Chander Parkash made history on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 as the season’s first crorepati, but his journey ended just before the ultimate prize. The young contestant from Jammu and Kashmir, a UPSC aspirant, walked away with Rs 1 crore after deciding not to risk the Rs 7 crore jackpot question.
In the latest episode of the popular quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Chander was asked the 16th and final question, which could have won him Rs 7 crore.
The question was: “Who was the first recorded child born to English parents in North America in 1587?” The options given were:
A: Virginia Dare
B: Virginia Hall
C: Virginia Coffey
D: Virginia Sink
Unfortunately, Chander had already exhausted all his lifelines by this point and was unsure of the correct answer. Instead of guessing and risking his winnings, he made the wise decision to quit the game. When asked by Amitabh Bachchan if he had a guess, Chander correctly predicted Virginia Dare but admitted it was purely a guess, not based on knowledge.
The correct answer was indeed Virginia Dare, but Chander stood by his decision to walk away with Rs 1 crore. The promo released by the makers of KBC 16 had earlier teased this tense moment, with a caption that read,
“Iss season mein pehli baar pooche gaye 7 Crore ke sawaal ka jawab kya de payenge Chander Prakash? Dekhiye #KaunBanegaCrorepati, kal raat 9 baje sirf #SonyEntertainmentTelevision par.”
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During the episode, Chander shared with Amitabh Bachchan his plans for the Rs 1 crore prize money. A touching moment occurred when he revealed his personal struggles, mentioning that he had undergone seven surgeries, the most recent of which cost him Rs 8 lakh. He also mentioned that he had no health insurance, so he planned to use his winnings to pay off medical loans and help his parents. He expressed his gratitude toward his family, stating,
“I will give the entire amount to my parents. They have sacrificed a lot for me. I will use the money for my
health treatment and to address my financial crisis.”
The Rs 1 crore question that Chander successfully answered before the Rs 7 crore round was: “The largest city in which country is not its capital but a port with an Arabic name that means ‘abode of peace’?” The options were:
A: Somalia
B: Oman
C: Tanzania
D: Brunei
Chander confidently gave the correct answer—Tanzania.
Chander’s performance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 was widely admired by viewers. Despite missing out on the Rs 7 crore jackpot, he left the show with dignity and Rs 1 crore, making him an inspiration to many for his resilience and composure. His journey has become a topic of conversation, with fans lauding his wisdom and humility in choosing to walk away rather than risk everything.
