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| Sushil Kumar: What the real Slumdog Millionaire did next | Sushil Kumar: What the real Slumdog Millionaire did next |
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| By Rajini Vaidyanathan BBC News, Motihari, Bihar | By Rajini Vaidyanathan BBC News, Motihari, Bihar |
| He was dubbed the real Slumdog millionaire after he became the first person to win the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Like the hero of the Oscar-winning film, Sushil Kumar used his wits to win a fortune - but one year on, his life has changed only a little. | He was dubbed the real Slumdog millionaire after he became the first person to win the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Like the hero of the Oscar-winning film, Sushil Kumar used his wits to win a fortune - but one year on, his life has changed only a little. |
| There are many ways you can spend a cool million dollars, but as he leads me into the corner of a dusty shed, Sushil Kumar shows me the first thing he splashed out on. | There are many ways you can spend a cool million dollars, but as he leads me into the corner of a dusty shed, Sushil Kumar shows me the first thing he splashed out on. |
| "This is my generator," he says, beaming at his $500 purchase. "We get power cuts here for as long as four hours every day. Before I couldn't watch the news and my favourite TV programmes, but now I have this there's no problem." | "This is my generator," he says, beaming at his $500 purchase. "We get power cuts here for as long as four hours every day. Before I couldn't watch the news and my favourite TV programmes, but now I have this there's no problem." |
| It was in fact his favourite television programme, which ushered Sushil Kumar into India's millionaire's club. | It was in fact his favourite television programme, which ushered Sushil Kumar into India's millionaire's club. |
| A year ago, the world watched as the government office clerk from Bihar, one of India's poorest states, became the first contestant to scoop the top prize of 50 million Rupees ($1m) on Kaun Banega Crorepathi? (Who wants to be a millionaire?) | A year ago, the world watched as the government office clerk from Bihar, one of India's poorest states, became the first contestant to scoop the top prize of 50 million Rupees ($1m) on Kaun Banega Crorepathi? (Who wants to be a millionaire?) |
| Before his appearance on the show, Sushil, a psychology graduate, was earning little more than $100 a month. By answering 13 questions correctly, he pocketed more than he would have earned in 800 years. | Before his appearance on the show, Sushil, a psychology graduate, was earning little more than $100 a month. By answering 13 questions correctly, he pocketed more than he would have earned in 800 years. |
| The story made headlines around the world, because it was almost identical to the plot of the film Slumdog Millionaire, where a man from a humble background hits the jackpot on the quiz show. In the film you don't find out how it changed the hero's life - but you get the sense there is going to be a transformation. | The story made headlines around the world, because it was almost identical to the plot of the film Slumdog Millionaire, where a man from a humble background hits the jackpot on the quiz show. In the film you don't find out how it changed the hero's life - but you get the sense there is going to be a transformation. |
| At Sushil's house in the town of Motihari, a fading, slightly dog-eared picture of the show's host, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is taped to the wall - one of the few visible reminders of events a year ago. | At Sushil's house in the town of Motihari, a fading, slightly dog-eared picture of the show's host, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is taped to the wall - one of the few visible reminders of events a year ago. |
| The family home is very basic. Each of the four main rooms has a double bed, in the corner of one is a small television. It's here he lives with his wife, his mother and father, four brothers, two sisters-in-law and one child - 11 in all. | The family home is very basic. Each of the four main rooms has a double bed, in the corner of one is a small television. It's here he lives with his wife, his mother and father, four brothers, two sisters-in-law and one child - 11 in all. |
| "Because we live in a very small town, my economic problems have been solved 100%," he says. "I feel it's a miracle nothing less. It's God's blessing." | "Because we live in a very small town, my economic problems have been solved 100%," he says. "I feel it's a miracle nothing less. It's God's blessing." |
| Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Sushil shows me another one of his purchases, his first ever computer, a small tablet. Last week he bought a scooter, the only vehicle he owns, even though he has enough money for several high-end sports cars. | Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Sushil shows me another one of his purchases, his first ever computer, a small tablet. Last week he bought a scooter, the only vehicle he owns, even though he has enough money for several high-end sports cars. |
