Priyanka Chettri tops in Nepali in ICSE results

Jorethang: Priyanka Chettri from of St’ Francis School of Jorethang has scored the highest marks in Nepali subject in class X (ten), ICSE Board Exams, 2011. She scored 98 % in nepali, 90% in maths , in computer she scored 92%,and in environment studies she scored 94% respectively. The school Principal, teachers , students along with her family have heartily extended their congratulations on her performance. She is not only a good student but a singer, dancer and also participates in other co- curricular activities of the school.

(SikkimMail)

Leasing away of Sahitya Parishad Bhawan @ Gangtok protested

GANGTOK, 27 April: Founder president of Youth Library Sikkim, Santosh Bardewa, today contended that the leasing out of the Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhawan to the National School of Drama has “snatched away the only platform for literary persons in the state to express and share their works.

He further alleged that this was a “negative step” taken by the executive committee of the Nepali Sahitya Parishad.
Mr Bardewa has appealed the Chief Minister to step in and “save this important place and only platform for the literary activities in the state”.

He also threatened that if no action was taken, then he will approach the Courts.
“The Chief Minister himself is a poet, lyricist and literature loving person, and if the only platform for the literary people should be lost under his watch, where we will exchange works and perform”, Mr Bardewa said.
He also alleged that there is a monetary interest behind all this matter and it is not new but he himself the faced this problem with the NSP when 50,000 rare books from his Youth Library and other properties were lost by the parishad.
“To save the NSP, I am ready to provide my hall to the National School of Drama for a lower rent”, he offered.
He also invited the writers to use his hall free of cost to host their various literature related programmes.
He also argued that at present, the NSP was only confined to organizing rallies and cultural shows but “completely zero” in research and evaluation of literature.

'Indian Idol' Prashant Tamang to act in Nepali movie Gurkha Paltan

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (IANS) He started his career as a cop and in 2007 shot to fame when he won the popular music contest ‘Indian Idol’. Now Prashant Tamang has hit the headlines once again by ‘joining’ the British Gurkhas and ‘tying the knot’.
The 26-year-old from Darjeeling has been camping in Nepal, from where his ancestors hailed, to kickstart a new career in acting with the Nepali film ‘Gurkha Paltan’ (The Gurkha Brigade).
Prashant, who became a youth icon in Nepal after winning the third edition of the music reality show against formidable odds, is shooting for the movie in picturesque Palpa district in central Nepal - it is known for its hand-woven cloth and the valiant Gurkha warriors who make their way to the British and Indian armies.
Nepali singer Narayan Rayamajhi is making his debut as a director with ‘Gurkha Paltan’, the tale of young Nepali men being forced to join foreign armies for want of opportunities in their own country and the hardship and privation they undergo.
While casting for his film, Rayamajhi was looking for actors who would have an army background and he found Prashant - with his police career, he was perfect for the role.
Prashant plays Nirman, the fatherless boy who is compelled to join the British Army to take care of his mother and sister.
Prashant, who lost his father at the age of eight and joined the West Bengal Police when he was 18 to fend for his mother and sister, was moved by the story that he says could be his own life story.
From Mumbai, India’s film and finance capital, he has moved to Phulbari in Palpa, a village that every year sends dozens of its sons to try their luck in the British Army.
One of the recent sequences that he shot includes the return of Nirman to his village on leave when he gets married to a girl from the village, played by Nepali actress Ranjita Gurung.
The wiry Prashant, with his trademark beaming smile, looks dashing in the traditional attire of a Nepali groom - a long checked tunic made of the famed Palpa cloth and a matching cap with traditional garlands of grass and red strings around his neck.

The Nepal film industry is watching the making of ‘Gurkha Paltan’ keenly.
Prior to this, Prashant was expected to make his debut with a biopic by debutant Nepali director Dinesh Raj Sharma, but the project is yet to go on floors.
Rayamajhi and Sunil Thapa, the veteran bad man of the Nepali film industry, say they are happy with Prasant’s acting skills.
If ‘Gurkha Paltan’ enjoys reasonable success, Prashant would have a new career in showbiz in the Nepali film industry.

Nepali films are also watched by the diaspora in Mumbai, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Hong Kong, London and the Middle East.

Nepali grandfather is world's oldest to scale Mt Everest

KATHMANDU — A Nepalese climber who scaled Everest aged 76 has finally been named by Guinness World Records as the oldest man to do so, following a lengthy battle for recognition.

