Thanks to the enormous support I have received from the readers of RTDM, my blog has been voted Indiblog of the Year and Most Humorous Indiblog of 2006 at the Indibloggies.
Here are the results.
I started out intending to invoke the Gods of the RTDM pantheon (Mithunda, Dada, Chappell, Sushma Swaraj etc) in order to make my point. Just like I had last time when I lost. But sometimes, when, in the words of the great Govinda, you get into the “emotional ho gya yaar” frame of mind, it is better to say it straight (as corporate India would say: direct dil se) than take recourse to the indirection of humour.
One of the main reasons I started blogging was to connect with people of similar interests, people whom I otherwise would never come face-to-face with in the course of my life. And if there is anything that getting a popular award like the Indibloggies confirms, it is that I now have a big circle of such “friends”: people who care enough about what’s in the blog to take time off from their lives to read and comment. And even vote.
Honest to God, that, as a blogger, feels good.
Does this reveal a childish desire for approbation? Well that’s your call.
I wouldn’t want to continue endlessly with “maine suit silwana bandh kar di” (incidentally a line from the most heartfelt acceptance speech EVER delivered by Dharam paaji at the Filmfares) ramblings about my life. Instead I would like to conclude with a massive, Mithunian “Ayeee Salaaaa” shout-out to *all* my commenters. And not just to the erudite debaters of all political hues and tastes who add value and depth to the posts, but also to the ones who are “different” : the multiple identity-wallahs, those who type in caps and consider Himesh as their “JANUM 4 LIFE” , those who come searching for DPS Dhamaka clips and then ask for the clips to be sent to them, the Bhojpuri poet who posts his poems as comments and those who mail me thinking I am Himesh Reshammiya himself.
All of you make me want to be a better blogger.
Thank you.
Congrats, Arnab! You deserve it. Keep blogging!
You blog is ausumn…you deserve both the awards..
Congratulations !!
Biggs
Congratulations! Really happy for you..
Congrats Arnab!!!
Congratulations!
Here’s to more JSTOR essays.
Congratulations, GB. As you note visually in this post…its a distinguished and dangerous burden to bear.
Joy to the world, Greatbong has won…!
Congratulations!!
Congrats! you deserve the honors.
Congrats Great Bong…
U really deserve that ….
Thanks,
Tarzan
I checked the final tally just now. You won convincingly in the “indiblog of the year” category; In the “humorous blog” category, the others might as well have dropped out of the race, you thumped them big time. Good show!
YAHOO!!
Feel like I won :))
COngratulations!!
Congrats Arnab…aashce bochor aabar hobe
Congrats, Arnab.
congrats Arnab.
I must tell you that this is the first time that someone for whom I voted has won
Congratulations Arnab. Well deserved. Keep rocking!
Hey congratulations GB.
You richly deserve it.
Congratulations GB for double victory!! How is the picture of “Mithun with bakra” related? I expected a Laloo’s victory photo (as a sequel to the one you had in your blog titled ‘Please vote for me’).
congrats……
by the blassings of prabhu ji, you have finally made it. Now no need for him to come and do a do,char,chheh,aath,dus..BAS!! act again….
Congrats. As if you needed an award to tell you how good you are hehehe :D.
Suyog
PS: I personally find Indibloggies awards, similar to Oscars : a piece of junk.
Congratulations, Arnab! You do deserve it!
Congrats dude, keep those updates coming.
Many congratulations, Arnab. Keep it simple, unpretentious and funny. Way to go!
Arnab:
Congrats, if it really means that much to you. I like your blog very much but should you be in this race at all. It reminds me of all the TV shows where the public gets to vote and invariably the most deserving lose out. Winning this might be a slap in the face, if you know what I mean. Reading the comments on indiblog leads one to presume that the same shit is going on here - readers sending duplicate votes, spoofing votes, etc. You do a good job blogging, so unless this gives you more ad revenues, stay out of it next time.
Keep up the great job!
Hey GB, Congrats! Its a treat to read your blogs, whatever be the subject (humour,social,political or sports)!Hope to see much more from you this year !
Rick
Hearty congrats GB. Now i completely believe that you are a south indian.
