Indian man a dad again at 96

Indian man a dad again at 96

Very few people live until their 90s. Even if they do, making babies may be beyond the realms of fantasy for them.

But an Indian man has claimed to have fathered a child at the “young” age of 96. Mr Ramajit Raghav has amazed people with his virility, and said it is nothing new to him. Two years ago, at the age of 94, he had his first child.

His 52-year-old wife, Shakuntala Devi, and the newborn are doing fine, The Times of India reported.

Mr Raghav, who lives in a village in the state of Haryana, close to the Indian capital New Delhi, said he named his second son Ranjeet.

The first is called Vikramjeet. He also said he has decided to stop at two and will soon make his wife undergo a tubectomy operation, which prevents future pregnancies.

His age has been verified by the Haryana government’s social welfare department. Sporting a thick unkempt beard, Mr Raghav claimed he had remained a bachelor and practised celibacy all his life – until he met his wife more than a decade ago. “After staying together, we decided to extend our family and aspired for two sons.

With God’s grace, our wish has been fulfilled,” Mr Raghav told The Times of India. Asked about the secret of his vitality, he said he had been a wrestler in his younger days, when his daily diet comprised half a kilogramme of almonds, an equal measure of ghee and three litres of milk, vegetables and chappatis.

He claimed that he had been a teetotaller and a strict vegetarian all his life. On his daily routine, Mr Raghav said: “I wake up at five in the morning and go to bed before 8pm.

During the day, I work in the fields and also take an afternoon nap.” He diet still includes about two litres of cow’s milk, fresh green vegetables and chappatis.

Apart from his wages, he also gets 500 rupees a month (S$11) as old-age pension.

Mr Raghav said he is proud he has two healthy sons at his age, but his neighbours are more jealous of his sex drive, Daily Mail reported.

He said: “My neighbours are jealous and they keep asking me for my secret, but all I tell them is that it is God’s will.

“I’m healthy and I enjoy sex with my wife. I think it’s very important for a husband and wife to have sex regularly. But for the sake of my children, I’ve put our needs aside for now.”

Madam Devi believes she would have been dead by now if it was not for his caring ways.

She said: “It doesn’t matter how old he is, I love him and I care for him dearly even, though he shouts at me sometimes.

“He doesn’t seem old to me, he can make love like any 25-year-old man and he makes a wonderful father.”

His wish for his children? “I want to send them to school and wish to see them lead a respectable life."


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