Hills on song, rush at contest.... Normality clue in long queues

One of the queues for the talent hunt in Darjeeling on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Apr 01, 2018, Darjeeling: Nearly 5,000 aspirants lined up on Saturday for an audition of Darjeeling Rising Star-Pahari Pratibha Ko Khoj, a police-organised talent hunt, signalling the return of peace in a region wracked by strife until a few months ago.

Music has always been close to the hearts of the hill people and on Saturday, young singers and dancers flocked to the audition that continued for nearly 10 hours since nine in the morning. Auditions were held at nine places in the hills.

The event has total prize money of Rs 22.44 lakh, with the winner taking home Rs 2.5 lakh, a record in the region.

Over a decade ago, Prashant Tamang's rise in a singing show had changed the political landscape in Darjeeling when Bimal Gurung, then in the GNLF, had campaigned for the young singer from the hills to get him audience votes. Gurung used that momentum to later break away from the GNLF and form the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

On Saturday, Manoj Verma, inspector-general of police who inaugurated the show, dwelt on the "positive" vibes. "People are participating even from remote places like Gorkhay, which has no road connectivity. The event is being organised to improve public-police relations."

"The event is an indication that normality is back in the hills. The honourable chief minister, who was at the Hill Business Summit (earlier this month), also enquired about the event (talent hunt)," Verma added.

Akansha Tamang, who studies at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling, said: "Many of my friends took part and we enjoyed the competition." The contest is supported by celebrities like John Abraham and singer Mohit Chauhan. The finals will be held tentatively on April 28.