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

Indian military scientists are studying an 82-year-old who claims he has not had any food or drink for 70 years.
By Dean Nelson in New Delhi Published: 11:02PM BST 28 Apr 2010

Indian patient Prahlad Jani (Mataji), who claims he has

survived without food and water for more than seven
decades Photo: AFP

Prahlad Jani is being held in ________in a

hospital in Ahmedabad, Gurjarat, where he is
being closely __________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 _____________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 _____________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 ____________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
________on until help arrives.
"If his claims are__________, 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 ____________conditions with little food and water or nothing at all."
So far, Mr Prahlad appears to be standing up to____________. 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 _____________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 _____________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 _______________to be reabsorbed by his body after forming in his
bladder. Doubts were expressed about his claim after his weight fell ____________at the end
of the trial.
isolation monitored observation sustained dismissed hang
verified adverse scrutiny followed recorded appeared slightly