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AHMEDABAD, INDIA, November 27, 2003: With apparent ease, Prahalad Jani — who claims he’s neither had food and water nor passed urine or stools for over 60 years — submitted to and passed the test doctors set him. But the doctors who declared this 76-year-old devotee of Goddess Ambaji a “medical miracle” after observing him eagle-eyed for 10 days are now in a difficult position: they neither know what to make of this strange case nor how to investigate it further. The team now awaits medical scientists from Delhi to help it proceed. “We are also sending his reports to a number of doctors across the world to get their viewpoint,” said Dr. V.N. Shah, who was part of the team that observed him. The doctors say they had taken all precautions to guard against foul play. At the Sterling Hospital, Jani was observed in the intensive care unit for 24 hours and then moved to a room fitted with closed-circuit television for round-the-clock monitoring. The attached bathroom was sealed. “We accept he neither consumed anything nor passed urine or stools,” said Dr. Sudhir Shah, the neurologist on the team. “Despite that his health is perfectly normal. There was no logic in keeping him under further observation; staying this way for 10 days is in itself a medical miracle. Besides, we have already prepared detailed reports and conducted necessary tests.”



The doctors continue to examine Jani regularly, but admit they are stuck. Dr. Sudhir Shah said he is in touch with Dr Selvamurthy of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), New Delhi, and are awaiting experts from that institute to seek further instruction. Sources at DIPAS said the team would be arriving within 10 days, and may put Jani through another 15-25 days of strict observation, perhaps in Delhi. But Jani seems unfazed. He cooperates with the doctors and willingly submits to all that they put him through. On Wednesday, he underwent tests administered by Dr. Bansi Saboo, a diabetologist, at the Lifeline Hospital. All Saboo said was: “He’s fit and healthy as a 40-year-old.”



While doctors puzzle over him, Prahalad Jani — who is addressed as “Mataji” (“Mother”) as he is believed to be blessed and visted by Goddess Ambaji — is attracting hundreds of people who seek his blessings. He is put up at the Thaltej house of Haribhai Chaudhary, president of the Gandhinagar panchayat. Everyday from 3-7 p.m. people queue up to seek darshan and prasad. Said Chaudhary, “We devotees know it’s a miracle and do not challenge it. But since the doctors have shown interest and want to find out, Mataji has agreed to cooperate and submit to all tests.”

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