Policeman In Indian Idol Becomes New Nepali Icon

A 22-year-old policeman from Darjeeling, who is one of the contestants in the popular "Indian Idol" show hosted by Sony television channel, has become the new icon for the Nepalese diaspora with Indian viewers of Nepalese origin whipping up a campaign to boost his chances.

Prashant Tamang, who comes from the Tungsung village in Darjeeling, has hit the headlines in neighbouring Nepal where hundreds are rooting for him.
Kantipur, Nepal's largest circulated newspaper, reported yesterday how Indians of Nepali origin have found a new object of pride in Tamang, who despite a difficult youth and having no formal training in music, won praise from the judges of the contest and survived the elimination round.

Taxis in Darjeeling are carrying photographs of the smiling Tamang, while schools, clubs and even the local police are asking people to support the singer, the report said.
A banner put up by Darjeeling Police said, "Prashant Tamang, the first ethnic Nepali Indian to have gone past the elimination round is our prestige."
After his father Madan Tamang died in an accident, Tamang, then just a teenager, was offered a job by the police force for which his father worked.
He joined the force in 2002 and found an outlet for his singing dreams by joining the police band. Currently, Prashant is stationed in Kolkata.
Ethnic Nepalese are also proud of Udit Narayan Jha, the golden-voiced boy from Nepal's border area, who became a singing sensation in India's multi-billion rupees Bollywood film industry.