Indian Idol winner pens a melody for Gorkhaland
- Prashant Tamang, winner of Indian Idol in 2007, said he supports the gorkha movement.
- He said in an interview that he plans to write a song for Gorkhaland.
- He is the gorkhas' pride and his sister said their life changed after his Indian Idol win.
Follow
A few years ago, Prashant Tamang, a 24-year-old police officer from Kolkata made his way nervously in front of Indian Idol judges. During auditions, his mastery over the pitch impressed Alisha Chinai, Anu Malik, Javed Akhtar and Kumar Sanu. From then on, there was no stopping him.
In the next few rounds, Tamang pleaded with his fans back home in Darjeeling's hills to vote for him. It seemed as if the hills heard his pleas and his melodious voice. They voted for him, became his loyal supporters and were proud of a 20 something for putting the gorkhas on the map of mainstream India.
Since his victory in 2007, he has tasted success. Tamang has done two world tours and became a popular figure in Nepali cinema but his heart still lies in the misty mountain tops of Darjeeling.
Tamang, who founded Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, is deeply pained by the conflict in the region. He is an ardent supporter of the gorkhas’ call for a separate state, Gorkhaland. He said he strongly backs the calls for a separate state and told Deccan Chronicle that he is planning to write a song backing the protests.
“I feel sad. Is Darjeeling a war zone? Or the border? Why are Army and central forces being sent there? The struggle for Gorkhaland cannot be stopped. Will you keep quiet if your mother is lathicharged” the publication quoted him as saying.
It’s not just Tamang; his entire family supports the gorkha movement. The singer’s elder sister, Anupama, who lives in Nimkidara, a village in Darjeeling said her brother is associated with gorkha pride. She added his win in Indian Idol changed their life.
Like many in the hilly areas of Darjeeling, Anupama and her husband have a regular job and aren’t politically active. However, they said that they support the call for a separate Gorkha state.
