THE HYPOTHESIS

This is indeed unique. You will agree that such a prolonged continuous Jain fasting for religious (Spread of Ahimsa and other high mottos) and scientific purposes (to create awarness about Sun-energy) and also aimed at solution of four way human crisis (Physical, Mental, food & neurological) under scrupulous daily medical supervision is unheard of. It’s just fantastic, and absolutely amazing, but this is not a myth. It's not happening in Himalayas or distant jungles; it is happening in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (India) in the continuous presence of public and under strict medical check and supervision by team of expert doctors.

There is no reason to be sceptic; one may personally come and himself or herself check & scrutinize; as we doctors have done all these months and fellow men have been staying with him all throughout. Several visitors also see him throughout the day and night. Nobody ever had encountered even a doubtful situation. All of them have been satisfied with the genuinity. Even he was kept in a nursing home for more than a month for a critical checking as well as medical tests. He has been isolated from his relatives who are staying at Calicut . He is kept in a two-room flat, which is totally devoid of any kind of food.

Several doctors from India, Gujarat, Ahmedabad and abroad have from time to time examined and are unable to explain the scientific basis from current clinical knowledge, while declaring the genuinity of fasting. A team of medical doctors have supervised (medical examination as well as laboratory tests) throughout these fasting. This comprise of Dr. Sudhir Shah M.D.,D.M.(neuro), Dr. Nalin Gheewala M.D., Dr. Viresh Patel M.D., Dr. Navneet Shah M.D.(Physician and endocrinologist), Dr. K.K.Shah M.S. Gen.Surgery, Dr.Kalpesh Shah M.D.Radiologist, Dr. Gaurgey Sutaria Radiologist, Dr. Jayesh Sheth, Dr. P G. Shah, Dr. Prakash Doshi , (family physician) and several others.

Today, it is 411th day of Shri Hira Ratan Manek's fasting. (on Dt. 14th Februry 2001) He started fasting from 1.1.2000. He is on total fasting as per Jainism. He is consuming only boiled water daily between 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. only and no other liquids and just no other food, No I\V or I\Minjections. Medical checkup commenced few days before fasting programme and is continued till today. It consists of daily written record of pulse, blood pressure, respiration, temperature, water intake, urine output, weight, etc. Relevant hematological and biochemical (basic and few advanced) tests are done periodically, i.e. monthly or fortnightly. ECGs are taken regularly. Ultra Sonography, EEG, CT.Scan and M.R.I. brain have been taken at the end of one year, and a team consisting of general practitioners, physicians, surgeons, Cardiologists, endocrinologist and a neurologist have been examining him regularly and periodically from first day of fasting. Except for loss of 19 Kg weight, (Which is now stable with no further weight loss for last 3 months) a slight reduction of pulse rate and B.P., and definite reduction of respiratory rate (from 18 to now 10/minute) amazingly, there is no other medical abnormality. Even the brain and mental capacities are absolutely normal. There are hardly any findings. He has stopped passing stool after 16th day of fasting and urine output is maintained at around 600 to 800 c.c. His bloodsugar is between 60 to 90. Rest of the parameters are all normal.

Most surprisingly, he had himself climbed the famous Shatrunjay mountain (Palitana hill) on 4.4.01, on 401st day of his legendary fasting along with 500 fellowmen without anybody’s help, within 1.5 Hrs. only.

It is just amazing. Isn't it?

But how do we hypothesize it ? How does science look at it?

As per our present day scientific understanding, under normal circumstances of prolonged starvation, (under accidental situation or extraordinary situation) human being looses weight fast. First carbohydrate is utilized. Then ketones appear in urine in first week. Then proteins are burnt. Later fat are mobilized from body stores and used. Before that, the person becomes dull, lethargic and irritable, his logic and reasoning fails and vital parameters fall and within 8 to 10 weeks, as per science, the physical existence will be challenged.

Here, there has been no such ill effect. How do we explain this ? How does his energy mathematics work? How he is still so intact with normal intellect, normal mental function? So far, there is no solid thesis (as this is the first event in the world, under medical supervision), there has to be some logical, scientific hypothesis. It explains quite a bit, but also leaves few questions unanswered, for all of us to further analyses. It also opens, at the same time, several new avenues for the coming time to work upon it. (e.g. issue of obesity, the possibility of cosmic energy, the functions of pineal gland)

Here, we propose a hypothesis which has four basic steps to explain energy-metabolic mathematics.i.e.

(1) Reducing calorie requirement by chronic adaptation.
(2) Deriving basic energy from cosmic sources - chiefly, `sun energy'- solar energy.
(3) Utilizing the energy in the efficient way and recycling the same in his own body.
(4) Genetically or phenotypically a different body dis-position.

Let us discuss the proposition step by step.

(1)Chronic Adaptation Syndrome:

As the body and the mind adapts to chronic stress in a healthier way, as compared to acute stress, similarly body's adaptation must be different to chronic fasting (beyond 30 days) as compared to acute fasting (e.g. 3 to 15 days.) No body knows which is the exact point, where body adapts chronically, but 30 days sounds reasonable time though it may vary individually. This is some kind of hibernation.

The routine calorie mathematics sounds logical and applicable to acute fasting where carbohydrates break up first, ketones appear in urine and weight loss starts; fat is burnt and muscle mass reduces and vital functions and mental capacity may start slowing down. Thus in acute fasting, energy dissipated must come from stored sources of body to match 1:1 ratio of calorie consumption against utilization.

In chronic adaptation; the metabolism of body must slow down. The body needs are reduced to the minimum. This is possible by down regulation of cellular and receptor function, altering the energy metabolism to the lowest possible extent. Oxygen and water are supplied to cells as basic things. At this stage, the hunger centre will become depressed and satiety centre will be activated. So there will not be any feeling of hunger or food craving. Here hypothalamus(the master of automatic nervous system and the organ of behavior) plays an important role.

It may be possible for such an individual to do routine activity with very low amount of energy or calories as 500-600 calories, to sustain cellular metabolism. In truly hybernating animals and human beings, the energy need may go down further. Thus depending upon the activity of the individual, the energy must be provided.

At the cellular level, mitochondria may play a vital role in energy storage by proliferation. Other organelles of the cell may also help in the process of chronic adaptation.