Swami Sivananda, a man in India has recently shocked not only the airport staff of Abu Dhabi, but also the entire world. His passport shows that he was born in the year 1896, meaning he is 123 years, and the oldest person to have ever lived. 

If his passport is real, then he would be a year older than the holder of the Guinness Record for the world’s oldest person – Jeanne Louise Calment of France who lived until 122 years old.

The only problem is that the only available proof that this Indian man is as old as he says he is, is from an old temple register, similar to many other Indians of his generation. 

Swami also looks far younger than what’s written on his passport, however he says that his youthful look comes from eating well, avoiding spices and oils at all costs, as well as practicing yoga and living a balanced lifestyle.  Swami has been trying to make it into the Guinness Book of Records for the past three years, but since he can’t quite prove his age, he has yet to make it official. 

He is reported to have been raised by a guru after his parents passed away when he was just four years old. Swami settled down in the holy city of Varasni where he gained a following, and claims that it was them that encouraged him to seek publicity, and not him that wanted to come forward.