When Ishit Bhatt, a 10-year-old from Gujarat, stepped onto the Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, he grabbed all the attention, but not in the way most might expect. The fifth-grader’s confidence was hard to miss, but so was the way he spoke and reacted, which drew criticism from viewers across India.
Some of his reactions seemed abrupt, especially when he questioned host Amitabh Bachchan about the rules and answered before all options were read. His run on the show ended at the fifth question, which left him empty-handed.
The question that challenged Ishit was about the first kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana. The options included Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Kishkinda Kanda and Yuddh Kanda. This particular question, centred on an important part of the epic,
eventually led to his early exit from the show.
While Ishit couldn’t answer it correctly, a content creator who goes by the name ‘Simpliedsd’ on Instagram turned it into a learning moment. He shared a video that explained all seven kandas of the Ramayana.
The caption read: “KBC kid got it wrong, you don’t. Helping you remember 7 Kaand of Valmiki Ramayan.”
The Baal Kanda
The first chapter of the Ramayana, Bala Kanda, narrates the early life of Lord Rama – his birth in Ayodhya to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya, the upbringing of Rama and his brothers, and their education. It also tells the story of Rama’s marriage to Sita, which sets the stage for the epic’s central events.
The Ayodhya Kanda
The second kanda focuses on the events leading to Rama’s exile. King Dasharatha wishes to crown Rama, but due to a promise he made to his wife Kaikeyi, Rama is sent into a 14-year exile. This kanda explores the royal family’s emotional struggles, Bharata’s loyalty to his elder brother and how Rama accepts the exile with dignity.
The Aranya Kanda
The kanda tells the story of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana’s exile in the forest. It shows their simple life in the wild and the difficulties they face, including demons. It ends with Sita’s abduction by Ravana.
The Kishkindha Kanda
In this kanda, Rama meets Hanuman and the vanara brothers, Bali and Sugriva. Rama helps Sugriva take back his kingdom from Bali, and in return, Sugriva and his army promise to help Rama rescue Sita.
The Sundar Kanda
Sundar Kanda centres on Hanuman’s extraordinary adventures. It narrates his leap to Lanka, the discovery of Sita and the heroic deeds he performs to gather intelligence for Rama. It is the only chapter of the Ramayana in which the hero is not Rama but rather Hanuman.
The Yuddha Kanda
Also called Lanka Kanda, this book details the great war between Rama’s army and Ravana’s forces. The kanda concludes with Sita’s rescue and the triumph of good over evil.
The Uttara Kanda
The final kanda explores Rama’s return to Ayodhya, his coronation and rule as king. It also describes the birth of his twin sons, Lava and Kusha, and Sita’s eventual return to the Earth.
Helicopter Parenting
Ishit’s appearance on the show and the online reaction to his behaviour also sparked conversations about modern parenting styles.
One topic that came up often was helicopter parenting. This is when parents are constantly involved in every part of their child’s life, which gives them little space for independence.
They may protect the child too much from any kind of difficulty, whether physical or emotional.
Such over-involvement can make children rely heavily on their parents even for things they could handle on their own. While this might feel reassuring to parents, it can limit the child’s ability to learn, make decisions and solve problems independently.
Children in such setups may also develop a sense of entitlement as they start to expect that their wishes will always be fulfilled. They can also become demanding without understanding the need for patience or compromise.
