Nation Bids Farewell to Indian Idol Star, Pride of Gorkha Community
Fans mourn Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang as Darjeeling bids an emotional goodbye. The Gorkha community remembers its musical icon and legacy.
Hundreds of fans and admirers are bidding farewell to Indian singer and actor Prashant Tamang, who rose to fame two decades ago after winning the third season of the popular music reality show Indian Idol.
Tamang, 43, a native of Darjeeling, a hill town in the state of West Bengal, died on Sunday at his home in Delhi from cardiac arrest.
His body was brought to his hometown on Monday, and fans are expressing their grief and paying tribute on social media following his sudden death.
Tamang's successful career in the entertainment industry was a source of pride for his Gorkha community, a Nepali-speaking ethnic group that primarily resides in the Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and the northeastern states.
The Gorkhas belong to the same ethnic group as the Gurkhas in Nepal, who serve in the Indian and British armies.
Read Also
Ahead of Tamang's funeral on Tuesday, fans gathered on the streets near his home to pay their last respects to the singer.
Bimal Gurung, the head of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha – a political party that has long campaigned for a separate Gorkhaland state in India – said that Tamang had "carried the hopes and aspirations of the entire community to a global stage, making every Gorkha proud."
He further added, "Prashant was a musical coordinator who united not only Indian Gorkhas but Gorkhas all over the world."
Tamang's participation in Indian Idol in 2007 brought the Gorkhas long-awaited mainstream recognition, and the community rallied behind him, supporting him as he overcame stiff competition to win the season.
Software Services
 |
Launch your own casino platform today — get started now |
After winning the show, Tamang told,"Many people in Darjeeling don't have mobile phones. But to vote for me, many people pooled money and bought mobile phones. They even performed pujas (religious rituals) for my victory." He received almost 10 times more viewer votes than his opponent in the final. Following the show, an alleged racist remark made by a radio jockey about Tamang's victory also sparked protests and violence in West Bengal. "For the people of Darjeeling and the surrounding hills, he [Tamang] was more than just a singer," Tamang's sister, Anupama Gurung, told reporters on Tuesday. "He was someone from our own region who achieved success through his talent. For decades, there was no face we could relate to, but he became a symbol of pride and identity for the entire region."
Before participating in Indian Idol, Tamang worked as a police constable in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. He mentioned in several interviews that his talent was noticed after he joined the police orchestra and performed at various events.
After winning the show, Tamang released his debut album, which featured songs in both Hindi and Nepali.
He also pursued a career in acting, making his debut with the Nepali film Gorkha Paltan (2010), and subsequently appearing in several other blockbuster films. However, he gained significant recognition as an actor last year for his role as an assassin in the second season of the popular Amazon Prime thriller series Paatal Lok.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her grief over his "sudden and untimely demise," mentioning his connection to the Darjeeling hills and his association with the Kolkata Police.
Singer Udit Narayan, who was a judge on Indian Idol during Tamang's season, called his death "heartbreaking," describing him as "extremely talented" and "a true gentleman."
Thank you for reading this content.
Thank you for reading this content.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