Min Bahadur Sherchan, now 78, reached the summit of the world's highest peak in May 2008, but later discovered he had lost out on the record because he failed to provide the necessary evidence of his achievement.

Instead, Guinness World Records awarded the accolade to Yuichiro Miura, a Japanese climber one year Sherchan's junior who had climbed Mount Everest in the same month.

"I am delighted to finally be recognised as the oldest man to climb Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world," Sherchan told AFP Monday.

"A younger climber was declared the record-holder last year, even though I had made the ascent in 2008. I did not know then that I had to put together the claim myself, I thought the authorities would do it for me."

Sherchan, who was to receive his Guinness certificate at a formal government ceremony later Monday, said that when he discovered his mistake he resubmitted his claim with all the necessary proof.

He told AFP he had little trouble conquering the 8,848-metre (29,028-foot) peak, which has been climbed more than 3,000 times since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the top in 1953.

"I was delighted and overwhelmed when I reached the top, but I knew from the start that I would be able to do it," he said. "I did not really have much trouble with the ascent."

Sherchan summitted Everest on May 25, 2008 -- a day before his Japanese rival -- and his name will now be included in next year's edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

AFP

Mrs. D.K.Bhandari re-elected to BGP presidentship

GANGTOK, October 13: Former Lok Sabha MP from Sikkim, Dil Kumari Bhandari retained her post of the president of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) central executive committee following the declarations of the election result yesterday.
The election to the new central executive committee had been held yesterday at Siliguri on the sidelines of the second national seminar of BGP.

CK Shrestha retained his post of working president while Dr Anosdas Pradhan was elected to the post of president of BGP and Sukman Moktan once again was elected to the post of general secretary.

The four day seminar also passed five key resolutions including setting up a task force to take forward the seven cores issues of BGP. The seminar also resolved to take effective measures to take up the security issue for Nepali speaking community in India with the Centre and respective State governments.

Delegates from 22 States had attended the seminar and the next seminar will be held in 2012 at Sikkim, it is informed

Sikkim Gorkha body condemns Assam killings

GANGTOK, Oct 7 – The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, an apex body of Gorkhas has condemned the killing of seven Nepalese-speaking people in Sonitpur district of Assam and criticised the Tarun Gogoi Government for failing to give them security.

“The BGP condemns the killing of innocent Nepalese-speaking people by the NDFB militants in Sonitpur district because the victims did not pay extortion,” BGP Working President CK Shrestha told reporters here.

He said that the Gogoi Government could not escape its responsibility for the killings as it failed to provide security despite public knowledge about the militant outfits demand for extortion and threats.

The massacre could have been avoided if the State Government had intensified security measures for the migrant people, Shrestha said. – PTI

GJM kicks off dress code with phulpati in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Sept. 25: Dressed in traditional attires, a mosaic of people from across communities joined hands to herald the Dassai today, the first day of the month-long dress code imposed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Members of different communities — Bhutias, Sherpas, Marwaris, Bhojpuris and Lepchas — took part in a predominantly Gorkha tradition of phulpati rally, presenting a picture perfect scene of social harmony in Darjeeling.

Girls in chaubandi cholo danced along with masked dancers dressed as the goddess. The biggest phulpati rally was organised by the Gorkha Kala Sanstan, which snaked uphill from the Motor Stand to Chowrastha on a sunny morning. The sounds of madal and dhamphu (traditional Nepali instruments) reverberated the hills as almost every village brought out a rally.

Phulpati is a unique custom in which community members collect flowers, petals and other offerings from their houses and take them to the puja pandal to pay obeisance to Goddess Durga. The decorated palanquin carrying the sacred flowers, leaves and sugarcane tied in red clothes — the colour symbolising the goddess — is usually accompanied by an ornate umbrella. It is believed that people who pass underneath the palanquin are absolved of their sins. The tradition dates back to the days of King Pritivinarayan Shah (1723-1775) of Nepal when the phulpati procession used to start from Gorkha, his native place, and end at Kathmandu after covering hundreds of miles.

With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha asking people to wear their traditional dresses for a month from today, many in town were seen attired in their costumes. Roshan Giri and Binay Tamang, the Morcha leaders, also took part in the Sanstan rally in traditional dress.

