Prahlad Jani -

Ten Day Study

Medical Case Summary

Dr. Sudhir V. Shah

Case Summary: Prahladbhai Jani

Case Summary A 76 years old male, Prahladbhai Jani (Chunriwala Mataji), gives a detailed description about his life. He left home at the age of 7 years and wandered in the jungles of Mt. Abu, Girnar, Narmada, etc. At the age of 11 years he had some supernatural experience and this changed his life. According to him he has no desire to eat, drink liquids or pass urine or stool since then. He had been physically fit. Almost daily he goes in a state of extreme bliss (Samadhi) where he experiences enormous light and strength. He attributes his strength to an elixir coming out through his palate.

He has studied up to 3 standards and knows to read and write with limited abilities. According to him he did not speak for about 45 years (Maunbrat). In 1942 he was taken at Jaslok Hospital and was under care of doctors and police for 45 days. One and half years back he was investigated by Dr. Sudhir V. Shah for initial analysis of his state of health.

He has no past history of any major illnesses, hospitalization [save 1942 for observations], major or minor surgeries or drug intake.

Mr. Jani accepted to undergo all non invasive procedures and blood investigations but refused for any invasive procedure from the beginning. He never wanted anything to be introduced through anyway to his body.

It was decided to study him by a panel of doctors, which included:

Dr. Sudhir V. Shah (Consultant Neurophysician, Sterling Hospital/Associate Professor of Neurology at K. M. School of PGMR, Ahmedabad)
Dr. Urman Dhruv (Physician & Secretary of Association of Physicians of Ahmedabad (APA))
Dr. V. N. Shah (Diabetologist, Director-Sterling Hospital)
Dr. Bharat Gadhavi (General Surgeon/Medical Superintendent-Sterling Hospital)
Dr. Kandarp Parikh (Urologist)
Dr. Dinesh Patel/Dr. Hemant Patel (Radiologists)
Dr. Sanjay Mehta (Neuro Radiologist & Sonologist)
Dr. Gargey Sutaria (Radiologist)
Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti (G. I. Surgeon)
Dr. Navneet Shah (Physician, Endocrinologist)
Dr. Prakash Darji/Dr. Sonal Dalal/ Dr. Pankaj Shah (Nephrologists)
Dr. Bansi Saboo (General Physician)
Dr. Shrenik Shah (Cardiologist)
Dr. Dhanesh Patel (General Surgeon)
Dr. O. M. Modi (Senior Physician)
Dr. Hemang Desai (Psychiatrist)
Dr. Jayesh Sheth (Genetician & Endocrinologist)
Dr. Dhaval Modi (Ophthalmologist)
Dr. Jayeeta Chaudhary (Dietician)
Dr. Mukesh Patel (Pulmonologist)
Dr. Ruchir Shah (ENT Surgeon)

Several other doctors also examined him from time to time.

He was kept in Sterling Hospital (Gurukul Road, Ahmedabad) from 13/11/03 (10:00 AM) to 22/11/03 (10:00 AM) for observation. Directors of Sterling Hospital specially Dr. V. N. Shah and the management committee of Sterling Hospital kindly consented to look after the ethical aspects and the funds for the project including various tests.

The strict monitoring to ascertain the genuinity of his claim (Not eating anything, not drinking anything, not passing urine and not passing stool) was done by the unbiased august body, i.e. Association of Physicians of Ahmedabad, under precise protocol set by the Secretary of the Association, Dr. Urman Dhruv, along with executive committee of the association.

The research panel of doctors was headed by Dr. Sudhir V. Shah (Consultant Neurophysician, Sterling Hospital/Associate professor of neurology at K. M. School of PGMR, Ahmedabad).

During the project, Dr. Sudhir Shah almost daily was in touch with Professor Dr. Selvamurthy who is the over all controller of Defence laboratories including DIPAS (Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences), New Delhi. He was kind enough to guide the protocol of monitoring as well as further tests for the project.

During the study period Mr. Jani was completely monitored by doctors, staff members and security people all throughout the day.

He was asked to make an affidavit to undergo the study with clear understanding that if his health or medical parameters deteriorate then panel of doctors will withdraw from the study.

He was kept in ICU for 24 hours, i.e. 13/11/03 (10:00 AM to 14/11/03 (10:00 AM) and then was kept in a room with glass door. The toilet door was sealed. CCTV camera was set in the room for the rest of the period of study, i.e. from 14/11/03 to 22/11/03 (10:00 AM). Medical officers on duty were assigned the job to monitor him. Staff persons were deputed on round-the-clock duty for 9 days and nights continuously to stay with Mr. Jani in the same room to closely watch him and make sure that he does not eat, drink, pass urine or stool. The video tapes were reviewed for all 24 hours of all these days by committee. Mr. Jani was not allowed to go out of the room except for sonography of bladder and MRI testings, but even during that period, he was all the way accompanied by doctors.

Clinical opinions of system examination of all experts were obtained including cardiac, renal, neurological, urological, gastrointestinal, general medical, pulmonological, ophthalmic, ENT, psychiatry and others. A series of investigations were done as per protocol defined earlier as well as additional tests were carried out as per suggestions of the team.