Editing Inedia (section)

===Prahlad Jani ("Mataji")===
[[Prahlad Jani]] was an Indian [[sadhu]] who claimed to have lived without food and water for more than 70 years. Doctors at Sterling Hospital investigated his claims in [[Ahmedabad]], Gujarat, in 2003 and 2010.<ref name="Dasgupta-Hindu">{{Cite news |last=Dasgupta |first=Manas |date=9 May 2010 |title=The Hindu – DIPAS concludes observational study on 'Mataji' |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article425184.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231214130/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article425184.ece |archive-date=31 December 2015}}</ref> The study concluded that Prahlad Jani was able to survive under observation for ten days without food and water, and had passed no [[urine]] or [[feces|stool]],<ref name="Khanna-bbc">{{Cite news |last=Rajeev Khanna |date=25 November 2003 |title=Fasting fakir flummoxes physicians |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3236118.stm |url-status=live |access-date=7 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328154126/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3236118.stm |archive-date=28 March 2016}}</ref> with no need for [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scientists Baffled by Prahlad Jani, Man Who Doesn't Eat or Drink |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/International/man-eat-drink/story?id=10787036 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173223/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/International/man-eat-drink/story?id=10787036 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> Interviews with the researchers speak of strict observation and relate that round-the-clock observation was ensured by multiple [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] cameras. Jani was subjected to multiple medical tests.<ref name="DNAIndia">{{Cite web |date=7 May 2010 |title=Experts baffled as Mataji's medical reports are normal |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_experts-baffled-as-mataji-s-medical-reports-are-normal_1380169 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128132105/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_experts-baffled-as-mataji-s-medical-reports-are-normal_1380169 |archive-date=28 January 2013}}</ref> The research team could not comment on his claim of having been able to survive in this way for decades.

The case has attracted criticism, both after the 2003 tests and the 2010 tests. [[Sanal Edamaruku]], president of the [[Indian Rationalist Association]], criticized the 2010 experiment for allowing Jani to move out of a certain CCTV camera's field of view, meet devotees, and leave the sealed test room to sunbathe. Edamaruku stated that the regular gargling and bathing activities were not sufficiently monitored and accused Jani of having had some "influential protectors" who denied Edamaruku permission to inspect the project during its operation.<ref name="rationalistinternational1">{{Cite web |last=Edamaruku |first=Sanal |date=18 May 2010 |title=Prahlad Jani and his powerful protectors |url=http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2010/20100518/en_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165946/http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2010/20100518/en_1.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=14 June 2010 |publisher=Rationalistinternational.net}}</ref>