'Indian Idol' uniting ethnically polarised northeast

Shillong, Sep 22 - Two young singing sensations - Amit Paul from Shillong and Prashant Tamang from Darjeeling - of the much watched reality television contest 'India Idol' has left the whole of India's eastern region hysterical.

The highly rated musical show on Sony TV has reached its climax with the two performers vying for the crown, results of which are to be announced Sunday where one contestant would be eliminated based on the least number of votes received on SMS or phones.

But for the people in both Darjeeling and in the northeast, the two singers are already winners for more than one reason.

'The craze and enthusiasm for making Amit Paul the next 'Indian Idol' is something unprecedented with people from elderly villagers to kings and politicians, including the chief minister, joining the bandwagon,' John F. Kharshiing, spokesperson of the Federation of Khasi States, the apex body campaigning for legal status for the durbars in Meghalaya, told IANS.

'Amit is already a winner as he has helped in uniting the region through music,' said Meghalaya's Education Minister R.G. Lyngdoh.

For the records, Amit is a Bengali-speaking youth born and brought up in Shillong - a city that was witness to a string of bloody ethnic riots in the mid-80s between the tribal and the non-tribal people.

The growing schism in the northeast between the indigenous population and 'outsiders', a term broadly referred to people speaking other Indian languages, has become a matter of concern.

In this context, the euphoria and the support from people across the northeast for Amit is something heartening.

'We have conferred him the honorary title of Meghalaya's 'Brand Ambassador' to foster peace, communal harmony, and excellence,' Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang told IANS.

Lapang is personally spearheading the campaign to drum up support for Amit.

'We are all proud of Amit for the success and fame he has received so far. His achievements have helped people from all walks of life and communities to come together and this clearly reflects that music has no cultural barriers,' the chief minister said.

From government offices to the tribal king's durbars, the chief minister's secretariat to the Raj Bhawan, and schools and colleges - the only topic of discussion in Meghalaya is the 'India Idol' contest.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

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