Lata
Didi”,
he
said.
On
a
personal
note,
Shri
Modi
said
“For
me,
Lata
Didi
was
the
'Sur
Samragyi’
as
well
as
my
elder
sister.
What
can
be
a
greater
privilege
than
to
have
received
the
love
of
a
sister
from
Lata
Didi,
who
has
given
the
gift
of
love
and
emotion
to
generations”,
he
said.
Prime
Minister
said
that
he
is
generally
not
very
comfortable
with
receiving
awards
but
when
the
Mangeshkar
Family
calls
with
an
award
that
carries
the
name
of
an
elder
sister
like
Lata
Didi,
then
it
becomes
a
symbol
of
her
affection
and
love.
“It
is
not
simply
possible
for
me
to
say
no
to
this.
I
dedicate
this
award
to
all
the
countrymen.
As
Lata
Didi
belonged
to
people,
this
award
given
to
me
in
her
name
also
belongs
to
people”,
the
Prime
Minister
said.
The
Prime
Minister
narrated
many
personal
anecdotes
and
elaborated
upon
the
immense
contribution
of
Lata
Didi
to
the
cultural
world.
“Lata
ji's
physical
journey
was
completed
at
a
time
when
our
country
is
celebrating
Amrit
Mahotsav
of
its
freedom.
She
gave
voice
to
India
before
independence,
and
the
country's
journey
of
these
75
years
was
also
associated
with
her
voice”,
said
the
Prime
Minister.
The
Prime
Minister
talked
about
the
strand
of
patriotism
in
the
Mangeshkar
family.
He
said
“Along
with
the
song,
the
consciousness
of
patriotism
that
was
within
Lata
Didi,
her
father
was
the
source
of
it’.
Shri
Modi
narrated
the
incident
when
a
song
written
by
Veer
Savarkar
was
sung
by
Dinanath
ji
in
a
program
of
the
British
Viceroy
in
Shimla
during
the
freedom
struggle.
The
song
was
written
by
Veer
Savarkar
challenging
the
British
rule.
This
feeling
of
patriotism
was
given
in
inheritance
to
his
family
by
Deenanath
ji,
said
the
Prime
Minister.
Lata
ji
made
music
her
worship
but
patriotism
and
national
service
also
got
inspiration
through
her
songs.
Referring
to
the
illustrious
career
of
Lata
Didi,
the
Prime
Minister
said
“Lata
ji
was
like
a
melodious
manifestation
of
'Ek
Bharat
Shreshth
Bharat’.
She
sang
thousands
of
songs
in
more
than
30
languages.
Whether
it
was
Hindi,
Marathi,
Sanskrit
or
other
Indian
language,
her
sur
was
equally
at
home
everywhere”.
Shri
Modi
continued
“From
culture
to
faith,
from
east
to
west,
from
north
to
south,
Lata
ji's
notes
worked
to
unite
the
whole
country.
Globally
too,
she
was
India's
cultural
ambassador.”
She
is
ingrained
in
the
minds
of
people
in
every
state,
in
every
region.
She
showed
how
music
can
be
immortal
with
Indianness,
said
the
Prime
Minister.
Prime
Minister
also
touched
upon
the
philanthropic
works
of
the
family.
The
Prime
Minister
said
for
India,
development
means
Sabka
Saath,
Sabka
Vikas,
Sabka
Vishwas
and
Sabka
Prayas.
This
project
also
encompasses
the
philosophy
of
'Vasudhaiv
Kutumbakam’
welfare
of
all.
The
Prime
Minister
explained
that
such
a
notion
of
development
cannot
be
achieved
by
just
material
capabilities.
For
this
spiritual
consciousness
is
critically
important.
That
is
why,
India
is
providing
leadership
in
areas
like
yoga,
Ayurveda
and
environment.
“I
believe,
our
Indian
music
is
also
an
important
part
of
this
contribution
of
India.
Let
us
keep
this
heritage
alive
with
the
same
values
and
carry
it
forward,
and
make
it
a
medium
of
world
peace”,
concluded
the
Prime
Minister.