India’s idol, Darjeeling’s pride Statesman News Service SILIGURI, Sept. 12: Come Friday and the nation would get a new idol to ogle at courtesy the Indian Idol show being run by a television channel. The competition is on its last leg with the last two contestants Prashant Tamang and Amit Paul on the fray. Whatever be the outcome, the champion would, however, have a Darjeeling district connection. While Prashant is from Darjeeling, the other finalist Amit Paul has close bonds with Siliguri. This foot hill town is where Amit's ancestral house is. "Though Amit was born in Shillong, Meghalaya, his childhood was mostly spent in Siliguri. He has performed in many shows here and still continues to visit Siliguri as before," claimed Amit's unlce Mr Ashok Paul. According to him, Amit went to the audition in Kolkata from their house at Dabgram in Siliguri. There is another common element between Prashant and Amit. Neither have had any formal training on music. The common link, however, ends here. While there is a lot of commotion and tension in the whole of Darjeeling hills and in the adjacent state of Sikkim over Prashant's prospects in the show, Siliguri is rather cold about Amit's prospects. Amit had given up his studies to pursue his passion. When the chance to participate in Indian Idol came along, he thought it was godsend. But his dreams seemed to be in danger of dying even before they matured. He was voted out early in the show. But he got a second lease of life through a wild card entry. And there has been no looking back since. This perfectionist is now in the finals. Prashant, on the other hand, is employed with the Kolkata police. He is the first from his community to take part in the event. His fans were so enthusiastic in voting for him that, except in the last edition, he was never sent to the danger zone. Negative comments from the judges spurred him to do better. Now he has proven his worth and he is in the Top Two.