Monday, 08 October , 2007, 11:49 | ||
Kathmandu: Soon after an Indian radio station apologised for offensive comments on Nepali-origin policeman Prashant Tamang who won the Indian Idol contest, a Nepal magazine had to Monday publicly say sorry for a cartoon that protestors said maligned both the singer and his community. In its latest edition, the popular Nepali fortnightly Himal Khabarpatrika published a cartoon by its regular cartoonist Rabin Sayami that outraged the peace-loving Buddhist Tamang community to which Prashant belongs. The first sequence of the cartoon titled "Prashant Tamang in Kathmandu", published in the magazine's regular column 'Muhurta' (Moment), shows a beaming Prashant waving a microphone before a sea of ecstatic fans, an allusion to the runaway success of the Idol's recent concert in Kathmandu. Indian Idol 3: The official website | In Video: Watch the 40 best moments on Indian Idol 3 | All about Amit, Prashant & all Idol contestants The second image called "Phulmaya Tamang in Mumbai" shows a scantily clad woman, her clothes scattered on the floor, sitting near an empty bed and weeping piteously. It is an obvious allusion to the plight of the large number of Nepali women, who are trafficked to India every year and forced into prostitution, especially in Mumbai. On Monday, the editor of the magazine tendered a public apology, saying it was not its intention to hurt or malign any community. "The satire was directed at the chronic exploitation by the state, which was the cause of social problems," said the apology, printed in Nepal's biggest daily Kantipur. "We apologise for having hurt the sentiments of the Tamang community." The Tamang community, once among the most exploited in Nepal, has begun fighting for its rights under the umbrella of the Nepal Adivasi Janajati Mahasangh, demanding an autonomous state for its people. Protests started pouring in from the community soon after the magazine hit the stands last Wednesday, forcing its publishers to remove the offending cartoon from its web site. The cartoon incident comes after violence erupted in Darjeeling and Siliguri towns of India's West Bengal district after a radio jockey in an FM station programme made derogatory comments about Prashant's victory | ||
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14539309&vsv=SHGTslot4 |
The Indian Idol III would be remembered for some special reason – it has been politicized entertainingly. Political leader do take the mass appeal of actors and actress for their political gain. But it has been first time witnessed that the most powerful persons of India UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting with the contestants and showing their interest towards a purely entertainment program Indian Idol.
Since the first day Indian Idol was launched many artists especially from Bollywood have showed their presence. And it is a not a new phenomenon that has been added in the show. In recent times it has become the best marketable tool to promote any program.
What could be the possible arithmetics done on the part of media advisers of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh that led them to appear for the photo shoot with the contestants of the Indian Idol? Answer to this can be simple and straight as a stick; and may be very complex with multiple rings of political cobwebs. It is very tough to answer.
One thing is sure, the media advisers of both the two political bigwigs Sonia and Manmohan did honest manthan, atma manthan before suggesting them to appear with Amit and Prashant, the two last finalists of the show.
If one see from the other aspect of the show that is from the promoter and the marketing team fence, the appearance of Sonia and Manmohan Singh came as a win win situation.
The primary reasons that prompted Sonia and Manmohan Singh to align towards the participants may be counted on the popularity of the contestants Amit and Prashant in their respective regions or say on the creed they belongs to. Amit Paul is a bengali and Prashant is a Nepali. Associating them might help the grand old party Congress to score it in the vote bank politics.
Moreover, it may give the party to sneak and penetrate into the mass fans of the two. Now, when mid-term poll is looming large over the nation, and where no party wants an isolation from the youth; a rapport build – up with the contestants might help in the long run or in the short run.
It is not that every act on the part of the politicians be scanned and given a political twists and turns. They being the powerful person of a country it becomes their responsibility to encourage the youths who are talented and enthusing them to excel in their respective fields.
Source: PXylem’s Blog