Voice of India Debojit Saha writes about his birthday and how he will celebrate by singing for his fans...

As a child, it was my mother, Kanonbala Saha, who was always the first person to wish and bless me on my birthdays. My mother is no more and she is the one whom I will miss the most on my birthday this Friday. Without my mother, I always feel a sense of emptiness, no matter how much I am surrounded by people.

This year, the Zee Bangla team in Calcutta — for whom I am anchoring the musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa — threw a surprise pre-birthday party for me.

Actually, I had forgotten that my birthday was around the corner and that I will be away from Calcutta, where I am currently camping for the shooting, on that day. In fact, I will be performing at a concert at Barpeta in Assam on November 17. Hence the pre-birthday celebration.

And a grand party it was. The entire Sa Re Ga Ma Pa team and my wife Vandana, who had accompanied me to the studio that day, gathered around me as I cut the huge cake. We had an awesome time. Since Vandana, too, will be away on my birthday, it was our chance to snatch a few moments together.

This will also be my first birthday after winning the Voice of India title. And what better way to celebrate this day than perform for my fans in my home state, who helped me win the contest. This will certainly be a special birthday for me. I am eagerly looking forward to the day.

Birthdays also remind me of my childhood days in Silchar. My schoolfriends were usually the first to drop in to wish me. My mother used to serve them home-made delicacies, the taste of which still lingers.

But as I grew older, my birthdays became a quiet affair. Nothing much happened except for a few friends who never forgot to wish me, and my family members, who always had a present ready. After meeting Vandana, my birthdays became slightly different. She has this uncanny knack for remembering each and every special day.

Perhaps, it was all the love, wishes and blessings, which I received over all these years that ultimately culminated in my winning the title.

Birthdays are a reminder that a person is growing up. Growth, not only in terms of age, but also in terms of work and maturity.

I am happy for everything I have received in life, for the kind of adulation which I had never even dreamt of. I want to dedicate my birthday to my fans, who have always stood by me.