Hey Arnab,
Congrats mate, you deserved it. 2 Bloggies in the same year ..:) Keep it up ..
Cheers,
Yuvraj
Congratulations!!!! Now we need Ganguly to pick up man of the series in CWC’07 and we have the perfect year for bongs around the world!!
Congratulations.
Hey Arnab !!!
All the best….err…I mean for the next year.
Hearty congratulations !!!
You more than deserved the awards. 
Congratulations ! It was a foregone conclusion, as your blog really is the best of all.
Congratulatoins.. the margins say it all!
Congrats!!! But prize or no prize, this has been the best blog for me for the last couple of years
Faatiye diyecho, mama! Now here are a few suggestions with your acceptance speech…
“Shudhi bondhuborgo, RTDM-r ei joye shudhu matro amaar ekaar joy noye. Ei joy protyek boktobbodhari Bangali-r joy. Ei joy protyek montobbokaari Bangali-r joy. Ei joy protyek bangokaari Bangali-r joy. Aar porer bochor apnader sohanubhuti ar sorkari sahajjo pele ami abaar jitbo!
Joy Bangla! Joy Sourav Ganguly! Joy Chanar Jilipi. Joy Gourango Chokkotti!”
Byapok khobor!!! office shobar PC te giye vote kora sharthok!@!! Jiyo… AASHCHE BOCHOR ABAR HOBE!! Fatiye dao… kauke chero naa…
CONGRATS!!!! Terrific!
Yourfan writes:
@GB:Congratulations!!!! Do we, the yourfans get prizes or at least a treat?
Congrats GB! With blessings of guruji, it is time to dance dance
Congrats Arnab
Congrats, mishtii khawaatey hobe kintu.
Congrats Arnabda …
One question -
Where’s the party tonight ????
Congrats , GB.
Congrats Arnab!
Congratulations Arnab,
you won the contest by a landslide!!!
@joyjit-Byapok khobor!!! office shobar PC te giye vote kora sharthok!@!! Jiyo… AASHCHE BOCHOR ABAR HOBE!! Fatiye dao… kauke chero naa…
Congrats GB, but comments like one i have pasted above presents a bad picture of the whole process, Its so much similar to the telly shows where the most deserving loose due to the silly voting process.
“And if there is anything that a popular award like the Indibloggies confirms is that I now have a big circle of such “friendsâ€: people who care enough about what’s in the blog to take time off from their lives to read and comment. And even vote.”
It also proves that not many people are using gmail and its spam filter.
I couldnt vote because I never got a confirmation mail and just the other day a mail from Debasish that gmail puts such mails in the spam folder.
http://greatbong.net/2007/02/13/please-vote-for-me/#comment-128198
Remember, I predicted your win
Hearty congrats and keep rocking!!
Yourfan writes:
@GB: Although I have already congratulated you, I forgot to say one thing. Since most of your fans , readers and detractors are online ones you don’t have to worry for a thing and won’t have to ask for your wife’s help - throw a huge party tonight @ online!!!!!
What is the dress code?
@Amit Varma, Yourfan2, Biggs, Pratyush, S, Teleute, Aspi, Rima,Giri, Tarzan, Ink, Rishi, Patrix,Urmilesh, Confused, Oi, Anirudhb, Suyog,Sudipta, Footballnath, Naiverealist, S.Pyne, Rick, Yuvraj, SKDB, Rahul, deBoLIN, Jhingalala, Amit Das, Dodo, Raj, Bhopale,Prabhu, JM, Sriny, Ritzy, Sriram: THANK YOU.
@Amit: Laloo is for before election. After election, Laloo vanishes eating fodder. Only Mithun-da performs day-in and day-out.
@Soumya: No it is not for adsense sir. I do not say I am deserving…I understand the limitations of such awards. But what to say,feels good to be appreciated.
@Kishor: My friend, I am honored. Thank you for your support.
@Rahul: Why just Bangla?
@Joyjit: I really do not think that was necessary. Better not to do it in future. Please.
@Yourfan: Of course you do. Needless to say,according to some, treating the yourfans is a self-treat but we will let that pass. As for party, dont we have that all the time here at RTDM…as for dress code….full jhinchaak “waoooooooooooo” Gunmaster G9 attire.
