/> No sooner had singer Udit Narayan's name been mentioned among the possible candidates for the Padma Sri this year than his detractors specially in Bihar, got into gear accusing the singer of being an non-Indian and therefore not eligible for one of the highest civilan honours in the country.

A front page report in Bihar to this effect has Udit seething in protest.

"They are out to malign me and stop me from being given the recognition that the government thinks I deserve by saying I am not an Indian. They say I was born in Nepal. But that's completely false. I was born in a village called Baisi on the Supaul district of Bihar in 1955 at my maternal grandparents' home."

Udit feels this attempt to debar him from the Padma Shri is the handiwork of jealous detractors. "I've been singing for 40 years. I'm as Indian as can be. I've never been involved in any scandal or controversy.

The only time I did get into a scandal (when his alleged first wife in Bihar challenged his second marriage) it was in my own district and engineered by my own Bihari brothers. I'm the most non-controversial guy around.

They 're angry with me because they think I haven't done anything for Bihar. Even during the floods last year I made a quiet donation of Rs 5 lakhs. I don't know why people are out to get me.

Maybe people are jealous. They've no reason to be. I'm not singing that many songs any more. After you sing for 30 years you do trend to slow down and take it easy. Now I want to watch my son Aditya's career."

Aditya, in fact, has composed some songs that he wants Udit Narayan to sing. 'I'd be honoured to sing for my own son. It's the proudest moment for any father.We're a small family, me my wife and son. I just wish people wouldn't try to dampen our spirits."