One on One with Prakriti Giri!

By Barun Roy

The rise of yet another talent from Darjeeling Hills into the parleys of the Indian Entertainment Industry is surely indicative of the resurgence of Gorkhas in all fields. Prakriti Giri, whose smile can make anyone shed a tear of joy is now not just the symbol of Gorkhas in India but Gorkhas abroad including all Pahariya (Hill dwellers of all races) from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, to Arunachal Pradesh. While Prashant won over the world with his smile, humility and perseverance, Prakriti has done the same with her teenage innocence, unfaltered spirit and a simple joy of the occasion. At her age when children can hardly find it easy to cross the road, she has crossed over the road to destiny with the charm of a mountain princess. [Inset: Prashant and Prakriti. Photo courtesy Mysansar]

I have always written passionately about her and we have in this blog split our hair discussing on how and why the Judges treated her. But in reality as I was told by Prakriti herself that it is of no consequence. It does not bother her not while she stood there before the world and not now when she has become the youngest global Gorkha celebrity. She has risen to the occasion and knows that the world has just opened up its flood gates. Talking intermittently in Nepali, Hindi and English, she also does not forget to thank everyone across the globe that stood by her. Her paternal aunt whose guardianship during the entire period sheltered Prakriti from great pressure has also participated in the extravagant talent show bringing much dignity to it. Her assertions may tomorrow be forgotten by her very people but the rest of India will always remember her as Prakriti’s wonderful aunt who spoke the right things.

I had a chance to have a One on One with the Little Dragon Princess and her aunt where both shared there magical journey to fame and glory. This One on One was essentially arranged by Bishal Rai, Executive Member, Gorkha Welfare Society, New Delhi and I am extremely grateful to him.

One on One with the Dragon Princess – Prakriti Giri

Q. First of all please accept my congratulations on a wonderful performance in each and every episode of Amul Voice of India Chhote Ustaad. You have done very well and we are all very proud of you.

A. Thank you! I am extremely grateful to everyone who supported me right from the beginning. In fact, I was crowned the Jaipur Queen and people from all communities voted for me. It was such a wonderful experience.

Q. Speaking about the experience… You have never had such a huge challenge in your life where you had to perform on stage in the front of the entire world and compete with some of the best talents in the nation, how was the entire journey like?

A. It was a very nice experience. I never imagined that I would reach the top three. I would like to thank everyone who helped me.

Q. But then how have you changed in the entire process?

A. (Hmmmmm!) I have changed! I guess so. I used to be very much nervous when I first started performing on the stage but then I realized that being scared affected my performance and my vocal was shaky and weak. I gave up being nervous and scared and started performing well. All the three judges gave me good remarks and in fact it was they who brought me back. Today, I have been told that I am the favourite of the entire nation. It is so great. I am treated like a celebrity everywhere I go. My friends call me and tell me that they are no longer as good as me, which hurts me deeply. I still love spending time with them.

Q. How has the pressure been like? It has been very hectic for you.

A. Yes, it has been very hectic but since the prayers and support of everyone was with me, I did not feel much pressure. There were times that I cried but that were more out of emotion than anything else.

Q. So what will you be doing in the future?

A. We have been signed for two year contract and we will be performing in the United States and other countries including in the cities of India. Presently, we have been recording for Pritam Sir’s new Album.

Q. Won’t you be coming back to Darjeeling? You have missed a lot of classes.

A. Yes, I will be going to Darjeeling after the grand finale on the 5^th of April. I can’t predict the right date though. I have been promoted to Class Eight and I hope to go back to school.

Q. Do you like to study or work on your career?

A. I think I am very young now to work on my career. I would like to study. However, I would also like to keep on performing all over the world.

Q. Now for a serious question…It seems that the Judges always mistreated you and singled you out for bad performance and lack of talent. How did you feel?

A. I do not feel bad about the Judges, since their comments must have been valid and there must have been shortcomings in my vocal itself. It was the Judges who brought me back through wild card entry. I am grateful to them. I have taken this up as a challenge and I will work really hard to improve and better myself. Since this is the first time that I have been in a competition like this, I have learnt a great many lessons. I will work very hard and excel.

Q. True! Since you are just a teenage and having won over the heart of the nation and the world indeed, you have a lot to look ahead. You have been the favourite of the nation and receiving the highest vote till date. If it were not for the 50-50 Vote-Judges Verdict you could have become the Chhote Ustaad. We on our part through the Himalayan Beacon (Beacon Online) had been feverishly voting for you and your fans from all over the Globe have commented favourably for you in this forum. Do you have anything to say to them?