@Dipanwita: Owe all of you that.
@Kartik: Down the road as SRK and Karan Johar make love in front of fire.
@Anon: Indeed it does. Pity.
Congrats Bondhu!!!
I am elated!
I would like to say that you and I and many others here have a lot of similarities in terms of our thinking, sense of humor and concerns. Your blog gives a lot of happiness to me and lets me express myself too.
Now it is party time!!
A huge congratulations for winning this one!
Humorous blog - There was no doubt you would win.:-)
Best Indiblog - A very pleasant surprise!
Congrats once more.
Congratulations
Lets hope a time comes when you voluntarily ask blog award organizers to leave you out from the category to give a chance to other hopefuls, ala Lata Mangeshkar.
Thanks for the posts and may more pagan Gods of humour and satire infest your very soul and mind so that contagion prevails on thy fervently fanatic fans. Amen !
GB,
Congrats for double whammy. Though I confess I voted for Atanu Dey (for best indiblog category). Ofcourse your victory in the humour category was assured, I think from next time you should be disallowed in humour category, it just kills the competition.
PS Also remember that your win was possible because I was not there
GB: Congrats and nice acceptance speech too! I haven’t read any other blog which were nominated (I have read a bit of India Uncut, found him pompous and just random links), only blog I read regularly apart from yours is Scott Adams’, so I can’t say whether you deserved to win the award or not, but if there was another blog which deserved more than yours I would surely like to read that. Anyway, congrats and keep blogging.
Oh, despite voting for you, I do reserve the right to disagree with you on a case by case basis
Congrats Arnabda. You are da man!
Hi GB, Congratulations!
As you said, the blogging process itself is well worth the effort. However it must feel good to be recognized in a formal way. Have you considered collating and publishing selected aticles? Most of the articles being current maynot fit in with the “book” mode, but there are everlasting gems such as “Mithunism” etc which definitely make the cut.
Keep up the great work. Looking forward for more and more of your gyan.
-Vamsi.
@kishor
who did gyan and richie vote for?
I am voting for you next time. Your humour is so humerous that my mind boggleth.
the readermeter says 1024. late at night it says 923.
votes gathered 539 for most humerous blog, and
381 for the blog of the year.
judge said he voted out double votes and what not (this election-commissioner disease is very catching sort of a thing, must be).
so, alimuddin shtyle, I want to know WHO DID NOT VOTE?
must install spyware that will cast chhappa vote from evry IP that visits this blog.
time biman-buddha and sector v in salt lake did something for the bengali-bred south indian arnab.
Congrats on winning the award Arnabda! Papads for all your supporters!!!
Ayee Sala!!
Akkha life mein pahli bar vote dala aur apna candidate jeet gaya.
Congrats GB!!
Congrats.. GB.
Ayeee Saaala.. Apun ko award milaa, kyaaa ?
Congrats GB!!!
A celebration post is well deserved …
in return for all the trouble taken in voting for several other/vague categories in which there was NO interest
…ONLY to vote for RTODM
congrats and keep up the good work
ur one awesome entertainer@!!!!!
Congrats GreatBong, you rock
Now getting down to business, when are you digging the well in my village
Duuude…congrats! I’m somehow extremely happy!
Congratulations, a well deserved win! Discovered your blog only recently, but have found it a refreshing change. I am particularly happy since I voted for you too
Congrats Arnab, looking forward to more . A deserved win no doubt. Chaliye jao Guru.
Congratulations Arnab! Well Deserved!
Congrats! keep writing…..
thank God i could vote , missed last time . i badly wanted u to win.
CONGRATS !
Congrats Great Bong da!
hahaha..” wouldn’t want to continue endlessly with “maine suit silwana bandh kar di†(incidentally a line from the most heartfelt acceptance speech EVER delivered by Dharam paaji at the Filmfares)” ..
Gems like this is what makes your blog top of the pops
brought back memories of dharam paaji’s never ending speech on that fateful day when he won the filmfare award for lifetime achievement.
Great going and we’ll keep coming back for more!
won the contest ?
feeling good ?
one line to say..
you knew you would !!!
