25 March 2008

It does not matter who is the winner

The "better" will still outshine the mere "good". I have seen this on numerous occasions in my life and saw it yet again today. Only today, I couldn't resist from blogging about it.

A random surf on YouTube today told me that Prashant Tamang, the winner of the Indian Idol 3 contest on TV has released his first ever album. What has surprised me the most is that there was not a single mention of this either on TV, radio, WorldSpace, the daily newspapers or on the Internet. Even if there was some tiny little heading hiding on page 7, it didn't grab my attention.

On the other hand, the remaining 4 guys of the final 5 in the same competition have also launched a gang called "F4" (final four?). You would have been on another planet if you have not heard "Tu to na aayi" beaming all over the radio and television sets.

The point is that it doesn't really matter who the formal winner is. It was widely believed that Prashant was climbing up the success ladder in each round because of the massive regional support he had. Even the judges admitted to that. Awesome singers including Amit (runner up), Emon, Chang and Deepali (who was my personal favorite contestant) just couldn't churn enough "votes" to make it through.

Still there is no denying that what they got from this contest will be enough to get their career at par (if not more) than what Prashant would ever achieve, despite being crowned as the winner. They don't need to tell the world that they are "Indian Idol", they know they are already.

Talent will never hide. True talent will never succumb to failure. And as life has taught me so far, to get something, you need to want it really badly. These guys wanted it, and they all got it.
http://blog.gauravgupta.in/2008/03/it-doesnt-matter-who-winner-is.html

6 March 2008

Indian Idol put Ghisingh out of tune?


indiatimes.com

6 Mar 2008, 0228 hrs IST,Anand Soondas,TNN

Prashant Tamang was four when Subash Ghisingh began his rule of the Darjeeling hills in 1988. Then, in the mountains just beginning to rage with foetal fires of rightful rebellion, the boy’s family, which toiled hard and remained poor, had no inkling that two decades on, he would be at the heart of the downfall of a man many called “the region’s first and perhaps last dictator”.

The GNLF strongman, who’s heading the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council for 20 years, quelling all dissent with Stalinist resolve — would in all probability have ruled until his death had Prashant, now 24, the Indian Idol winner, not taken up singing.

Strange as it may seem, almost illogical, Ghisingh’s ruin began the day he showed his back to the Nepali singer, who powered by desperate and nationalistic SMSing from Nepalese across India and the globe, went on from one round to the next.

As Prashant, a Kolkata Police constable, reached the competition’s definitive stage and the hills went mad with hopes of seeing their boy hit national limelight, Ghisingh quietly went to Bangkok to attend a tourism meet. In contrast, locals were giving up their month’s salaries, selling off their cars and jewellery to help Prashant.

But the DGHC chairman showed no interest. This when the CM of Sikkim, sundry ministers from Nepal, and the increasingly rich Nepali NRI community gave ‘Save Prashant’ funds running into crores of rupees.

The tide almost immediately turned against Ghisingh, who has now taken refuge in Kolkata after being hounded out of Darjeeling by seething hordes of picketers. That the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a fledgling party until it took up cudgels for Prashant — garnering so much support that it surprised its leader Bimal Gurung — has metamorphosed into a combative, formidable adversary of the GNLF, hasn’t helped the Gorkha strongman. Not that the hills — now divided over its proposed inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a move that will give it a new autonomous self-governing council, perhaps giving more power to the 30% tribal population — haven’t been restive for a while. Prashant was merely a match to the tinderbox.

“People were angry for years at Darjeeling’s worsening economic condition. It was given a channel by Prashant,” said Anil Thapa, a teacher in Kurseong. “We got upset when Ghisingh was disinterested in the one happy event in the hills after so long.” A GNLF leader, who didn’t want to be identified, said he “fails to understand” how Ghisingh didn’t read the mood. “Now, it’s backfired,” he added.

Thapa has a point. The hills have been miserable for decades. Drinking water is supplied in Darjeeling once a week. Electricity is erratic, unemployment rampant, corruption high, human rights low, roads still narrow and poverty very wide. The trees are gone, the streams have dried up and only pollution is aplenty. What has compounded the bleak scenario is the utter lack of interest in Kolkata over developments in Ghisingh’s fief. West Bengal bartered non-intervention in lieu of a commitment from the GNLF leader that he wouldn’t create any trouble. All evil was glossed over.

There’s massive unrest once again now after the bloody violence for Gorkhaland in the early 1980s. People are burning effigies of GNLF leaders and beating them up on the streets. Unknown to him, Prashant’s triumphant song may just have rung in Ghisingh’s end.

