KBC 18: Amitabh Bachchan apologises to Babu Patti villagers, recalls Jaya Bachchan’s plan for children’s library

Amitabh Bachchan recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 when a contestant’s connection to Pratapgarh brought up his family’s ancestral village, Babu Patti. The megastar recalled his roots in the Uttar Pradesh village and also addressed the delay surrounding a library project meant to benefit children there.During the episode, contestant Chandra Prakash Tiwari mentioned his connection to the Pratapgarh region. The reference prompted Amitabh to speak about Babu Patti, which holds a special place in the Bachchan family’s history.Recalling his connection to the village, Amitabh said, “Babu Patti… humare purvojon ka janmasthan tha woh Babu Patti. Aur Babuji wahi se aaye the.” He was referring to his father, renowned Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who was born in Babupatti.Amitabh then spoke about an initiative aimed at giving children in the village a dedicated space to read and study. He revealed that the idea was close to wife Jaya Bachchan’s heart after she visited the village and noticed the lack of proper facilities for children.According to Amitabh, while the building for the proposed facility has been constructed, it is yet to be fully equipped and made operational. He used the KBC platform to directly address the people of Babu Patti and apologise for the delay.“Babu Patti se jo log hain toh bhaiya hum maafi mangte hain. Khol denge hum, ghabraiye mat,” Amitabh said, assuring the villagers that they need not worry and that the facility would be opened.He further explained that the structure is ready but needs the required resources and arrangements before children can begin using it as a library and study space.Babu Patti, located in Raniganj tehsil of Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district, is closely associated with the Bachchan family. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was born in the village, where his parents Pratap Narain Srivastava and Saraswati Devi Srivastava also lived.The village already has a literary connection to the Bachchan family through the Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Library. Jaya Bachchan inaugurated the library in March 2006 as a memorial to Amitabh’s father.The latest remarks from Amitabh, however, concern a library facility for children that he said is yet to become fully operational. His comments once again brought attention to his long-standing connection with Babu Patti and his family’s desire to contribute to the village.