Last Friday night, braving inclement weather, the people of Meghalaya came out of their homes in large numbers to celebrate music and to ensure a place for Amit Paul in the finals of Indian Idol -3. The grand public reception that Amit Paul received in Shillong on September 3 and the way this boy conducted himself in the public reinforced my faith in the ideas that I expressed in my previous piece on Amit (The Shillong Times, September 4). But some readers felt that I was rather jumping to quick conclusions about the nature of this new phenomenon, ignoring the darker side of the Indian Idol show. Certain minor irritants and tensions in the campaign are also brought to my notice. Although I admit the need for overcoming such limitations, on the whole I still believe that the public enthusiasm generated by 'Amit's magic' could well be used as a stepping stone for the emergence of a self-confident, multi-cultural, peace loving and progressive state of Meghalaya.

Seen at one level, TV musical reality shows such as Indian Idol, Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa and Voice of India are basically popular commercial programs that seek to create a sense of public participation by projecting the viewers as ultimate judges. They make money not only from commercial advertisements, but also from numerous SMSs and telephone calls sent or made by the viewers. The more the spectators, the greater will be their profits. Keeping the viewers' interest alive therefore becomes very crucial for commercial success of such reality shows. To achieve that the TV channels have to scout for and rope in talented singers from different parts of India, if possible even from across the Indian borders. This commercially motivated search throws opportunities for some truly talented but otherwise little known artists from marginalized communities and peripheral regions also. Once these gifted few succeed in making impact at the national level, their struggles cease to be individual efforts. They soon become the heroes of the communities and regions to which they belong. Especially the people belonging to marginalized communities and peripheral regions begin to identify themselves with and rally for the success of 'their own boys'. They lend all-out support in favor of their choice and through him seek honor and respectable status and identity for their communities and regions.

The struggle of the two finalists, Amit Paul and Prashant Tamang, for the title Indian Idol needs to be seen in the light of such assertions of subaltern identities. Despite the fact that Meghalaya produced its own illustrious statesmen, scholars and artists, the region and its traditions are still not known to the majority of the people of the rest of India. They have heard of Cherrapunji more than Shillong. They appreciated and fondly remember persons P.A. Sangma and J.M. Lyngdoh, but most do not know that those persons are from Meghalaya. This hurts the people somewhere and instills an urge among them to make their state, culture and traditions known to the mainland India. Amit Paul's race for the Indian Idol title gave a golden opportunity for them to project their state to the rest of India.

Although a Bengali by birth, Amit hails from north-east India with all the handicaps of a periphery. He has not studied much. His socio-economic background is not qualitatively different from the majority of the inhabitants of the state wherein he is brought up. Despite such limitations, Amit has imbibed in him all the good elements of the city of Shillong, including its love for good music. By identifying himself as a Shillongite and by loving and respecting the local traditions, Amit Paul evinced rare qualities of head and heart that merit applause. Then it is inevitable that all indigenous communities watching his performances identify with him and own his struggle as their own, not bothering about his ethnic background. Although Prashant Tamang, the other finalist, who hails from a humble background and belongs to a marginalized and neglected ethnic community fighting for its own identity in India, also needs to be sympathized for similar reasons, nevertheless, Amit Paul deserves support for two reasons. Firstly, Amit is definitely more talented than the other singer. Secondly, the people rallying for him are united and motivated, not so much by ethnic considerations, but by secular and progressive desire to make their state proud.

Of course, while supporting the campaign for the reasons cited above, one needs to ensure that the campaign is not misused and misled. The desire to see Amit win should never drive the fans to unfair and intimidating tactics. Their appeals to public should continue to be persuasive and dignified. One should repose faith in the judgment and integrity of all communities inhabiting the state. As it was proved the other day, in the finals also every individual and every community in the state today will do the maximum that is possible to contribute to the common cause. Even if there are some individuals who think and act differently, such persons should not be stopped or threatened. Resentment, if any, should be expressed in a dignified manner, respecting others' right to make their own choice. It is only in an atmosphere of freedom that the people can make the right choice.

Further, while material and physical help and support coming from any quarters for the campaign are welcome, one needs to ensure that this campaign is not politicized for any ulterior purpose. Today everyone in Meghalaya loves Amit. He belongs to all. He is not the private property of any group or party. Music is above all monetary and petty political considerations. Artists like Amit Paul can project the image of the state and uphold the interests of the people here better, if they are allowed to remain above factional politics and interests. Hope all NGOs and political parties realize this point and do the needful in the larger interests of Meghalaya.

Minor irritations and aberrations in the campaign should not make one cynical about the process as a whole. Now this movement is not just to make Amit Paul an Indian Idol. It is a crusade of a peripheral state in India for recognition that is due to it. It is a secular movement that has overcome casteist, ethnic, linguistic and religious barriers. It is a people's drive for reconciliation, peace and harmony in the state. More so, it is a struggle that has the potentiality to build a self-confident Meghalaya that would aspire to stand upright on its own strength. All forward-looking and progressive minded individuals, NGOs and parties in the state should therefore make objective assessment of the socio-political significance of the attitudinal change that has taken place in the state during this Indian Idol campaign and see how the goodwill and self-confidence generated during this period could be preserved and used for strengthening unity and understanding among the ethnic communities. All the best to Amit Paul and to all the people of Meghalaya. Source: Shillong Times