by Subhash K Jha

It must be the most triumphant home-coming ever witnessed by a son of Aasam.

When Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Debojit Saha returned to his roots on Sunday, little did he know what was in store.

"I've never seeen anything like this," says Debojit from his home town Silchar.

"Kya nahin hua hai! I haven't slept for three days. It's all happening because of my guru and guide Ismail Durbarji who's with me. He admits he has never seen anything like this....In Kolkata itself there were huge crowds waiting for me. But nothing had prepared me for what waited for me in my home town Silchar.

There were 10-15 lakh people waiting since early morning from the airport to my home 25 kms away. We landed late . They remained waiting hungry and anxious. I've never dreamt of seeing so many people waiting to see me! My own town has a population of just 8-10 lakhs. But people from other areas like Tripura, Megalaya and Manipur had converged at the airport.

They walked and followed my car all the way. I could see as many people behind my car as in the front. It took me more than seven hours to reach my home. Everywhere I could see only cheering people. I got scared. Anything could've happened."

Debojit is in trance. "Am I a star? I don't know. Lekin pyar bahut milta hai. I don't know about the rest of the world. But I'm told such a thing has never happened in India before."

Debojit is the only musician from Assam since Bhupen Hazarika to be adulated. "People say even he has never been given such adulation. When I said I couldn't go to some of the nearby towns , people came to my home in Silchar and threatened to immolate themselves.

I chose not to sleep in the night to visit them. I visited three nearby towns, spent half an hour singing talking.

People smothered me in their love. I can't tell you how how ecstatic I feel. Ismailji says this is simply madness. Pyar mein pagal hone wali baat hai. Never in wildest dreams had I imagined such adulation."

Debojit returns to Mumbai on Wednesday. "Next I'll perform at the Zee awards in Mauritius. My cup of joy is filled. Ismail Durbarji has made it possible for me. Today I feel so happy. I can give my wife the comforts that I always dreamt of."