When Melinda Gates surprised UP villagers

Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft boss Bill Gates, took everyone by surprise when she showed up in a remote village of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

Melinda, who flew down from United States only to visit Bhuli-Ghara-Rampur village in Shivgarh block of Rae Bareli district, about 120 km from Lucknow, spent nearly half a day talking to local villagers, who had no clue about the status or identity of their surprise guest.

Co-chairperson of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, which is among the world's largest charitable trusts with assets to the tune of  $35 billion, Melinda spent hours talking to young mothers and families involved in an anti-infant mortality programme run by 'Saksham' (an NGO) under John Hopkins University sponsorship.

Displaying all her humility, she did not hesitate to go from house to house, talking to both pregnant women and mothers with their newborn infants. The poverty-ridden atmosphere of the village or the humble dwelling units did not deter her from exchanging pleasantries with the locals.

Melinda even enjoyed participating in the traditional 'chati' ceremony of a new-born, when the infant and the mother get their first bath and are allowed to step out of their confinement, on the sixth day of birth.

"I am amazed at the keen interest she has shown in the project and I was also impressed by the loads of queries which she had in mind about infant mortality in India," Saksham head Vishwajit told rediff.com.

He said, "The Gates foundation learnt about our project through an article published on it in Lancet -- the internationally-acclaimed medical journal."

Melinda also called on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. The two women held a 30-minute informal chat.

The foundation is known for rendering philanthropic service in the field of health and poverty in more than 100 countries across the globe. In developing countries, the foundation focuses its energies towards improving health and for combating hunger.