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Lata Mangeshkar
reveals why she decided to sing Vande Mataram 48 years
after she
first sung the anthem
in Anand Math. An evocative and moving essay from the greatest
singer of our time.
It has been 48 years
since I first sang the song Vande Mataram for the film
Anand
Math. The
film was based on the lives of freedom fighters. The
music for the song
was exquisite;
the late Hemant Kumar had matched it perfectly
to the poignant
situation in the
film.
The Vande Mataram
that I have sung today is a paean to the beauty of our motherland,
it is a salutation
to this great country. It is an attempt to awaken the people
of
this nation,
to remind them that they have to rise and strengthen
the hands of
Mother India.
That they should cleanse their minds of all traces of hate or ill
will
against others.
The people of India must unite and live in brotherhood to take this
nation forward.
These were the feelings in my heart when I sang Vande Mataram. It
was
a proud and happy
moment for me.
We are a people with
strong feelings of devotion, nationalism and patriotism.
This
was true of us in
the days of the Vedas. This is true of us today. It will
be true
of us tomorrow.
These feelings, which began as a small flame, is a glowing
torch
today and will be
like the brilliant sun tomorrow. I believe in what Sant Gyaneshwar
Maharaj has said
--- that darkness and light can never meet.
The youth of our
country have not been able to adopt Western culture in its totality.
Neither have
they been able to break their bond with Indian culture.
This is the
dilemma in which
the younger Indian generation is trapped today. Technology
can only
provide materialistic
comfort. It cannot give us peace of mind. This has also been
understood by the
young generation. The search, now, is to strike the right balance.
The true disciples
of music, literature and art are always experimenting
with new
ideas. These
innovations are, to the common man, a representation of the artiste's
talent. And
talent will always evolve. This is the hallmark
of a real artiste.
Change is life.
This is why yesterday's music is different from today's music.
And
today's music will
become a note of the past tomorrow.
Music, for me, is
kalpavruksh (a lush tree) whose every branch is
covered with
beautiful
flowers and rich, green leaves. I respect every part of this
tree? just
as I respect every
form of music. I try and contribute to the best of my ability
to
the kind of music
that appeals to me. Vande Mataram is a supreme example of this.
Lata
Mangeshkar : A living legend...
