For many, getting a chance to appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati itself is a dream. Reaching the iconic hot seat is an achievement few can imagine. But going on to face the ₹1 crore question, sitting across from Amitabh Bachchan, is a moment that takes that achievement to an entirely different level.
Now imagine that person being a shrimp farmer from Gujarat,India.
That was Dr. Manoj M. Sharma in KBC Season 10. A remarkable achievement in itself—but what made the moment even more special was that he was not just there as a contestant. On one of India’s biggest television stages, he carried with him the story of Indian shrimp farming, hard work and an industry that deserved to be known by the world.
As Amitabh Bachchan’s familiar words, “Lock kiya jaye?”, continue to bring excitement to a new season of KBC, they also refresh memories of that unforgettable night. There was the hot seat, the tension of the final question and a shrimp farmer from Gujarat making his mark on one of the country’s most iconic shows.
For Dr. Manoj M. Sharma, it was an opportunity to speak about more than his own journey. He spoke about India, about hard work and about the shrimp farming industry. At a time when the stories behind Indian aquaculture rarely reached mainstream television, his presence gave the industry a spotlight it had seldom received before.
For those watching from within the shrimp farming community, the moment carried a special sense of pride. One of their own had reached a stage watched by millions. And through that moment, Dr. Manoj M. Sharma showed a wider audience the potential of an industry that has grown through the knowledge, effort and determination of its people.
That is why his KBC journey remains more than just a memorable television appearance. It was a moment of recognition — not only for Dr. Manoj M. Sharma, but also for the world of shrimp farming he represented.
Now, as Kaun Banega Crorepati begins another journey with new contestants and new dreams, some memories return just as strongly as before. For the Indian shrimp farming community, the memory of KBC Season 10 and Dr. Manoj M. Sharma on the hot seat is certainly one of them.
Some moments never fade. And for Indian shrimp farming, Dr. Manoj M. Sharma will always be remembered as the Shrimp Man of India.