At Chowrasta, singers rendered songs. “From tomorrow, every community will perform its traditional dance for the next one month. The cultural show will be from 4pm to 6pm and the Lepchas will be the first to take the stage tomorrow,” said Tenzing Khambachay, the festival co-ordinator.

Mahananda Poudyal honoured

GANGTOK, August 30: A literary meet cum felicitation function of eminent literary figure Mahananda Poudyal and poet Bhawani Sharma was organized by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi here at Chintan Bhavan today.
The function was organized by the Akademi in collaboration with Nepali Sahitya Parishad and Pratibha Milan which was attended by Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh as the chief guest.
In his address, the Governor said that Sikkim’s future reflects prosperity as the future of Nepali language is bright in the State.
Highlighting the modernization has rapidly increased in the State, Mr. Singh underlined the involvement of youth in preservation and promotion of literature which he said is the need of the hour. Poets and writers should write more on the social issues and problems as it is quick method of expressing an individual’s view, he added.
The felicitated literary giant Mahananda Poudyal expressed his happiness on the interest shown by the young generation towards literature. Time has come to pass the literary baton to the younger generation, he said.
More innovative writings should be encouraged among young writers to keep the glory of Nepali literature alive, said Mr. Poudyal.
Famed Nepali poet Bhavani Sharma recited his three famous poems on the occasion.
Jeewan Namdung, the coordinator of Nepali Paramarsh Samiti, Sahitya Akademi while placing his welcome speech said, the main objective of the function is to acknowledge the literary giants who have contributed immensely for the promotion and the development of Nepali literature.
The other poets to recite their poems were Basa Lepcha, Bhawani Ghimirey and Dilli Ram Prasad Adhikari

All Sikkim Chettri Bahun Kalayan Sangh Meets

GANGTOK, August 26: An interim committee of All Sikkim Chettri Bahun Kalayan Sangh (ASCBKS) has been constituted with the mandate to conduct elections for the executive committee of the body.
The old executive committee had been dissolved on August 23 during the annual general body meeting of ASCBKS at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhavan leading to the formation of the interim committee.
The nine member interim committee is headed by KP Kaushik.
The financial position of the body was also presented during the annual general body meeting. The ASCBKS also condoled the death of its publicity secretary, Lovendra Basnett.
A book on the history of Chettri-Bahun committees of Sikkim written by Dr. MP Kharel was also released on the occasion

Nepali Sanskriti Parishad Sikkim to host State Meet

GANGTOK, August 26: An NGO, Nepali Sanskriti Parishad Sikkim (NSPS) is set to organize a day long State level meet and cultural programme at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhawan, Gangtok on September 12.
Eminent scholars and dignitaries from Delhi will also be present and address the gathering to provide a new dimension in the process of providing necessary support and help to establish all sorts of recognition to ‘our’ communities in the national arena, said NSPS in its appeal pamphlet.
The NSPS is associated with Himalaya Parivar, a national organization, dedicated for the upliftment of the culture of diverse Sikkimese society within and outside the State of Sikkim. The body was founded on September 7, 2006 and has already started its work in the State under the umbrella of Himalayan Parivar. A committee of nine members is being constituted under the presidentship of Dr. PP Sharma.
The members of the organization have till now attended various meetings held outside Sikkim and the document for registration of organization is also been drafted for submission to the State government, it is informed.

Mrs.Gurung inaugurates a library in South Sikkim

Gangtok,August23: Mrs. Tilu Gurung, Minister of Building and Housing, inaugurated a public library, set up by local educated youths of Karek, South Sikkim, under Namthang-Rateypani Constituency on the occasion of 17th Nepali Language Recognition Day (Bhasa Manyata Diwas, August 20). The library consists of various literary books in Nepali language of different time.
Speaking at the function, chief guest Mrs. Gurung said, every individual and every community is known through their language. “The prosperity of a community is shown by the richness of its mother tongue”, she added. Praising the efforts of local youths, she urged that every Sikkimese should have the thought to work for the state.
She said, culture, language and tradition comprise the identity of any state and because of the richness of Nepali culture and tradition in Sikkim, the state has got its identification among others. As the principal language of Sikkim, Nepali language should be well served and every speaker of it should work for its development, she stressed. She further said, “We have got right leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling in Sikkim who has the dream to make our state richest among others”.
Two books namely ‘Lakshyahin Pahilaharu’ by Kul Prasad Chettri and ‘Bhav Tarang’ by Namthang Sahitya Samiti’ were released on the occasion by the Minister.