NB: pic from sikkimonline.info

Idols entertain fans on SDF Day


NIRMAL MANGER
GANGTOK, March 05:
Thousands gathered here yesterday evening to hear the third Indian Idol Prashant Tamang perform live at Jorethang Ground on the occasion of the 16th Foundation day of Sikkim Democratic Front.
Accompanying him on the stage were the other two top ten finalists Charu Semiwal and Deepali Kishore.
Tamang’s fans from neighbouring regions like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kuersong and Mirik came in hordes to get a glimpse of their favourite singer, referred to as the ‘pahar ko gaurav.
With his melodious rendition of ‘Zindagi Pheley Kabhi’, Prashant set the stage go crazy with shouts of once more. This was followed by Prashant’s own all time favourites, Bhegey Hoonth Tere, Pyar Ko Maine and Asharaey Maina ma from his debut album Dhanyabad.
To set the mood rolling, Charu and Deepali too enthralled the crowd with punching dancing numbers like Beedi Jalailey, Its Rocking, You are a mind blowing Soniya and many more. The late evening rains did not deter the mood of the audience.
When SIKKIM EXPRESS managed to have a tête-à-tête with Prashant and asked how he felt coming to Sikkim for the second time, he said, “I am emotionally attached with Sikkim as Sikkim has played an instrument role in me to win the most coveted Indian Idol title.”
“I would love coming to Sikkim again and again and would love to entertain the people through my singing’ adds Prashant with a smile.
Talking more on his singing ventures, he said, “Although there have been several proposals for playback singing coming in from around the world including Nepali Cinema, I am yet to respond as I am presently busy with Sony Television’s contract.
The young singing sensation said, “To go to abroad within a short period of time in my life and perform there was one of my dreams.”
Deepali Kishore, who visited the State for the first time has this to share, “Although the trip was tiresome, I was carried away by the sheer beauty of Sikkim the moment I entered. For me the mountains, flowing rivers, pleasant weather had always been a dream as I have never visited hills before.”
On being questioned as how she feels about the hill people in terms of singing, she expressed, “Prashant has already proved that hill people too can do anything if there is dedication and commitment.”
Charu on the other hand is here for the second time. This singer from Dehradun was here few months back to perform with Prashant in Gangtok and Namchi.
The singers left for Kolkata at ten last night, organizers informed.
http://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-5.htm

2 March 2008

‘Road to Gorkhaland will be democratic’ - Bimal Gurung

www.expressindia.com

Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay
Saturday , March 01, 2008

Kolkata, February 29

Your movement began with the protest against remarks made by a radio jockey about the Gorkhas when Prashant Tamang won the Indian Idol contest. Does the Tamang episode have anything to do with your current agitation?

You can say that the Tamang episode was the flashpoint. It made very clear how Gorkhas are viewed. It was so humiliating for us. It also showed that neither the Bengal government nor Subhas Ghisingh did anything for the development of the hills.

Can you please elaborate it?

What did the government do for setting up of new schools? How many new roads were constructed? look at the water situation there. It’s terrible. The government had announced a project worth Rs 40 crore for water supply, 15 years ago but it was never implemented. The ills have been simmering for long. And the Prashant Tamang episode stoked the fire there because it was so humiliating for us.

What are your immediate demands?

We have already made them clear. Ghisingh will have to step down (as the caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council). The Sixth Schedule for the DGHC has to be scrapped.

What is the reason behind raising these demands

First, Ghisingh is the root cause of all the ills plaguing the hills. DGHC is absolutely corrupt and inefficient. The people of the hills have been deprived of the taste of a good life. In fact, Ghisingh has become a CPM party cadre.
He has lost ground from under his feet. Under no circumstances shall we allow him to enter the hill so long as he remains the chairman of DGHC. Once he resigns from the post he can enter there.

Why don’t you want Sixth Schedule for the DGHC?

What do I get from that? Our ultimate goal is statehood for Darjeeling. And, in fact, by imposing the Sixth Schedule you are trying to divide us.You are making all of us tribals, while tribals form only 31 per cent of the population there. Even Ghisingh opposed it in 1987. But now he has lapped it up for the lure of power and pelf.

Do you have the support of the people?

You come to Darjeeling and see for yourself. There are Bengalis, Biharis who were born and brought up in the hills and they have joined the ongoing hunger strike. There are Muslims too. The people of the hills are all united in their fight for justice.

Does it mean achievement of Gorkhaland?

I have already told you. Our ultimate goal is Gorkhaland. But it will be a democratic and non-violent fight.

1 March 2008

HI

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Idols to rock SDF Foundation day

GANGTOK, February 29: The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has decided to rope in Indian Idol 3 Prashant Tamang along with Charu and Ankita to rock the 16th Sikkim Democratic Foundation Day at Jorethang on March 4.
This was informed by the Minister of the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department, PS Tamang.
The musical show to be staged at night will have free access and people from all over the State are requested to audience the Idols perform.
Other local artists and also from the neighbouring regions will enthral the crow with their renditions, it is learnt.
The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling will grace the foundation day as the chief guest.

http://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-4.htm