A. First of all, I would like to thank you and all those who voted through Beacon Online. I did not know about it but I was told by Mr. Bishal Rai here in New Delhi. We did not know about internet voting either and in fact, somebody told us that while everyone were using their mobile phones to vote, a lot of people were voting for me for free on the internet. I am very grateful for all those who voted for me in the internet and encouraged me.

On the behalf of the readers of The Himalayan Beacon (Beacon Online), Darjeeling Times (Online Edition) and Darjeeling Times Dot Com (Monthly Newsmagazine), I would like to congratulate you on your wonderful rise as a celebrity. Certainly, you are the youngest Gorkha celebrity in the world. You have presented yourself in a charming yet dignified manner and the entire community as such is proud of you. You have extremely good potential and you will rise up to the highest rung of success in future. We are waiting for you to arrive in Darjeeling so that we could felicitate you and show you our appreciation. Please keep up the good work.

A. Thank you very much. I would like to thank you personally for all that you have done for me. I would also like to thank everyone through my heart.

One on One with Prakriti Giri’s Paternal Aunt

Q. First of all I would like you to clarify on the controversy that seems to have arisen over the comments made by you on the Amul Voice of India Chhote Ustad.

A. Yes, and thank you for the opportunity. After the Bhopal episode, I had been asked to quit by almost everyone I knew. In fact, Prakriti’s father back in Darjeeling was so upset that he asked me to return back home with Prakriti. But I was not ready to quit. Mr. Gajendra Singh asked me and I told him that I had been asked to quit, yet I was not open to the idea. Of course, I was hurt by the judges by the way they treated and commented on Prakriti during the Bhopal episode and previously. During the Jaipur Episode, we knew that Prakriti will be eliminated and hence I had asked the host of the show to give me a chance to speak out and say something. In fact, the entire unit had been angered by the way the Judges had lashed on to Prakriti. When I ultimately got the chance, I got on the stage and told the judges that since we were Gorkhas we did not quit or back up from any challenge. We are very happy with Prakriti’s achievement and having come from a small town of Darjeeling and reaching out here is great. I only want to request the Judges that in future when they make comments they should take in care the psychology of the child before doing so. These children may be greatly talented but yet they are only children and this show is essentially for children. Since, I am myself a Bal Vikash Teacher; I have been a great devotee of Sai Baba. We have been taught to start the game and fight till the end.

Q. But was it easy for you to ultimately speak up your mind?

A. It was not. Both Prakriti and I had been representing our people and to act irresponsibly would not have suited me. I did not want to quit either because that would have set a bad impression on all of us. It would have also been bad for Prakriti as she had been working very hard. I wanted us to go out with a bang because Prakriti had already won. She was declared the Jaipur Queen and still receiving the highest number of voting.

Q. So you ultimately spoke up?

A. Yes! It is the people who make celebrity. The people have increasingly voted for Prakriti. And it is not just Gorkhas from around the Hills. People from around the nation and globe voted for her irrespective of their race, caste or creed. They simply have been overwhelmed by Prakriti and love her. The Judges know best about the technicalities of singing and music but they should also respect the verdict of the general people.

Ultimately, it was these people who made the Judges, what they are today. They should not be so hard on the children.

Q. How has things been with Prakriti? Has she been able to cope up with this?

A. Yes! She has taken everything on a stride. I had asked her to shed not a single tear when her elimination would be announced. And she did exactly that. She smiled and did not shed a tear. She has handled the pressure wonderfully.

Q. Are you with her most of the time?

A. Yes, I am with her most of the time. I accompany her even during her rehearsals. It has been hectic and she had all along worked very hard.

Q. What kind of supports have you been receiving?

A. We have supports pouring in from everywhere. Sai devotees in Delhi, Mumbai and everywhere we went supported us and looked after us. Our people voted for Prakriti and there have been tremendous interest on how she has been doing. When we were in Mumbai, Mr. Biren Paudyal met us and Prakriti’s news was continuously published in their paper. In fact, there have been tremendous interest and we would be overwhelmed with phone calls.

Q. When will you be coming back to Darjeeling?

A. After the grand finale, we will be leaving for Darjeeling. I cannot say exactly as to when but it should be between 11^th and 12^th of April.

Q. Thank you very much for talking with me and please offer my heartfelt congratulations on a job well done. We have tremendous hope on Prakriti and she had made all of us extremely proud. You have yourself acted in such dignity that Gorkha women have now been set in very high standards. Both of you have achieved a lot.

A. Thank you very much indeed. We were told of your hard work in bring together people in favour of Prakriti. I would like to thank you and everyone who voted and prayed for Prakriti. I would also like to thank everyone back home who stood by us all the way. We are extremely touched and very very grateful. Thank you very very much.

Released through YouTube by Bishal Rai