Adhoc Committee for Sikkim Nepali Sahitya Parishad formed

GANGTOK, August 14: An adhoc committee for Nepali Sahitya Parishad was formed with BK Roka as president and Nawin Lamichaney as general secretary during its general body held on August 10.
The meeting chaired by KC Dahal, president of the Parishad and attended by all the members of the organization also decided to hold a general election after six months.
A press release adds that the meeting also resolved to celebrate Basha Diwas in a grand manner.

PRASHANT TAMANG LIVE PERFORMANCE IN GANGTOK IN NOV 1st WEEK

Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang is set to perform live in Gangtok,Sikkim in first week of November 2007 tentatively on November5.
Along with Prashant, a couple of other Indian Idol III contestants would also be performing at the ground of Palzor stadium of Gangtok, present venue of annual sporting event of Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup 2007.

Organisers have claimed that 25,000 people will attend the performance. They said they paid Rs 3 million to Sony Television to bring in Prashant Tamang to Sikkim for Live Performance.

Meanwhile, Prashant is also set to perform in Pokhara on November 17 where he will be accompanied by Indian Idol III finalist Amit Paul, according to Tamang Ghedung, Kaski, which is organising the event.
Immediately, after he won the title in September, Prashant had come to Nepal and performed live in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Celebrating Dashain in Sikkim

Dashain
During the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.
In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.
The first nine days of Dashain are called nawa ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the source of life and everything.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.
The room where the kalash is established is called 'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.
As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'. On this day ,A parade is held in Gangtok and other towns. The fulpati, i.e. the procession bearing the jamara and other items necessary for the tika, is brought. Town area is filled with hundreds of nepali people meticulously attired in the traditional formal dress.
In fulpati, the kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans from the ancestral house on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella, led by priest. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. With this the Dashain feasting starts.
The eighth day is called the 'Maha Asthami'. The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. In the darkness of the night Durga temples. All over many nepali households in Sikkim hold sacrifices for the mother goddess. The sacrifice continues till dawn. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed.
The ninth day is called 'Nawami'. Thousands of people go and pay their respect to the goddess day. Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. Animals mostly black goats are slaughtered by hundreds to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwas Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful.
The tenth day is the 'Dashami'. On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
After Dashain the nation settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepali people.

INDIAN IDOL PRASHANT TAMANG TALKS

After becoming the Indian Idol Prashant Tamang, 24, has become one of the most talked about people these days. A veritable household name. Recently, he came to Nepal for his first ever concert. Shiva Sharma caught up with Prashant to talk to him about what it was like to compete in Indian Idol, the attitude of Anu Malik, his favourite music and his Nepali roots.

Excerpts:
Q. How did you come to take part in Indian Idol?
Prashant Tamang: When the forms for the show came, my friends asked me to fill them up. But I didn’t give it that much importance. However, some of my friends from the police force SMSed my participation in the competition. That's how I came to give an audition.

Q. Did you ever think that you'd progress up to the audition round?
Prashant: Never. I had come to the venue at 9 am and my turn came only 12 hours later at 9 pm. I hadn't eaten anything for the whole day. I hadn't at all thought of getting into the audition round. But I sang from deep inside my heart and luck favored me.

Q. You had represented a small town Darjeeling. Had you ever felt that you could be in the top 10?
Prashant: I hadn't thought of reaching the top 10. But I was helped more by luck than talent. Moreover, the public and God were with me. Finally, I succeeded in reaching the top 10. After this, my Idol trip continued.

Q. It seemed the judges weren't supporting you much.
Prashant: I can't say so. All of the judges were fair enough. I progressed in the rounds with the support from all of them.

Q. But the behavior of Anu Malik towards you wasn't fair, was it?
Prashant: It's obvious for the judges to comment. The comments they gave me led me to advance and work hard every time. I took those comments to hone my talent and deduced my Achilles heel. I never felt them to be negative because they made the comments for my improvement.

Q. Who did you like the most among your contenders?
Prashant: I liked Abhisekh a lot. He was my well-wisher and a good friend who supported me in any circumstance.

