/> Dazed delighted and quite disbelieving about his own stupendous success ratio, Manoj Tiwari says the Dutch government's decision to issue a postage stamp with his face on it comes as a complete surprise to him.

Netherlands has a sizeable population of Bhojpuri- speaking North Indians who regard Manoj Tiwari as an icon.

"About a month back I got a call from them saying they needed my picture for a postage stamp. I guided them to my website and gave the matter no serious thought. When I got to know that they had actually issued a stamp with my face in the Netherlands I couldn't believe it.

Two Indian names were put forward for the honour. Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and me. That I was chosen over a man of such stature and seniority fills me with both pride and humility.

For an actor who belongs to a cinema that's seen as a poor country-cousin of Bollywood I feel I've contributed my bit.

I felt all my years of working towards popularizing the Bhojpuri language through films and by other means has paid off," says the Bhojpuri superstar who sang more than 2,000 songs in Bhojpuri from 1996 until acting beckoned with a film called Sasura Bada Paise Wala in 2003.

"A 30-lakh budgeted film made over 20 crore rupees profit. There was no looking back."

The actor, along with Ravi Kissan, has been credited with reviving the Bhojpuri film industry.

"Not just Bhojpuri cinema but I've been toiling tirelessly to promote Bhojpuri all over the world wherever there's sizeable Bhojpuri population, like Maritius and Surinam which is a former Dutch colony.

I feel the postage stamp in Netherlands has a lot to with my popularity and the popularity of the Bhojpuri bhasha among Indians in Surinam and the Netherlands," says the actor in Hindi.

Manoj feels the pride for regional languages is evaporating in the North. " That is why I've opened Bhojpuri academies in various cities all over the world including Surinam.

I feel the Bhojpuri that Indians speak in foreign countries is hybridized and incorrect, " says the actor who proceeds to the Netherlands on 22 May to be honoured in person.

Manoj now sets his eyes on Bhojpuri cinema and language gaining credence all over the world.

"In Mauritius where an Indian population dates back to 150 years I've been a regular visitor. In fact the Bihar chief-minister Nitish Kumar's contingent to Mauritius was accpompanied by me and my contingent.

If I may say so myself, I paved the way for a political dialogue in Mauritius. Unfortunately my work doesn't get the recognition that it deserves."