Doctors declared her dead at birth, today she's KBC-11's winner
The 11th edition of Kaun Banega Crorepati is sure having its moments. Just recently, the show had a woman from MP who could have become its first crorepati of the season. It's now making headlines for hosting another woman, whose gritty tale is being hailed as an inspiration by all. Physically-challenged since birth, she went home with Rs. 12.5L. Here's her story.
Noopur Singh, a native of Bighapur in Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, was declared dead by the doctors, until a relative noticed signs of life in her. However, those few minutes of delay in her post-birth care rendered her physically challenged for life. That did not defeat her spirit, though. Today, 29 years later, she sits opposite Amitabh Bachchan, battling a volley of questions.
On the show, she answered a total of 12 questions, and collected a prize money of Rs. 12.5L, impressing its host and also audiences. Born to a farmer, Ramkumar Singh and a homemaker, Kalpana Singh, Noopur sure did not have a luxurious life. But, she went on to clear "the B.Ed entrance test in the first attempt," says the mother, gleaming with pride.
"Noopur, despite her disability, has always been a good student. She was on the merit list in Intermediate (Class-XII). Today, she teaches children in a play group, and also gives free education to Class 10 students," says Kalpana. She further said that whenever the country's most celebrated game show was telecast on TV, her daughter would always answer questions earlier than the contestants did.
"When this season began, we asked her to apply and she was selected. Our happiness knew no bounds when she ended up winning Rs. 12.5L," she said. When asked if Noopur has forgiven those doctors responsible for her disability, Kalpana says that the 29-year-old holds no grudge against them. "She says that it was her destiny and she doesn't blame anyone," the mother said.
Before Noopur's episode, KBC 11 had one of its most interesting guests. A labor inspector from Madhya Pradesh, Charna Gupta was on the hot seat, who was attempting the 15th question, which was worth Rs. 1 crore, making her Season 11's first contestant to reach this level. However, she bowed out before taking the leap, and went home with Rs. 50 lakh.
The question that Charna didn't attempt was, "In 1944, the Battle of Kanglatongbi was fought near which present day Indian state capital?" The options were: Itanagar, Imphal, Guwahati, and Kohima. (Though, dear makers, Guwahati isn't technically a capital). Having exhausted all her lifelines, and being constantly reminded by Bachchan of the same, Charna looked slightly under-confident, covering her mouth with hand.
After Bachchan asked, "Lock karein, quit karein, kya karein," Charna decided to bow out of the show. She received a Rs. 50 lakh prize money, amid applause and cheers, with Bachchan acknowledging, "Well played," a nod to her confidence. However, after quitting the show, on Bachchan's insistence, she did try the last question, and her answer, that is Imphal, turned out be true!