Q. Finally, you ended up being the Indian Idol. How do you feel?
Prashant: I'm overjoyed. I can't express my joy in mere words. Some of the contenders in the top ten were better singers than me. However, I always kept on improving myself. I got big support from the Nepali folk, from Darjeeling and Sikkim. The support also from Indian well-wishers led me to the title.

Q. When John Abraham was about to declare the winner, did you think that you were the winner?
Prashant: I didn't think about winning and losing at that time. I was more concerned about my supporters who did so much for me through the days and nights to make me the Idol. I was thinking what they would say to me if I lost.

Q. When John Abraham raised your hand to declare you the winner, who did you think of at that time?
Prashant: I thought of God first. I also thought of my sister and mother and then of all the Nepali folk and millions of my supporters.

Q. Did you think you'd be the Idol?
Prashant: Not really. Luck backed me a lot. The blessing of God and the support of the public was the main factor.

Q. Did you ever think you'd get support from the Nepalese?
Prashant: At the start I hadn’t thought that I would be getting such support. After I read in some magazines that I was getting support from across the border, my happiness knew no bounds. So many Nepalese acknowledged me. Then I worked harder thinking that I was not singing just for me, but so many people.

Q. When you heard of your craze here in Nepal, how did you feel?
Prashant: The Nepali people came over the border to support me because there was no system of voting from Nepal itself. The support of the Nepalis who came across the border made me proud.

Q. What is the difference in Prashant then and now?
Prashant: Prashant is the same as before. The only difference then and now is that then he was known to only a few people and now a lot of people know the same simple Prashant.

Q. What do you prefer to sing the most, Nepali or Hindi songs?
Prashant: Both are the same. I can't live without Nepali songs. You know my love for Nepali songs. I sing both Nepali and Hindi songs.

Q. How have you seen the love given to you by so many Nepalese people?
Prashant: The love is from my own people. I couldn't have come to this point, if they hadn't loved me. I hope for the same kind of love forever.

Q. Which Nepali singers do you like?
Prashant: Anil Singh, Nima Rumba and Adrian Pradhan. I was overwhelmed to sing with Nima Rumba and Adrian Pradhan here.

Q. What are your plans for the future?
Prashant: I haven't made plans as such. I have become Indian Idol just now. I wish to do something new in music, let's see what happens.

Q. How many proposals have you got, please be honest?
Prashant: (Laughs) Really…no one has proposed anything like that yet.

Q. If that’s so, then were the rumors about a relationship happening between you and another contender Charu unfounded?
Prashant: This is totally wrong. Charu was a good friend of mine. She used to support me, that's it.

Q. You must have a girlfriend, right?
Prashant: There was a time when I had a girl friend, but not now.

Q. What do you think of marriage?
Prashant: I haven't thought about it. First let me do something. Marriage will happen in the end.

Q. How long have you been in the police and do you plan to continue?
Prashant: I’ve been in police force for five years. I have come to this stage with the help of my police sahibs(smiles). I will continue this profession alongside music.

Q. Is it true that the album Sony TV is launching with you will have some Nepali songs as well?
Prashant: I had asked for some Nepali songs. They agreed on this, let's see what they do.

Q. Where are your concerts after here in Nepal?
Prashant: I can't say right now. It's Sony’s contract. Wherever they send me, I have to go.

Q. What are your hobbies?
Prashant: Football, music and travelling.

Q. Finally, what do you want to say to Nepal?
Prashant: I had always wanted to come to Nepal and release an album. Something I wasn’t able to do because of my financial status. It is the love from the Nepali people that has, right now, brought me here. I will always be grateful to all the Nepali people who supported me. I ask them all to unit into single garland.

Nepali literary meet @ Sikkim Government College,Gangtok

Gangtok, October7: A group of Eminent Nepali writers from Sikkim and surrounding Darjeeling hills spent a day discussing 'the Nepali language in present times' in a literary meet event held at Sikkim Government College premises .The Nepali Writers meet was organised jointly by Sikkim Government College and Sikkim Academy.

A galaxy of prominent literary figures and eminent writers took part in the discussions and joined to broaden talks on topic of Nepali language .The Meet was chaired by the first vice-chancellor of Sikkim Central University Dr.Mahendra P. Lama who called upon the Nepali writers to reflect modern and temporary times and situations in their creative writing and Shri Mahananda Poudyal graced the occasion as Chief Guest .