Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently awarded with the inaugural Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award. The award was conferred for his unflagging service to the nation and society. The award ceremony, which marked the 80th annual Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards, took place in Mumbai.
About the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award
The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award was established to honor the memory of celebrated singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away at the age of 92 in February 2022. The remembrance award will be annually presented to one individual who has made significant, innovative and outstanding contributions to the nation, its people and society. This was revealed in a statement from the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Charitable Trust.
Lata Mangeshkar: A Legendary Indian Singer
Famously known as the ‘Nightingale of India’, Lata Mangeshkar was one of India’s most versatile singers. Her melodious voice graced over 5,000 songs across more than a thousand Hindi films and 36 regional films. In 1974, she made history by being the first Indian to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in the UK.
During her illustrious career, Mangeshkar received numerous accolades including three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, two Filmfare Special Awards, and a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. She was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989, and in 2001, Mangeshkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
The French government also bestowed upon her its highest civilian award (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in 2007. Additionally, she holds the Guinness Record (1974) for being the most recorded artist in Indian music history. On her 90th birthday in September 2019, the Indian government honoured her with the Daughter of the Nation award.
Other Awards Won by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Beyond his recent recognition through the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the recipient of numerous international awards and honours. In 2021, he was conferred with Bhutan’s Highest Civilian Award ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’, and the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award from Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).
In 2020, he received the Legion of Merit from the US Government for his exceptional conduct and outstanding services. This was followed by multiple honours in 2019, including the First Philip Kotler Presidential award, the Global Goalkeeper Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Order of Zayed (highest civilian honour of the UAE), the Order of St. Andrew (highest civilian honour of Russia), the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin (highest honour of Maldives), and the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance – First Class from Bahrain.
Earlier recognitions include the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award (2018), Seoul Peace Prize (2018), the Champions of The Earth Award (2018), Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (2016), and the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (2016).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s array of awards pays testament to his leadership and commitment in serving the nation and furthering global harmony and peace. His recent reception of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award adds another highlight to his illustrious career.
