I was wondering why Prashant speaks in Nepali knowing very well that most Nepali speaking people understand hindi. He knows very well too that most people who understand hindi do not understand Nepali.

So why would he speak Nepali in an Indian Idol contest? I think he is a shrewd artist to try to tap into the frail ego and tradition of Nepali misplaced nationalism. Remember Hritik episode? Instead of seeking votes as an artist, he has subtly tapped into the frail ego of Nepalis. This is huge since now it is a matter of ego for the people of Nepali origin and people of Nepal to prove to themselves that they can do it.

It is no longer the race of who's a better singer, but more of if we the people of Nepal or Nepali origin and make this artist who asks for votes in Nepali, can make him win. The reality is he is an Indian by all means. Nepal does not benefit in any way. It's our history of failure in our socio-politics spheres that have created this frail ego for us Nepalis. We have to try to prove that we are good because we know we're a failed state. Let's not be bhedas willing to be led by some shrewd politician or for that matter anyone, who taps into our misplaced nationalistic feelings which is higher than mount everest.

If Prashant wins, will he come to Nepal for a concert? Will he acknowledge the efforts of the people of Nepal and Nepali origin to make him win? Or will be bask in the glory of his win and think that he won because of his talent and not because of his Nepali origin?

That's something to ponder about.

After an overwhelming request from Nepalese diaspora around the globe, www.thamel.com has partnered with Prashant Fan Club in Darjeeling to raise contributions that will go towards making Prashant Tamang from Nepal the next Indian Idol. Funds collected will be transferred to Prashant Fan Club.

As per Prashant Fan Club here is how your contributions will be used for:

-Installation of public booths
-Disbursement of mobile recharge vouchers to the Prashant Fan Club

To maintain transparency, we will list the names of donors and country. Once the funds are delivered will post documentation on the transfer of funds from thamel.com to Prashant Fan Club.

PLEASE contribute to prashant's votes via www.thamel.com..............finally work started by thamel.com.I AM REALLY GLAD

What the fug. Funds for Prashant ? FOR WHAT ?
Man O Man U fuggers have a really fugged up Priorities.
THere are thousands and thousands of flood victims in NEPAL who are in dire needs of basic necessities for daily life and HERE ARE IDIOTS WHO WANT US TO SHELL OUT MONEY FOR A FUGGING KARAOKE SINGER ? WHAT THE FUG ?

mandina saram mandina saram, Prashante le vote payo maile K garam
garnu garyau Nepali halla garera, Prashante lai vanera, ek aapas ma jhagda garera

Suna:
"You know why Amit Paul is so gifted??
Because his mother is NEPALI from Siliguri, Darjeeling District"

Siliguri...YES, Nepali...NO!
Whoever misled you on that...you poor wishful thinker!!
Both his parents are Bengali and are proud of being so.
I can tell you this because I know his maternal family in
Siliguri well enough.
Now, please don't start claiming that his dad in
Nepali from Nepal. He is not Nepali either. There is no
'Nepali Ragat' connection whatsoever.

Now that you guys know that Prashant cannot be Indian
Idol, you are trying to console yourselves by calling Amit
a Nepali...HEIGHT OF DESPERATION, I call it!
AMIT PAUL HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE THE INDIAN IDOL
AND HE HAS NO NEPALI BLOOD RUNNING IN HIS VEINS!
Anyways, it doesn't hurt to dream...so DREAM ON!

stupendous
HAI???
Ma ta just spreading rumours :) yes, in high hopes that a NEPALI would win...Tapai chai ni???
hoping that a BANGU ass would win ko hopes ma??
tsk tsk tsk - anyway to each his own

Anyway..heights of desperation - YES...again in the hopes that a NEPALI would win - like you say...I am grabbing at loose straws hola but at least I STILL have hope for Prashant..
Tapai chai k parnu bhayo??? confused desi ta suneyko thiye....confused Nepali????
How did you KNOW that Prashant is NOT the next Indian Idol. I don't know about you dear, but IMHO, he already is an Idol.

lu bhayo attttttttti bhayo...Nepalese pining for bangus...6 inchi ghataidey!!!!!!

I AGREE WITH BATHROOM !!!!!

Nepalese People Priorities have been really fu(ked .

I am not saying not to Vote for Prashant but Do it on your own!!!

Anyways ..I could see India is in favor of Amit.Well, he is good singer as well.So, who cares , who wins.

Guys don't make this Indian Idol a matter of pride, There are high chances of disappointment.

Vote for Prashant! *
*runs before Bathroomcoffee hits her with his/her coffee mug*

ImI you too vote for Prashant hai. Muahhhhhhhhh.. *me is a dead duck now*

Mokshya ,

Yes , I have to admit i did vote for Prashant!
but
Just Don't make this national pride .

rather than misplaced nationalism...why don't you talk about recovered identity. Most of the bloggers here are not in Nepal..so does that mean we question their nationalism even though the identity they maintain is very Nepali Centric and perhaps their legal documents show otherwise...? People trave where personal and professional opportunities wait for them...so however they want to relate with their identity is their business..in Prashant's case, proudly he has showcased his orgiin..singing songs like "yo man ta Nepali ho" and wearing Nepali topi with pride...

