Punjab man wins ₹1.5 crore lottery a day after daughter Barkat's birth: ‘We wanted a boy’

The proud father chose the name Barkat, which means prosperity, for his daughter following the unexpected windfall.

A baby girl born into a financially struggling family in Punjab turned out to be a source of unexpected fortune for her parents. Just a day after 24-year-old carpenter Yudhvir Singh welcomed his daughter, he won ₹1.5 crore in a state lottery. The win came after some relatives had told him, ‘We wanted a boy’. Singh now credits his daughter for changing the family's fortunes and has named her Barkat, meaning prosperity.

Baby girl born a day before lottery win

According to a report by The Tribune, Singh, a resident of Bareta town in Punjab's Mansa district, bagged the first prize in the Punjab State Dear 200 Monthly Lottery. His daughter was born on November 6, while the lottery results were declared on November 7.

The proud father chose the name Barkat, which means prosperity, for his daughter following the unexpected windfall.

Singh had bought the winning ticket on November 4 from a lottery stall in Budhlada. He was accompanying his pregnant wife, Harman, to a hospital in Mansa for a medical check-up when he made the purchase.

Lottery ticket purchase was not planned

The carpenter had not intended to buy a lottery ticket that day. He had stopped at the stall while getting his mobile phone number ported and decided to try his luck.

However, the decision did not go down well with his wife initially, particularly given the family's financial difficulties. The couple was already repaying a loan taken to build their two-room house and had additional medical expenses to manage ahead of their first child's arrival.

Singh recalled that Harman had questioned why he was spending money on a lottery ticket when they needed funds for hospital bills. He also said that the private hospital had declined to offer even a ₹5,000 reduction in their bill.

For the family, which was struggling to meet its expenses, the lottery ticket had been an unplanned purchase. Little did Singh know that it would eventually bring him a prize worth ₹1.5 crore.

Father credits daughter for changing family's fortunes

The lottery announcement, coming just a day after his daughter's birth, made the win particularly special for Singh. The celebrations also changed the way some relatives viewed the arrival of the baby girl.

Singh believes his daughter's birth and the lottery win are closely connected, and considers her arrival a blessing for the family.

“I have named her Barkat (prosperity). She has brought good fortune to our home. How can we name her anything else?” he said.

How does Singh plan to use the lottery money?

Despite the sudden change in the family's financial situation, Singh said he has already decided where the prize money should go. His daughter's education and future remain his biggest priorities.

“My daughter has changed my fortune. She has brought her own luck with her. I want to spend the money on her education and future so that she can stand on her own feet and get a good job,” he said.

About the Author

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.