The oldest father in the world

Ramjit Raghav is one proud dad. At the age of 94, he has just celebrated the birth of his first child – making him possibly the world's oldest father. Mr Raghav, from Haryana in northern India, has hailed the arrival of his first child, a son named Karamjit, as 'God's gift'. And he and his wife Shakuntala Devi, believed to be in her early fifties, hope to go one further by trying for a second child next year. Mr Raghav, who was a wrestler in his youth, is confident that he will be around to see his little boy grow up, saying: 'I will die only if a black snake bites me and that is very unlikely. 'Visit me after ten years and you will find me in the same appearance. 'My daily diet comprises three litres of milk, half a kilo of almonds and half a kilo of ghee [clarified butter].' But some doctors have questioned the validity of Mr Raghav's claim.

Dr Paramjeet Singh, chief medical officer at Kharkhoda Civil Hospital, where the baby was born in November, said: 'Having babies at such an age is a remote possibility. It can't be ruled out.' If it is true, Mr Raghav will beat current record holder Nanu Ram Jogi, an Indian farmer who fathered his 21st child at the age of 90 in 2007. Mr Raghav actually claims to be more than 100 years old, but pension records give his age as 94. Dr Singh added: 'It was a normal delivery and the baby is quite healthy and fine.' Shakuntala's age, alternately reported as 51, 52 and 54, makes for incredibly slim odds of ovulation and any viable eggs. Villager, Karan Singh, 39, was surprised to hear one of the elders had become a father last month. She said: 'At first I didn't believe it but it is the god's grace and most importantly Ramjit is quite healthy and hard-working.'