First he is a good singer and second he is a Nepali. He couldn't have reached the heights if he was just a Nepali with a shit voice. We relate to him coz we speak the same language..

and esp during these times we are DESPERATE to identify with personalities that inspire us. So any time we hear of personalities like him or recently Mahabir Pun...it reminds us that there is hope..

so lets take his win to remind us that we can work collaboratively and invest our efforts for better cause...

He gave us a reason to be optimistic and reason to unite... How we take this experience is up to us!

I was thinking to start a thread " Who is not happy"? But again I changed my mind and I am writing to this anti-prashant thread. I called it anti-prashant thread because this thread was started to oppose the emotional support to prashant stating him as a NON-NEPALI.
Tell me brothers who are for this thread " Are you not happy because Prashant became Indian Idol? Tell me I am Indian agent or I am brain washed by Indian commercial programme! I don't deny Sony Entertainment Company generated a huge amount of money from this Indian Idol programme. Obviously many Nepalese speaking people in India and Prashant's supporter including student and workers around the globe extended their hand of support by money and SMS votes. Now tell me what is the value of higher morale we got from his victory? In compare with his return, our help is nothing! No doubt a lot of things have to be done to uplift our country. But lets do what we can do for now. Again this shows Nepali solidarity. Do you think Nepal can be developed without Nepalese solidarity? Look we don't need dollars to build ourselves, our sukas and anas are enough to make a change. Am I trying to taking "Bharat ki Shaan" as a credit for our patriotism? No, absolutely not! I am just intending to show the nature and unity of strength among Nepalese brothers. I don't have answer if you say it requires Nepalese Citizenship to be Nepali. Otherwise why don't you feel proud if a winner of a very popular TV show cheer up to the crowed with DHAKA TOPI. Don't you think he not only got respect for himself but also he shares his respect to every nepalese around the globe including Nepalese speaking DARBAN AND RIKSHAWALA. If you are still not happy after Prashant's victory, I either call your patriotism false or you cannot cheer up when the world is smiling at you.

Stupid people, so much discussion, so much waste of resources for Indian idol. Guys, don't you think you all are enslaved by Indians, the dhotis.
Just think how happy those Indians will be to see the entire Nepal under their influence. Guys if Nepalese don't improve and uplift themselves from this slave mentality then the day is not long when Nepal will be just another state of India.
THINK ABOUT IT.

Indian by birth....Nepali by God's grace rey...........
majja ayo.........
poonte :) thank god for you!!

Thank you allllllllllllllll my wonderful nepali daju bhai didi bahini kaka mama chema phupu..........yeeeeeeeee raaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

dasain lagyo haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii dasainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

malai ta hijai dekhin lagyo!!!!!!

DAMN!! How proud PRASHANT was to show off that he is Nepali!! bhakanno chutteyra ayena bhanya??? I don't know how you all "asli" nepalese feel but we know what he did for us "munglaneys"!!

Now......call us chinks, call us bahadurs, what else???????????? might in numbers...aba India ghumna janu parcha shaaaaaaaan sey!!!!

I suppose taking Nepycology (Nepalese+ Psychology) will assist me to comprehend our crushed Nepalese brothers. After extensive period we are being puffed up whatsoever. It is simple a rousing cause for not only Nepalese though it will represent subordinate category to make it at pinnacle. Mr. Prasanat has made us all forget about “ Politics of Nepal or Race conflict here”. We all participated forgetting present cause in Nepal. We did not fetch out our attitude of 76th District. It was splendid intermingle where on earth you can see such a striking relevance. I still remember how Chetrri, Bahun, Magar, Tamag, Gurung, Mahato, Yadav, Jha etc etc united hand for this effect. Whatever it is though Winner is Winner? History is shaped which you won’t be able to alter ceaselessly. History is not wickipedia where you can edit as per your desire. Largely the thread starter question is answered.
Mr. Prasant has individually thanked to entire Nepalese taking name of Nepal. Nepalese unity has bee able to comprehend by Indian society at present. Mr. Anu Malik was speedy enough to recognize it. If you guys talk about who is making money or what will we get? I wont hesitate to call you lost offspring of Ram Chandra Adhikari, Girija, Madav Nepal and Prachanda. You guys always seek costs out it and intention. Something’s are done from uncontaminated empathy, which don’t cling to rationalization.
Now and then abundance of acquaintance misleads in verdict. In that day please do hunt for help from subordinate class as rickshaw driver, pani puri wala, chana chatpate wala. You will become conscious what existence is about.
Rather be hero of grounded people than to elite…

Bole toh " jo jeeta woh sikander, jo hara woh bander".

moneyminded, who is this ram chandra adhikari u talkin bout..coz i fail to recognise him

T he politics behind Prashant's Indian Idol win (Hindustan Times, Sept 24)


When he decided to try his luck at the Indian Idol reality show, winner Prashant Tamang probably did not dream that he would make it to the top.