KIshor’s vote must have been the turning point for u.
aah…Congratulations!!!!
Hope we get more brilliant posts throughout the year!
Cheers,
HP
Bongo da Congrats. Keep it going . Great work
Congrats…though it was a foregone conclusion
Arnab, I see I am rather late in congratulating you publicly, though I did do do in private.
However, I must mention this. I have really yet to read another Indian blog that is such a happy mix of humour, social commentary, and sports as yours is. I may not agree with you all the time, and we both know that there are certain aspects where we have sharply differing tastes, but that never stops me from enjoying what you write, even if it is only to disagree. But I am happy that in most cases my thoughts do exho yours, just not as cogently or lyrically.
Also, this is one blog where the blogger actually writes interesting stuff, as opposed to being a medium to pass on links with pithy alliterations appended. Therefore, your win is especially deserved. Preternatural pleasure pulsates palpably!
Here’s to many more years of worshipping Prabhuji and supporting Dada!
Cheers!
Congrats man. I am not surprised. Keep it up. It’s one those things I have got used to reading like, say, your favourite newspaper and Ludlum
Congratulations GB. Your posts are great. I don’t always agree with you but it provokes you to think. It’s a deserved win.
If critics say that you blog for Adsense, stuff them.I am sure you didn’t start out thinking you will earn money through blogging.If you do anyway,well good for you.You invest a lot of thinking into this blog.Time you got a little ROI.Or maybe no thinking’d required,cause thay ARE “Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind”.
Eibhabei amader anondo dite theko……
>> as opposed to being a medium to pass on links with pithy alliterations appended.
Was this a dig on Amit Verma
Congrats GreatBong. I have always liked your posts though not commented much. What makes me proud is, tumi only Bangali Blogger je bodhoy nominated hoycho ar award peyecho. Eto kom Bangali Blogger ache, je it makes me really really happy
congratulations!
you deserve it. had a look at the statistics too for both your categories.. highly impressive.
as abhishek would say: ‘tulsi behen ek nahi.. do’.
Hi Varsha, u are true. This time, all the 50 crores of south indians voted for GB.
Hi Anonymous, Gnan is a detached person and does not bother about earthly things like voting. Richie is a foreigner and does not like India, so no voting for him too. Anyway, plz suggest a nice name for my blog so that u can vote next time for me.
Coz it’s in your name, my friend!
congratulations Arnab & keep up the great job !
Dear Arnab
Congratulations on your victory.
I have disagreed with some of your posts and at times misunderstood your posts as well. But, among all the blogs I read, you are one of the most honest bloggers. Keep blogging and hope to see you becoming a celebrated writer.
Yourfan writes:
@Kishore: Whoever you are I find you interesting though at times you annoy me with your comments.
congratulations!!! your blo is a great discovery for us.
Jai and Bee
Congrats - you kicked ass in both categories.
Congratulations! I am immensely happy for you. I am reading your posts for almost two years now and visiting RTDM everyday has become a part of my daily schedule. Never stop writing.
You deserve it sir…that I know.
What I don’t know is where on earth (or elsewhere) do u manage to dig out those pics of the demi god Mithun da.
Hi
congratulations.
i do have one grouse though… i know u did do a post on why you chose this name for your blog and how it is not supposed to be construed as great”bong”.. but what’s with all the bengali comments which no one else can understand and the “i’m so happy that u were the only bengali nominated and the one who won”…. kinda dilutes the effect dont you think..
and yeah, i know it’s not you but people who comment, but they all seem to be people who comment regularly and will probably listen to what you have to say…
its not very nice sometimes… the whole inclusive bengali spirit…
sorry, not to take away from your joy in winning… but it had to be said.
madhu
@shadow : Why man u unhappy that your hero Amit verma didnt win? Anyway he didnt do a post to congratulate. Arnab did last yr. says a lot.
@Captain Haddock : So are we having that special celebration hate drink together?
Kudos. Actually I saw the other blogs for the first time now. Next year winner: Krish- too good. 
@Arnab - The election :total no contest. Do u enjoy such one sided competitions?
