A poor family in Bihar waits to welcome its crorepati

The city of George Orwells birth has a new landmark,the house of a family that will no longer struggle to make ends meet.

The city of George Orwells birth has a new landmark,the house of a family that will no longer struggle to make ends meet. Sushil Kumar,27,is not yet back in Motihari after hitting the Rs 5-crore jackpot in the game show,Kaun Banega Crorepati,but his family has been dealing with a flood of visitors ever since.

A narrow lane from NH-29 leads to the computer operators two-room house,part-pucca and tiled,at Hanumangarhi. The family has not managed to contact him but have spoken to his brother Sudhir and cousin Anil,who had gone with Sushil and his wife.

Sushils phone is jammed,says mother Renu Devi. Yet,she knows,my son is a giver. He will make all his brothers happy.

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In Mumbai,PTI quoted Sushil as saying,I wore shoes for the second time in my life when I went to shoot for the episode. Somebody pointed out that the shoelaces were not tied properly. He plans to use some of the money on basic requirements and save the rest. I want to become an IAS officer.

At home,eldest brother Sunil Kumar,a mechanic,believes the familys worries are over. Sushil did what generations could not do. Their father Amarnath Prasad was a munshi with a lawyer in Birganj,Nepal,and Sunil could not study beyond Std VII.

One of five brothers,only Sushil took his education seriously and motivated Sudhir too to complete his graduation,their mother says. Sushil got a second division in his matriculation and intermediate exams,and a first class in his graduation and Masters (psychology) exams. He would walk 4 km to MS College,Motihari,but later managed a bicycle.

He used to watch KBC on his cousin Satyams colour TV. He took several competitive exams but got nervous in interviews. We are happy he didnt get nervous with Amitabh Bachchan, Satyam says. In Mumbai,Sushil told PTI,He (Bachchan) is a very warm person who goes out of his way to make participants feel comfortable since they are always in awe of his personality.

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Sushil got married this April. His job is on contract,at Chanpatia near his hometown. He took the Bihar Public Service Commission exams but could not go beyond the prelims. He has since been preparing for the UPSC exams but hasnt cleared the prelims. In Mumbai,he told PTI that the jackpot question,which he wouldnt divulge,was linked to my civil services studies.

Sushil didnt have even a mobile until last year. Once he did,he made countless calls to KBC. When he was called on October 17,he had to get new clothes stitched, says youngest brother Sujit,who works at a cloth store.

The family expects him back after November 10.