Sushil Kumar, who became the first person to win Rs50 million

A poverty-stricken government clerk from Bihar, Sushil Kumar, who became the first person to win Rs50 million (Dh3.5 million) on a popular game show in October has been flooded with bizarre charity requests — some people have asked him to donate money for their daughter's marriage, others want to borrow money for their children's education while others are seeking cash to build a house or temple.

Kumar's staggering win on the popular Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hosted by cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan made him a hero overnight as many see in him a panacea for their day-to-day family woes. The victory of Kumar, who hails from north Bihar's West Champaran district, resembles the plot of the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, whose impoverished protagonist hits the jackpot.

At a public function held on Sunday, Kumar revealed how he had been spending sleepless nights sorting out a variety of letters reaching him every day, urging him to donate money to people living in utter poverty or in urgent need of financial help since he won the cash.