@GB: Like Shan, my private congrats have reached you before the public one. Hats off to you for simply amazing work, and my compliments to the excellent group of commenters that it is so much fun to be part of. Cheers and kudos, all, every single one of you. And, I also doff my hat to Amit Varma for having the grace to be the first to publicly congratulate GB.
Many congratulations Arnab and in the words of great Yoda “MAY THE DEMENTIA BE WITH YOU”.
More glory awaits you blogosphere my friend.
Congratulations! I am looking forward to many more of your blogs to follow.
Congratulations GB Dada!! The results were just a matter of confirmation for me, since I had a gut feeling that you were going to win the humorous blog of the year hands down. And I wish you do it every year from now. If your random thoughts are so potent, the organized thoughts will be too much for mere mortals like me. Keep them flowing Dada. It’s not you who has to thank us, but we, the readers who have to thank you. Here it goes then.. From all of us who have been reading RTDM, sometimes agreeing with what GB has to say, sometimes disagreeing and sometimes agreeing to disagree, a big THANK YOU! to GB dada.. Keep inking!!
Congratulations Arnab. I was incommunicado for a couple of days, but I knew you would win in both categories, even without the support of South India.
Great stuff, GB. Wear your badge proudly
@Kishor: This short film is part of the celebrations. Especially for you, Chiranjeevi and Gnan — Enjoy!
@yourfan2: A tribute to Sergio Leone here…
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3003394807093908832
Congrats Arnab….
I am sure ur sitemeter would tell you more than what the awards tell u ..
keep up the good work ..
congrats GB!
Congratulations Arnab!
Congrats, GreatBong! I don’t read too many blogs on a regular basis, so I may not be really qualified to say who’s the best on the Indian blogosphere. Yours is one of the very few blogs I check out frequently. I am sorry I didn’t vote at all this time, nevertheless great writing. Inspires me to write better:).
The last time I congratulated you a little early, I don’t know I must have mistaken one of the nominations for the announcement.
Congratulations Arnab !! You deserve it. Hope to read ,much more of you in the future.
Oh and you won without my vote..I tried to vote but this system wouldn’t let me….my apologies..for not trying again.
aiyeee salaaaa back to you. Congratulations!
You may enjoy watching these:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dbtnnoZ9clw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BE-k6eVdng4&mode=related&search=
You deserved to win..congratulations!!
Hey Arnab,
Congratulations!
Been a lurker for a long time - enjoyed your writing immensely. Keep going
Congrats.
Congrats Arnab….. a well deserved win. Keep up the great blogging
GB, in humour-you are in your own league. You surely deserved to win. Congrats.
Congratulations!!
Keep on blogging.
Balle Balle! Shaava Shaava! Congrats!!
GB,
Oh my God!!!!
This is the first time I vote and the person wins……
My luck is changing……..
Now I want Sushma Swaraj to be the PM
Congrats Arnab,Though of diametrically opposite Political views,U have a great sense of humour and Keep blogging so that lesser mortals like me can keep reading…….
Congrats again.
And if Google buys you out,Please send me a couple of Million $$$,,,I need it pretty badly
Regards
K…..
Congratulations. I think this means as much to your blog-fans as it does to you. Glad to have done my part in helping you win. Now return the favor and keep dishing out the good stuff.
Congrats Guruji…… and double Blogscars too!
May you blog a thousand lifetimes!
I think I love this blog for no other reason than your invocation of Dharmendra’s Lifetime Achievement Award speech!
Congratulations!
Hey Arnab,
I voted for u and now that u’ve won, I think I can demand that u keep up the good work. Keep giving us fodder for our brains!!!
Hi Arnab,
I take pride in saying that I have taken the lead in a country like Holland to tell the rest of Bengalee and non Bengalee educated families to follow your post regularly. Now you have pretty big fan following here in this really small country.
I really wish you keep up with pace so that we can have some fun in our day to day busy life.
thanks
@GB - time to get back to work now.
just woken up from hibernation … i see that you have won and everything is all right with the world .. congratulations! … must … sleep … now ..
Congrats !!
… and now will you be unlike the average politician… and keep working even after the victory..
Congrats..You deserved it.
Congrats GreatBong!!! Keep up the good work.
congrats GB, fantastic news. you deserved it.
congrats dude!