NAGPUR: Veteran singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday, drawing an outpouring of grief from across the country. CM Devendra Fadnavis said the day was one of profound sorrow for music itself, and announced that the final rites would be conducted with full state honours in consultation with the family.Speaking with the media in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, “This is an extremely tragic moment that another star from the Mangeshkar family, Asha Bhosle, has passed away. For most of her life — from the age of five or six — she served music till her last breath. If one had to name the most versatile singer in this country, it would undoubtedly be Asha tai.”Fadnavis said her range as a performer was unmatched in the history of Indian music.
“She rendered classical songs with depth and also sang very modern compositions with equal ease. Whether it was classical music, pop, rock, or bhavgeet, she sang in more than 30 languages. A rare example in the world, she performed a three-hour concert at the age of 90,” he said.Recalling a personal memory from a radio jockeys’ programme, Fadnavis said Bhosle had made him hum a couple of lines on air. “She then said, ‘See, I have the power to make even the Chief Minister of Maharashtra sing.’
That was her lively personality,” he said.Fadnavis said the state had conferred the Maharashtra Bhushan award on Bhosle, and her account of the struggles she had endured in her journey had left a lasting impression on him. “We were certain that while we could not celebrate the centenary of Lata Mangeshkar, we would definitely celebrate Asha tai’s 100th year. Unfortunately, time did not give us that opportunity,” he said.“A renowned, globally celebrated singer with a divine voice has left us. I feel that for music, today is a deeply sorrowful day,” Fadnavis said.
