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."

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?

i feel he might have been nepali but now he talks  and acts like indian.

he is a nepali of indian origin i guess

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.

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