The Grammy is getting old. She is losing her teeth and probably her mind too. Why else would she fail to acknowledge the passing away of our Goddess Of All Melodious Things Lata Mangeshkar?
She is to music what the universe is to the galaxy. So okay, non-Indians may not feel as strongly about her as we do. But the Grammys are music awards. They are meant to aknowkedge the best in the field of music all across world. What is music without Lataji?Music IS Lata Mangeshkar in the Asian sub-continent.By failing to acknowledge Lataji you have insulted the entire Asian population which worships her and acknowledges her as a reincarnation of Goddess Saraswati .
So in ignoring the Goddess Of All Melodious Things,the Grammys are telling us what we always suspected: that India vis-à-vis the West would always remain a third-world country. That even a thirdrate musician from the West is more important to the Grammys than Lataji who is much much more than a singer.
It isn’t Lataji who has been snubbed—she is far beyond such mundane acknowledgements. It is us Indians all across the globe who stand chastened.
As someone who has worshipped her from my childhood I can only hang my head in shame at how openly disdainful American continues to be of our heritage. We nonetheless continue to slavishly nibble at whatever crumbs the West throws our way.
But then I know how much Lataji would have laughed at a time like this when she has been ignored .
I remember many years ago when she had won the Padma Vibhushan . The Bharat Ratna was yet to come.
“Why haven’t they given you the Bharat Ratna?” I had pouted.
Her laughter and her response still rings in my ears. “Padma Viibhushan or Bharat Ratna.Kya farq padta hai? Farq yeh padta hai ke aapko farq padd raha hai(what matters is that you feel pained about it). Mere liye wohi sabsa bada award hai.”
There will never in the history of civilization be another like you , Lataji. And to hell with the gimmicky Grammys and Oscars where a slap matters more than the slapper’s achievements.
