When 55-year-old Bimla Devi, a widow for the last two years and mother of five grown-up children, gave birth to a baby girl recently at 

village Kedorat under the Barhi police station of the district, it created sensation in the area.

 

When villagers started pressurizing Bimla Devi to tell the truth, Lodhi Bhuiyan, a widower who claimed he is 75, said he is the father of the new-born baby. He said he has been in love with Bimla for last 18 months.

 

The statement of Lodhi, father of five and grandfather of several children, surprised the villagers who placed the matter before the village panchayat to decide the fate of the two. The panchayat, led by Tapeshwar Bhuiyan, recorded the statements of Lodhi and Bimla and said they should tie the nuptial knot and live happily ever after.

 

The marriage was performed at a village temple on Tuesday in which children and grandchildren of both Lodhi and Bimla were present. This love story has become the talk of the area.

 

10 Jun 2009 TNN