Man claims to have had no food or drink for 70 years

[Shayla]

Indian military scientists are studying an 82-year-old who claims he has not had any food or drink for 70 years.

(Indian patient Prahlad Jani (Mataji), who claims he has survived without food and water for more than seven decades)

Prahlad Jani is being held in isolation in a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gurjarat, where he is being closely monitored by India's defence research organization, who believe he may have a genuine quality which could help save lives.

He has now spent six days without food or water under strict observation and doctors say his body has not yet shown any adverse effects from hunger or dehydration.

Mr Jani, who claims to have left home aged seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan, is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate. His claims have been supported by an Indian doctor who specializes in studies of people who claim supernatural abilities, but he has also been dismissed by others as a "village fraud."

India's Defence Research Development Organisation, whose scientists develop drone aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles and new types of bombs. They believe Mr Prahlad could teach them to help soldiers survive longer without food, or disaster victims to hang on until help arrives.

"If his claims are verified, it will be a breakthrough in medical science," said Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences.

"We will be able to help save human lives during natural disasters, high altitude, sea journeys and other natural and human extremities. We can educate people about the survival techniques in adverse conditions with little food and water or nothing at all."

So far, Mr Prahlad appears to be standing up to scrutiny. He has not eaten or drunk any fluids in six days, and similarly has not passed urine or a stool in that time. He remains fit and healthy and shows no sign of lethargy. Doctors will continue observing him for 15 days in which time they would expect to see some muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss,and fatigue followed by organ failure.

It is common in India for Jains and Hindus to fast, sometimes for up to eight days, without any adverse affects, as part of their religious worship. Most humans cannot survive without food for 50 days. The longest hunger strike recorded is 74 days.

According to Dr Sudhir Shah, who examined him in 2003, he went without food or water for ten days in which urine appeared to be reabsorbed by his body after forming in his bladder. Doubts were expressed about his claim after his weight fell slightly at the end of the trial.

Source : Telegraph

[e-berlin.org]

I believe it.

[brentaal]

Ah, breatharians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmuheen

[Singh400]

Ppppppppppffffffffffffffffffftttttttttttt...

India is full of people/beliefs like this...

Fraud. Next.

[Phenom II]

I dont believe it at all.

I think if they keep him for more than 15 days he will get ill

[antsy]

Hmmm

[Panacik]

Well, ill just be interested to see the results of the tests being carried out.

[Slugsie]

This appears to be the second time he's done this. Back in 2003 he lasted 10 days under apparent strict observation.

I still call shenanigans however. Maybe he can last 10 days - medical science suggests that most people will be severely ill after 7 days of no water but it stands to reason that a small percentage of people will last a bit longer. Put him under very close scrutiny (webcams 24x7 open to anyone to view) for a month or two and I'll be prepared to admit that his body appears to have some special ability. Otherwise it's just BS.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Would be more interesting if it were sex.

[itzwolf]

I call BS. There is just no way. The body is designed to burn calories from food intake and it's made up of mostly water so it needs an intake of water to stay balanced and healthy. So if he exercises and sweats how is he rehydrating? :whistle:

[Nicholas-c Veteran]

I call b.s to be honest. 70 years? Not a chance.

[Phenom II]

Meditation and keeping still would probably allow him to last longer than most people, but we are still talking days not years

[Syanide]

Ah, breatharians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmuheen

haha

[cork1958]

Man!

A slow news day here at Neowin even!!

This is a total crock!!

[hdood]

Well, ill just be interested to see the results of the tests being carried out.

Several people making these types of claims have been tested over the years. It always ends the same way, with the test having to be aborted for medical reasons. You can't let people get close to where it's dangerous. The believers will continue to believe, because they don't see the result as conclusive. If only they'd let him go on.. then he... he would have shown them.

It "makes sense" if you're religious/superstitious and believe the human body is more than just a biological machine, but otherwise it's idiotic to believe that a human with the exact same physiology as the rest of us can somehow survive for 70 years without eating or drinking.

[noroom]

This appears to be the second time he's done this. Back in 2003 he lasted 10 days under apparent strict observation.

If this is known, how can he still be claiming he hasn't ingested anything in 70 years? Wouldn't it be more like 7 years?

[Motoko.]

There are a group of people called Mortaz in which all they ever eat is one almond a day and close their eyes and don't do anything with their lives to conserve energy.

[hdood]

There are a group of people called Mortaz in which all they ever eat is one almond a day and close their eyes and don't do anything with their lives to conserve energy.

Which still isn't physically possible, so they probably sneak out for cheeseburgers at night.

[tiagosilva29]

Ah, breatharians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmuheen

Oxygenarians, in KoL

[Phenom II]

I found the original image, this is no trick, I can do this

[Slugsie]

If this is known, how can he still be claiming he hasn't ingested anything in 70 years? Wouldn't it be more like 7 years?

What I meant was that 7 years ago he was under strict observation for 10 days. Before and after that there may be no information/observation so his claim of 70 years cannot be falsified from that alone. It's not like 7 years ago he sat down, had a hearty meal and gorged himself on fine wines etc then sat in a cubicle for 10 days and consumed nothing. More like he walked into the testing centre and said 'I've not eaten for over 60 years' and they then observed him for 10 days and then just let him wander off.

[Panacik]

Several people making these types of claims have been tested over the years. It always ends the same way, with the test having to be aborted for medical reasons. You can't let people get close to where it's dangerous. The believers will continue to believe, because they don't see the result as conclusive. If only they'd let him go on.. then he... he would have shown them.

It "makes sense" if you're religious/superstitious and believe the human body is more than just a biological machine, but otherwise it's idiotic to believe that a human with the exact same physiology as the rest of us can somehow survive for 70 years without eating or drinking.

Oh i have no doubt that he will fail and there will be reasons for them to stop the tests etc. But until that happens, i will be interested. I mean, maybe, just maybe, this guy might be for real.

I found the original image, this is no trick, I can do this

:rofl:

[SweetRiverBaynes]

Oh i have no doubt that he will fail and there will be reasons for them to stop the tests etc. But until that happens, i will be interested. I mean, maybe, just maybe, this guy might be for real.

It's not that they stop the test, it's that he FAILS the test.

[DrewJW]

His beard is a food replicator.

[.Markus]

Will be interesting to see in another couple of days how he fares...

I personally don't think he hasn't consumed any food or liquids in the last 70 years, however this video claims he still got a brain of a 25 year old...