Kaun Banega Crorepati 16: Host Amitabh Bachchan reveals his father Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan's Madhushala faced strong opposition; says 'Virodh Gandhi Ji tak pahoch gaya'

The latest episode of KBC 16 started with host Amitabh Bachchan conducting a Fastest Finger First round and Nitisha Patankar from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh makes it to the hot seat. She is an IIM Kozikode student and is studying Post Graduation in Liberal Studies and Management. She explains that the post graduation is an unique offering for IIM Kozikode and only 53 students from all over India are selected for this programe. PGLSM's objective should not be to just maximize profit but for the betterment of the society. Nitisha chose the programe to create an impact in the society. Host Amitabh Bachchan gets impressed by Nitisha's thoughts and praises her. In his quirky style he says that when he was his age he had other issues like how to tie shoe laces and pajamas. He leaves everyone laughing out loud.
The host begins the game show and during the question for Rs 2000, she gets stuck and takes her first lifeline 'Audience Poll'. Which of these is a spice obtained from flowers? She goes with the most voted Option C) Saffron.
The makers play a small video based on Nitisha's life wherein she talks about her life at IIM Kozikode and her education. She also reveals she has been writing poems since the age of 6 and has already published a book. She credits her parents and grandmother for supporting and pursue her dreams. Nitisha wants to utilize the money she wins on KBC 16 for startup which supports women empowerment. Big B gets impressed after learning that Nitisha is a published author and the contestant gifts her book to the megastar.
Moving ahead, she faces the question for 'Super Sawaal'. Shri Bhagwant Mann and Captain Amarinder Singh have served as Chief Ministers of which state? Nitisha confidently answers 'Punjab' and wins the super power, Dugnastraa.
While answering one of the questions on Bhagvad Gita, Nitisha shares with Big B that she is quite inspired with it. She reveals that during COVID, she watched the reruns of Ramayan and Mahabharat and developed interest. Nitisha says that after reading Bhagvad Gita, she has transformed a lot and considers it as school of life.
For the question of Rs 40,000, she uses 'Video Call A Friend' lifeline. Who is the co-author of the book seen in the image, considered the 'Father of Modern Marketing'? However, she doesn't get any help so she decides to go with her instinct and selects Option C) Philip Kotler.
Speaking about her favourite poets, Nitisha reveals she likes Robert Frost in English poets and in Hindi, she is inspired by Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poetries. She requests Mr Bachchan to recite few lines from one of his poems and the megastar happily agrees.
Big B reveals that when his father wrote Madhushala, he faced significant opposition, as many believed the poem was promoting alcohol consumption. He says,"Jab Madhushala likhi thi toh bahot saare uska virodh hua tha, unhone kaha joh naujawan peedhi hai aap usko sharab peene ke liye protsahit kar rahe ho. Aur kaafi virodh hua iska. Virodh joh tha woh Gandhi Ji tak pahoch gaya, wahan logon ne bola ek naujawan kavi hai, ye jitni bhi nayi peedhi hai usko sharab peene ke liye protsahit kar raha hai."
(When Madhushala was written, it sparked a lot of criticism. People said that the younger generation was being encouraged to drink. The opposition was so intense that it even reached Gandhi Ji, with concerns being raised about a young poet influencing the youth towards alcohol.)
He continued, "Toh ek baar aisa hua, Gandhiji aur Babuji ek he jagah par the, toh Gandhiji ne bulaya aur bola batao kya likh rahe ho, toh padh ke sunaya babuji. Toh unhone kahan nahi ismein toh koi kharabi nahi hai. Toh bach gaye Babuji." (There was a time when Gandhiji and my father were at the same place. Gandhiji called him over and asked, ‘Tell me, what have you written?’ So, my father recited Madhushala to him. After listening, Gandhiji said, ‘There is nothing wrong with this.’ And that’s how my father was saved.)
Mr Bachchan further shared, "Aur Babuji ne sharab kabhi pee bhi nahi thi, lekin Madhushala puri likhi hai. Aur kayi baar log poochte the sir aap sharab pete nahi hai toh likhi kaise hai. Toh kayi baar unhone kuch Samjhane ki koshi ki, phir unhone Madhushala mein joh parishad the usmein unhone thoda sa varnan kiya tha ke bahot se log kehte hain ke hum peete nahi toh likhte kaise hain." (My father never drank alcohol, yet he wrote Madhushala in its entirety. Many people would often ask him, ‘If you don’t drink, how did you write about it?’ He tried to explain it in different ways, and eventually, he even addressed this curiosity in Madhushala, mentioning how people questioned his ability to write about something he had never experienced.)
Nitisha answered the next few questions correctly and took home Rs 6,40,000 and the bonus amount of Rs 80,000.