To all the skeptics and to all who can't quite comprehend the hoopla over Prashant's victory....let me try to explain the predicament and the hysteria behind this episode. Yes it is an Indian show. Yes it is not entirely academic in nature. But then again, success comes in various forms and does not necessarily have to be translated in terms of academia. And for those people who do not associate Nepalese living in other parts of the world besides Nepal, as true Nepalese… this may not be your cuppa tea. And finally I agree there are greater issues than a talent competition to contend with “BUT” this one is not your usual cat and mouse story. Let me explain: OK, let’s think in terms of a cricket match between Nepal and India. Say both teams reached the finals after competing with equally competent teams from various countries. Say Nepal won the match......how would you feel??? Jubilant, victorious, triumphant….the range of emotions would be quite incomprehensible I would imagine. Right? Given, the long unspoken hostility between India and Nepal; given the fact that India bullies over Nepal, butts their nose into their internal affairs, interferes in the politics, manipulates their foreign affairs & policies........Given that scenario, that game or that victory would no longer be just a “Cricket Match”. Agree?? Indeed, that game would represent the core essence of the tensions, the bottled up sentiments and resentments of the entire nepali community. That victory would be a victory over the many challenges Nepal has endured and encountered along the way. At the moment, such is the sentiment of Darjeelingeys/Nepalese across the globe. Prashant is a symbol of all the injustices we’ve faced as prabasi Nepalese. Prashant and even Amit Paul in a way became the voice for Northeast India. We “HAD” to show the rest of India that “WE” Nepalese have moved and advanced from the traditional stereotypes attached to us as a community. We are no longer their darwans and chowkidars. We have the caliber, the talent, the intelligence, the drive to succeed and we had to portray our unity by speaking in, “One” voice. It may be (for some people) just a talent show but for Darjeelingeys….We who have undergone trials, discriminations and deprivations for decades……….this comes as a GRAND VICTORY for us. For in this victory lies a strong message to the rest of India that Nepalese are not their doormat. We are a force to be reckoned with. We will not be subdued, we will no longer submit to the atrocities and we “WILL” do everything in our power to fight out the injustices meted to us. We have waited much too long for this day to dawn upon our horizon. So if you will…………..allow us to savor our moment of victory, will ya???