I've sat on this story for a week because it seemed like an obvious hoax. But Prahlad Jani, who claims to have consumed no food or drink for seventy years, has spent six days in a hospital in India under strict observation:
Link via technabob | Photo: AFP
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.
Link via technabob | Photo: AFP
This sounds like a setup.
James Randi would give him a million dollars, I'm sure.
And why did John Farrier fall victim as well? My baby brother could tell it is complete humbug...
...I got better...
Is it a hoax? Most probably - but aren't experimentation and testing the bedrock of science? If it is a hoax, then carefully planned experiments, and confirmation other scientists repeating the experiment will quickly expose the hoax.
The greater scientific "sin" is to dismiss something you don't understand a priori. Many things in nature don't "make sense": the dual nature of light, the existence of a proteinaceous infectious particles, cancer-causing virus, heck the whole textbook of quantum physics.
None of those are "common sense."
That's exactly what science DOES NOT do. It's what the pseudo-science quacks and psychics do.
It goes against everything science has already established beyond a reasonable doubt.
It also goes against hundreds of thousands of years of experience; because during all that time it has been the case that if you don't eat or drink for long enough: you die. The only "exceptions" are people like this which are not being tested properly.
My guess is that the "scrutiny" is not at all rigorous enough.
(PS: split comment because for whatever reason Wordpress wouldn't accept it otherwise.)
It goes against everything science has already established beyond a reasonable doubt.
There is a difference though. When it comes to truth, Nature trumps Humanities word, and science says "If you don't believe me, go try it yourself". In the words of Gregory House, "Everybody lies".
My point was whoever would agree to test this is not going to present a trustworthy, "scientific" test of this man's claims. It will be flawed (that is to say, fixed).
Lock him in your basement and see how long he lasts without food or water.
Why? Because we dont understand... Nothing is "pre-prooved" until it is prooved. Has this man been tested before? no... therefore what you say is just what you THINK and SUSPECT going on the whole !" if history has any credibility " thing... miracles happen? maybe this is one?
I am not dismissing this as a hoax or a miracle... evolution maybe? "according" to science we used to be monkeys... so to speak... Now if that was never discovered... if i put a monkey next to you and said that was you a while back. What would you say? HOAX HOAX HOAX wtf man HOAX that is what would be said.
If everybody was optimistic and adventurous and not afraid of miracles, the truth along with NEW discoveries... well then if that was the case I believe we would be FAR more advanced than we are now.
What about the females who lift cars off their loved ones it happened proved but to lift a car and throw it off something/body is impossible... right? WAIT NO it happened! so this is another example of a "miracle".
PS ever heard of that guy who grows tree like funghi on him? medical science cant explain was the last thing i heard.
Try being Optimistic.
Miracles happen.
Fact.
What have I got to lose ? I think I believe it ;-)
Cheers
Col :-)