Nine-year-old Binita Chhetri from Assam has made history by becoming the first contestant from Northeast India to reach the Grand Finale of Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) 2025, ultimately securing the remarkable third position on one of the world’s biggest talent stages.
While the British audience, judges, and global fans showered the young dance prodigy with a standing ovation, her spectacular achievement on the international stage appears to have been met with a noticeable, and some critics say, disheartening silence across mainstream media and national platforms in her own country.
Binita, who hails from Bokajan in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, captivated millions with her breathtakingly agile and powerful dance routines. Her journey from a small town in the Northeast to the BGT final—a feat no other Indian solo performer has achieved—is a compelling narrative of grit, talent, and a father’s unwavering support.
“Dancing her way to glory. Her performances have mesmerised audiences from the Brahmaputra to the Thames and made us all proud,” acknowledged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a congratulatory post on X. Local and regional media outlets in the Northeast have championed her cause, celebrating her as a symbol of the region’s artistic prowess.
However, beyond this regional recognition, the news of the nine-year-old’s extraordinary performance as the second runner-up in a major international competition has struggled to gain traction on national news headlines or secure the prominent front-page coverage typically reserved for international Indian achievements.
“When athletes win medals or singers from other parts of the country succeed globally, the nation stops and celebrates. Why is the achievement of a young girl from the Northeast, performing on a platform as big as BGT, reduced to a mere footnote?” questioned a prominent cultural commentator in Guwahati.
Binita’s success, which placed her above several seasoned international acts, is being hailed by the Gorkha community and residents of the Northeast as a powerful moment of representation. Her innocent dream—to win and buy a “pink princess house”—along with her incredible talent, resonated deeply with the international audience.
The disparity in the attention received highlights an ongoing debate about the visibility of talent from Northeast India on the national stage. Binita Chhetri’s triumph is a global win for India, and many hope that her spectacular performance will serve as a wake-up call, demanding that the nation celebrate its brightest stars, regardless of their geographical origin.
The young star is scheduled to return home soon, with her regional supporters planning a grand welcome, a celebration that will hopefully inspire a broader national recognition of her truly historic feat.