| Ask him why he's not spent extravagantly since his win, and his reply is: "Slowly, slowly, I'm spending my money carefully." | Ask him why he's not spent extravagantly since his win, and his reply is: "Slowly, slowly, I'm spending my money carefully." |
| Even the clothes he wears the day we meet are not new, and were part of his wardrobe before the show. So far, he's spent $200,000 of his winnings. | Even the clothes he wears the day we meet are not new, and were part of his wardrobe before the show. So far, he's spent $200,000 of his winnings. |
| The biggest slice of this has gone on a plot of land next door, where work is currently under way to build a nine-room house for the entire extended family. "Each bedroom will have an attached bathroom," he says proudly as he walks me around the site. | The biggest slice of this has gone on a plot of land next door, where work is currently under way to build a nine-room house for the entire extended family. "Each bedroom will have an attached bathroom," he says proudly as he walks me around the site. |
| Sushil says the money has changed him in simple and small ways. He's paid off a brother's debts, bought some jewellery for his wife and put the rest in the bank. | Sushil says the money has changed him in simple and small ways. He's paid off a brother's debts, bought some jewellery for his wife and put the rest in the bank. |
| India is a nation known for its savings culture, and it seems Sushil is living up to the stereotype. He's has taken some financial advice on how to invest the money but has also had plenty of offers from people wanting to spend it for him. | India is a nation known for its savings culture, and it seems Sushil is living up to the stereotype. He's has taken some financial advice on how to invest the money but has also had plenty of offers from people wanting to spend it for him. |
| "Since I won, a lot of people started writing letters to me asking for money, to buy land, to solve their problems, to pay for operations, their house, their children's wedding." | "Since I won, a lot of people started writing letters to me asking for money, to buy land, to solve their problems, to pay for operations, their house, their children's wedding." |
| But Sushil takes a firm line with begging letters. | But Sushil takes a firm line with begging letters. |
| "In our society if you help one, thousands of people start coming and saying they are needy too," he says. | "In our society if you help one, thousands of people start coming and saying they are needy too," he says. |
| "A million is a lot of money but not enough if you start helping people, you'll lose it all in a day." | "A million is a lot of money but not enough if you start helping people, you'll lose it all in a day." |
| Who wants to be an Indian millionaire? | Who wants to be an Indian millionaire? |
| Sushil Kumar answered 13 questions on his way to becoming a millionaire. Can you answer the following selection of six? | Sushil Kumar answered 13 questions on his way to becoming a millionaire. Can you answer the following selection of six? |
| 1.) Multiple Choice Question | 1.) Multiple Choice Question |
| With which part of a computer is the advertising slogan "Intel Inside" associated? | With which part of a computer is the advertising slogan "Intel Inside" associated? |
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| 2.) Multiple Choice Question | 2.) Multiple Choice Question |
| Muammar Gaddafi was the ruler of which country from 1969 to 2011? | Muammar Gaddafi was the ruler of which country from 1969 to 2011? |
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| 3.) Multiple Choice Question | 3.) Multiple Choice Question |
| According to India's 2011-2012 Union Budget, people of which age are considered as a "very senior citizen"? | According to India's 2011-2012 Union Budget, people of which age are considered as a "very senior citizen"? |
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| 4.) Multiple Choice Question | 4.) Multiple Choice Question |
| After Sachin Tendulkar, which Indian batsman has scored the highest number of runs in Test cricket? | After Sachin Tendulkar, which Indian batsman has scored the highest number of runs in Test cricket? |
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| 5.) Multiple Choice Question | 5.) Multiple Choice Question |
| Which investigation agency was founded in 2009 and given special powers to probe terror crimes in India? | Which investigation agency was founded in 2009 and given special powers to probe terror crimes in India? |
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| 6.) Multiple Choice Question | 6.) Multiple Choice Question |
| Which colonial power ended its involvement with India by selling the rights of the Nicobar Islands to the British on 16 October, 1868? | Which colonial power ended its involvement with India by selling the rights of the Nicobar Islands to the British on 16 October, 1868? |
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| Answers | Answers |
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