Orissa woman at 125 among oldest in India

KENDRAPADA (Orissa): An elderly Orissa woman at 125 years could be one of the oldest women in India, her 72-year-old grandson claims.

According to Narayan Nayak, his grandmother, Fulla Nayak of Kanarpur village in the coastal district of Kendrapada district, is definitely the oldest woman living in the world.

Fulla's current age, as per a voter photo identity card issued by the government in 1995, is 120 years. She loves to smoke ganja and cigars and take palm juice. She also loves steaming hot tea, of which she has several cups daily.

Fulla has never suffered from any debilitating ailment in her long years. "All these years, cold and cough have been my worst complaints," Fulla told reporters.

Except for her weak eyesight, Fulla maintains good health and walks without support.

The grand old woman, who has two of her four daughters still living, lives along with more than two dozen relatives in a small mud-walled thatched house in Kanarpur, about 25 km from the district headquarter.

Her eldest daughter, Jamuna, 92, lives in the same village. Her husband died at the age of 50.

She said she has hardly any unfulfilled wishes now. "I want to give more love to my great-great grandson Rajiv if I remain alive for a few more years."

Now her only desire is to go to the holy city of Puri to worship Lord Jagannath at the fag end of her life.