Even if he did imagine that, the 24-year-old from Tungsung village in Darjeeling district could have never thought, even in his wildest dreams, that for many in Nepal his win would become a symbol of political victory over their southern neighbour India, frequently regarded as an arm-twisting bully.

For nearly two months, Nepal agonised over Indian Idol while its own contest Nepali Tara went ignored. Indeed, the Nepalese contest had to change its timing since no one watched it while it clashed with Idol.

Why would a nation ignore its own talents and devote its energies to promoting a singer whose ancestors originated from Nepal?

The answer is because, for many Nepalese, Darjeeling is still part of Nepal.

In the 19th century, Darjeeling and other parts of Sikkim had been annexed by Nepal. However, as the British East India Company tried to open trade routes to Tibet via Sikkim, Nepal waged war against the Company and lost.

As a result, it was forced to sign the Sugauli Treaty and withdraw from all the territory it had occupied in Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal and much of the Terai.

Though the British found it difficult to govern the Terai and restored some of it to Nepal, Darjeeling, Kumaon and Garhwal remained part of British India.

When India obtained independence in 1947, Nepal hoped to get back its wrested land but did not.

Since then, the dream of achieving a "Greater Nepal" some day in the future with the lost area still remains in the mind of the Nepalese.

Royalists had been demanding a Greater Nepal and the Maoists, the opponents of the royalists, want it as well, demanding that the Sugauli Treaty be scrapped.

There has been no formal treaty between Nepal and India after 1947, even after Sikkim's merger with India in 1975, which Nepal regards as the annexation of Sikkim.

Nepal still does not formally recognise Sikkim's "annexation", nor has India sought recognition from Nepal.

Therefore Nepalis still regard Darjeeling as a part of Nepal that should be restored and Prashant Tamang is considered a Nepalese.

His victory Sunday therefore is the victory of Nepal over India in a way, which is why, despite his Indian citizenship, the fact that Prashant speaks Nepali at home, which constitutionally is an Indian language as well, is being regarded as evidence of his being a Nepalese.

Ironically, actress Manisha Koirala, who carved a niche in Bollywood, was never an icon in Nepal.

One reason was probably because she came from one of Nepal's most influential families and the average Nepali did not identify with her.

Her popularity also took a dive after she supported King Gyanendra when the king tried to seize absolute power through an army-backed coup.

Nepalis feel that Manisha obtained stardom with the help The politics behind Prashant's Indian Idol winof the Indian film industry, she did not "defeat" thousands of Indian contenders to attain success.





dreamz Posted on 09-24-07 9:17 AM Reply | Notify Admin | Edit
Hidden bitter truth....No matter how much we try to deny ...i think prashant's success has been a bit of a victory over india for us.

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy that our brother won the Indian Idol 3.

Now there are those who have been and still are detracting from this jubilation. Maybe what they do not understand is that this competition, so to speak, was much more than just the talent and popularity contest. It became the test for us Nepalis, no matter where we live and which passport we hold, to come together and show the force of unity. Prashant Tamang made this possible and we are all deeply grateful.

Now for those detractors, you know who you are (as this thread might have made it evident), somebody put it nicely in the Darjeeling forum:


The dogs may bark but the Caravan moves on.

Were the Caravan to stop and take notice everytime a dog barked, who would gain or lose?

Anyway, notice that the dog always moves itself out of the caravan's way (with its tail between the legs) else it would get trampled with the same indifference the caravan shows its barking....


Having said all that, we forgive you, even if you do not forgive yourself. You are Nepali as we are. And here and now, we will not separate ourselves because Prashant Tamang has made us all Nepalis ONE.

Reports and anecdotes are already coming in, not only from places like Delhi or Bombay, but also from Jackson Heights in Queens NY and Devon Street in Chicago IL, that people are looking at Nepalis with a new perspective, even new respect.

No longer will the word Nepali or Gorkhali be associated with watchman or waiter. Now they know that a humble Nepali is now Bhaarat ki Shaan.

And this has happened because Prashant Tamang made it possible. And hundreds of thousands of Nepalis all around the world came together to help him make it possible.

Hehe Sgy, loved your Caravan and barking dog example.

What makes the fans and cheer leaders any different from the barking dogs? The caravan moves on and the barking dogs go back to their regular lives with or without their tails between their legs.

"No longer will the word Nepali or Gorkhali be associated with watchman or waiter."

That is a pretty sweeping statement. Dont' need to go into details there.

All in all, congratulations to Prashant.