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Kaun Banega Crorepati 16’s first Adivasi contestant Banti Vadiva says his ‘parents never compromised’ on his education
Banti Vadiva from Asadi village in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, belonging to the Adivasi community, did the unthinkable at Kaun Banega Crorepati 16. The contestant at KBC 16 has reached the ₹1 crore question. He is a BCA graduate and preparing for a Grade 3 position under the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission.
In an interaction with HT, exclusively, Banti talks about his experience of meeting Amitabh Bachchan, his love for learning and the desire to be a role model. (Also read: Exclusive | Kaun Banega Crorepati contestant Nareshi Meena on brain tumor diagnosis: My purpose was to recover cost for…https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tv/exclusive-kaun-banega-crorepati-contestant-nareshi-meena-women-should-get-all-the-opportunities-to-study-101724213718373.html
-Banti Vadiva on his humble beginnings
In an interview, Banti, when asked about his inspiration to gain knowledge and education despite no support and guidance, said, “My parents are not well-educated. They noticed that only a few people in our village are working as professionals. They realised that those who are working have a different lifestyle and are self-sufficient. If someone from a family is working as a professional, it is beneficial for future generations too.”. My parents never compromised on anything regarding my education. They always supported me, as there was nobody to guide me.”
-When asked about his preparation regarding the reality game show and any initial nervousness, Banti says, “I have been preparing for competitive exams since 2017, and I have also been a fan of KBC since then. I used to watch old KBC episodes on YouTube because they do not share new ones directly. This helped me brush up my knowledge about the show’s criteria and questions. It also boosted my confidence while preparing for other exams.
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-In this process, during my interview at KBC, the interviewers were impressed with my answers, especially about the fact that I wanted to be the first Adivasi contestant to be seen on the hotseat. Further, they were also impressed to learn about my journey since 2017. It has been a dream to feature on KBC, get respect and recognition, and to be able to be a role model for future generations. Thanks to KBC, I managed to achieve more than I had ever wished for.”
-KBC 16 contestant, when quizzed about his experience of the interaction with KBC host Amitabh Bachchan: “Before I appeared on KBC, half of my village didn’t even know who I was. But now, even those who didn’t know me can recognise me. KBC’s platform gave me a wonderful experience.”. The time spent with Amitabh Bachchan Saab felt like talking to a family member. He speaks very frankly. Sometimes, there are mistakes in answering questions due to fear, but those kinds of thoughts did not strike me as Amitabh Bachchan was speaking so nicely. When you achieve success after a long time, then this fear goes away on its own. There was no doubt and fear in my case.”
-While reflecting on his dreams and aspirations, he says, “I was able to accomplish my big dream on the KBC platform. Now, I would be able to achieve my other life goals too. Reaching the KBC platform is a big achievement for anyone, and I believe that my journey will inspire a lot of people.”. The KBC knowledge is still out of reach for many people belonging to the Adivasi backdrop. Most of them believe that special knowledge is required for participation in the show. But after having watched some reruns of KBC, I realised that quite a few participants are from modest backgrounds. This made me determined to build my knowledge and self-confidence.
– I firmly believe that will and determination can achieve anything. So, I resolved that I shall make it happen and my journey would be an inspiration for many youngsters of my village in pursuit of higher education and to prepare for competitive exams.”
-He asserts proudly when asked about his role models, “My role models have always been my parents because had they not supported my education, I wouldn’t have been in the KBC platform. KBC has also been a source of inspiration and learning experience to me.”
