Ihad met the softspoken Debojit Saha when Zee announced the top ten for the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge. After talking to him for some time, I realised that the man had a hunger in him that made him go that extra mile to get the highest prize! And God knows that his journey has been a tough one, but he had perhaps set his eyes only on his final goal -- to become India's voice!

Debojit with Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ismail Darbar

Emotional after achieving his goal, Debojit spoke to the media on Saturday night. Here's an excerpt from the interview.

"I will never forget the love that I got from Ismailji"
My guruji was my greatest supporter. He was always there for me. I have received so much love from him that I will be forever grateful. He taught me to never give up! He would be so tense for me!

"I have never hated Vinit!"
When they went on stage and said what they did, I was sad for a while, then I forgave them! I have come here to sing and that's what I am concentrating on! I have never hated Vinit, he's a good singer and I have nothing against him! Infact I had spoken to all of them during the day's shoot itself! Vineet is like a younger brother!

With the winner's trophy

"I wanted to make my mother's dream come true!"
This is the moment when I remember my mother the most! It was my one wish to make her dream come true! I am happy that I could fulfill her dreams. I am very thankful to my wife, Bandana, who supported me through all this. I had started from scratch, when I came down to Mumbai in July 2002, she was a blessing for me!

"Why do you want to divide India"
It's wrong to say that I won because of votes from one part of the country! Why do you want to divide India? India is one, let it be that way!

Debojit with Bandana: the love of my life!

"I was very disturbed about the rumours"
When I heard those rumours, I was really disturbed! I spoke to Gajendra Singh and the other elders and they told me to concentrate on my singing. They told me, "How much can they write about you? People will only remember your singing not the rumours!" I have learnt to concentrate on my singing!


"I am overwhelmed at the response that I have got"
I have got more love than I could have ever imagined! Be it children or adults, the love was overwhelming.