Padma Shri for Udit Narayan? No sooner had singer Udit Narayan's name been mentioned among the possible candidates for the Padma Shri award this year than his detractors, especially in Bihar, swung into action. Accusing the singer of being a non-Indian, they say he isn't eligible for what is one of the highest civilian honours in the country. A front page report in one of Bihar's newspaper has Udit seething in protest. "Some people are out to malign my name and cheat me of the recognition that the government thinks I deserve. Claims are that I was born in Nepal, but let me tell you, I was born in the Baisi village of the Supaul district in Bihar in 1955, at my maternal grandparent's home." Udit feels that attempts to debar him from receiving the Padma Shri are the handiwork of people who are jealous of him. "I've been singing for 40 years now and I'm as Indian as one can get. I've been out of controversies and scandals save the time when my alleged first wife in Bihar challenged my second marriage. I think people in Bihar are angry because they think I haven't done anything for Bihar. Little do they know that last year, I had made a quiet donation of Rs 5 lakh towards the flood-relief funds."
lonelyguy · Jan 13, 2009 10:00 PM · 22,694 views
Udit was born in Bihar. It is true; like a lot of Madhesis do. But he has so far carried Nepali passport. I wouldn't trust what Bihari journalists write. It is always hard to trust them. nepali patrakar haru ta jathabhawai lekhchan, why would one believe Bihari patrakars? He definitely feels a sense of gratitude to India. He studied there, and he earns his bread there. His both wives are from India. He has done a lot for India. He definitely deserves Padamshree or whatever it is their biggest honor. I mean he is doubtless their best playback singer, the way he has been dominating their music scene says it all. As a Nepali, we can be glad that he excelled in his country of adoption. Furthermore, I have heard he rarely charges money for singing in Nepali movies, and generously helps our musicians. So, let's try to be happy in his happiness. if he wants padamshree, I think we should encourage him to change his passport, and get it. sabai americama baseko nepali le change garna hune, udit le nahune?
newStudent · Jan 13, 2009 11:43 PM
i feel he might have been nepali but now he talks and acts like indian.
redlotus · Jan 13, 2009 11:46 PM
he is a nepali of indian origin i guess
shantasamundra · Jan 14, 2009 3:17 AM
Mofos why such a big fuss!! he is nepali just like us in usa . U r happy to get Green card and still call urself nepali? Nepali is always nepali no matter how they have to adjust to the host country. even if they reside in india.
seattlenepali · Jan 14, 2009 3:41 AM
sukumbasi · Jan 14, 2009 6:44 AM
sukumbasi · Jan 14, 2009 6:51 AM
there are many dhotis who tooked the highest honor in our country like gorkha dakshin bhau.. we all knew that those asshole were indians. let udit also take that honor from india.. after all as we are here he is in India and had done mush better then what we could have done.. he really is a awesome singer and yes, he does carries the nepali passport.. i would cheer for any nepali getting any honor around the globe.. anyways that's my point of view.. thanks guys
Bostonktm · Jan 14, 2009 7:04 AM
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