Millennium baby's parents dismiss hype

Millennium baby's parents dismiss hype
RAJENDRA KHATRY

NAGPUR, JAN 2: While across the world, expectant parents were in a frenzy trying to see that their children were born to coincide with the new year, one couple in Nagpur seemed unaware of the hype created about `millennium babies'. Kajal, daughter of Meena and Kishore Ramteke, born 40 minutes past midnight at the Daga municipal hospital here, was Nagpur's first millennium baby.

However, the parents are not the least bit interested in laying their hands on all the bounty that goes with being parents of a millennium baby. They'd rather give her a decent education. Holding her baby close to her heart, a beaming Meena said she is proud of the fact that she had given birth to the city's first child in the new year. Both Meena and her husband, who is a farmer, are not well educated, something they both regret. However, the couple is determined that their daughter will get a proper education. ``We've always wanted a daughter and God has fulfilled our wish. We will ensure that our child gets good education andbecomes independent,'' she says.

One couple who had their child at 1:55 am on Saturday, have decided to name their son Shatabdi. Shalini Raja Khandare too seemed more concerned about providing her son a good education ``that would stand him in good stead''.While mothers across the city were rejoicing the birth of their children on the first day of the millennium, Chhaya Thaokar wept quietly in a corner. Her pre-mature male child was in an incubator. Anxiety writ large on her face, Chhaya said all she can do was pray to God to save her son.

Meanwhile, at the largest private maternity homehere - Matru Sewa Sangh , it was a day of disappointment as just one child was born in the first 12 hours of the new year. Secretary Lata Deshmukh said they made elaborate preparations to welcome the parents of all children born on this day.