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Prashant Tamang

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Prashant Tamang (Nepali: प्रशान्त तामाङ) is a Kolkata-based singer and contestant on Indian Idol[1]. He is the first contestant of Nepalese origin to make it to the final rounds of Indian Idol. He is also the first person from the police force to enter the final rounds.

Biography

Early years

Prashant Tamang was born in Tungsung, Darjeeling, West Bengal to Rupa Tamang and Late Madan Tamang[2]. He spent most of his early life there and studied in St.Roberts school[3]. After the demise of his father, Madan Tamang, in an accident, he joined the Kolkata Police Force, succeeding his father[4]. In Kolkata Police, he sang for a band called "Orchestra Band"[5]. His family includes his grandmother, mother and his sister.

Indian Idol

According to the program commentary, Prashant tried out for Indian Idol because his friends told him that his voice is very good. He auditioned in Kolkata[6] and was subsequently chosen into the final rounds. Although he has not received any professional training in singing [7], he is considered to be a very fine singer and is praised by all the judges. One of the judges, Udit Narayan Jha, who started his career in Kathmandu, Nepal, talks to him in Nepali at times.

Songs performed

According to the official website of Indian Idol, he has performed the following songs[8]

Song Movie Original Artist Music Director Lyricist
Ya Ali Gangster Zubin Garg Pritam Sayeed Quadri, Rahat Indori
Aye kash ke hum Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na Kumar Sanu Jatin-Lalit Majrooh Sultanpuri
Yaar ko maine Sheesha Kunal Ganjawala Sen Brothers Maya Govind
Kehna hai kehnai hai Padosan Kishore Kumar R D Burman
Yeh Hosla Dor Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Salim Merchant Salim-Sulaiman Mir Ali Hussain
Main Hoon Naa Main Hoon Naa Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal Anu Malik Javed Akhtar


Media

Prashant Tamang has become a celebrity in Nepal and Northern West Bengal. Prayers for his success are expressed even in website of Tamang Society[9]. Nepalese newspapers, websites, forums, blogs etc are filled with stories related to him and support for him. According to an article in Kantipur National Daily of Nepal, a riot broke out in Darjeeling after the local telecommunication was unable to provide SMS service when Prashant was in "Danger Zone".

The mayor of Mirik, T.B. Rai, has vowed to spend Rs.10,000 in SMS for voting Prashant and his staff have also vowed to spend a month's salary on SMS for voting Prashant.[10]. Nepalese people working in Brunei, UK, Hong Kong, UAE are reported to have been sending money to SMS for him[11].

Rallies are organized in Darjeeling and Kharsang in his support, some of which are attended by his sister, mother and grandmother[12]. A signature campaign for his support was organized by Himalayan Darpan Newspaper of Darjeeling[13]. Schools, clubs and police are found asking people to support Prashant who have named him 'पहाडको गौरभ Pahar ka Gaurav ' (Pride of the Hills). [14] Sikkim Cabinet Minister G M Gurung and S B Subedi planted tree saplings Singtam to pledge the Sikkimese support to Prashant and to show the unity between Nepalese community in Sikkim and Darjeeling.[15]

See also

References