24/08/2025
Why did I cry that night?
I don't remember watching any episode of Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati from start to end in any season. But recently I saw a candidate on the hot seat from the time first question AB asked her till the time she won Rs one crore and quit.
Fatima from Saharanpur (UP) comes from a middle class family. Her father died a couple of years ago, leaving a grieving family which comprises Fatima, her younger sister and their mother. The man had borrowed a loan of about Rs 12 lakh for education of his daughters mortgaging a piece of his farm land.
After her father's death, Fatima dropped out but allowed her younger sister to continue her education. The family has no other source of income except whatever little they get from the land.
This girl tried for four years to reach the hot seat of KBC. Even after giving audition, she stopped preparing, thinking she would not get a call from KBC to reach Mumbai. But the call came.
I did not cry when she won Rs one crore and AB handed over the cheque though, she said, this was the first time she had received a cheque in her life. AB revealed that his first pay cheque was of Rs 400 and from that Rs 100 was deducted in tax.
I didn't cry even when Fatima's mother said it was because of her daughter's selection and sponsored trip which enabled her to sit in a plane and see Mumbai.
I didn't cry when both mother and daughter admitted the money was enough to pay back the loan.
I cried and wept at the stage in the game when AB asked question and Fatima's right answer took her from Rs a winner of 80,000 to Rs 1,60,000.
The question was: which scholar founded Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College which later became the Aligarh Muslim University? Syed Ahmed was among the four options and it is the correct answer. Fatima didn't think twice and asked AB to lock Syed Ahmed. And she crossed yet another hurdle, winning Rs 1,60,000 much before she finally took Rs one crore home.
At this point my train of thoughts took me to the historic Numaish or Exhibition in Aligarh over 150 years ago. Syed Ahmed who is more popular as Sir Syed put on ghungroo (ankle bells) and participated in a stage play, seeking funds for the college he wanted to make for Muslim children at Aligarh.
It was a desperate move. He had got tired of begging. After all, how many times would he have approached the same friends, seeking help? How many times had he appealed to the name nawabs for donations? Since funds were not sufficient, he planned to participate in a play at the Aligarh numaish. It is said people were moved at the sight of this old, bearded, God-fearing Muslim preparing to even dance on stage just because he wanted to educate children of his quom and the country. Sir Syed's dream of seeing his college turning into a university was fulfilled in 1920 when MAO College became AMU, 22 years after his death in 1898.
Enduring hardships, humiliations and rejections, Sir Syed remained focused to his goal. He wanted Indian Muslims to shake off the inertia which had gripped them after Indians' defeat in the first war of independence (1857). He wanted them to embrace the changes science and technology had brought. He wanted them to learn modern knowledge and develop a scientific temperament.
I cried because the man who created such a beautiful institution died at a friend's place as situation at his home was not conducive.
I cried also because Sir Syed stressed the need to acquire knowledge and here was a girl from a financially distressed family using knowledge in a game which puts your general knowledge to test. By giving right answer to the question--who founded MAO College?--her prize money jumped from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,60,00. And, by the time she quit, Fatima was richer by one crore.
Let Sir Syed not turn in his grave by attempting to malign and assault his beloved chaman--AMU?
