Kathmandu. Thajudin Aliyar Kunju, an Indian who has been working in Saudi Arabia for the last 40 years, has become a millionaire overnight.
Just before returning to his home in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, Aliyar won a Big Ticket jackpot worth 25 million dirhams in Saudi Arabia. Recently, 61-year-old Aliyar decided to return home. Just before returning home, he won this big prize in the draw held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. Now he will return home with around Rs 57 crore (about Rs 91.20 crore).
According to a report in Gulf News, Aliyar won the award after five attempts. Aliyar has decided to donate a portion of the winning amount.
Aliyar, a father of three who lives in The City of Hale in Saudi Arabia, thanked God for the jackpot. He is now looking forward to spending time with his family in Kerala. “I was about to return home empty-handed from Saudi Arabia,” he said. Now I plan to start a business in Kerala. ’
Talking about his life, Aliyar said, “I am the only child of my mother. There was no one to guide me. I had a passion for work, which brought me to Saudi Arabia in 1985. When I came to Saudi Arabia, I was empty-handed. At that time, there was nothing in hell but a desert. I started working on a farm and now I do the business of waterproofing and transportation. ’
Aliyar recently came to know about the Big Ticket raffle. He formed a group of 16 people and had been trying his luck for the last five months. He said, “I have formed this group so that people who cannot buy tickets on their own get a chance. The group includes 15 migrants from Kerala and one from Tamil Nadu.
Aliyar said jackpot money would be distributed to other members of the group who are facing financial difficulties. “Now this money has secured the future of 16 families,” he said.
