A man pretended to be dead to observe the turnout at his own funeral. Mohan Lal, a former Indian Air Force veteran, conducted a unique social experiment in the village of Konchi, Gaya district, India. He lay in a coffin, covered with a sheet, and was carried towards a crematorium to gauge the level of attention he would receive.
The experiment was successful, drawing hundreds of mourners who believed the 74-year-old had passed away. As the procession approached the crematorium, Mohan surprised everyone by rising from the coffin, revealing he was still alive. He expressed his curiosity, stating he wanted to witness firsthand the respect and affection shown by people during a funeral.
Following his resurrection act, an effigy was burned instead, and a communal feast was organized for the village residents. Mohan had previously donated a crematorium to the village to enable cremations during rainy seasons. His various social contributions have earned him respect and popularity within the community, as reported by a local resident.
In a similar but less well-received incident in 2023, a Brazilian man named Baltazar Lemos, a veteran funeral director, orchestrated his own funeral to test how many people would attend. Disappointed by a previous service with only two mourners, he devised an elaborate plan that backfired, angering many for playing with their emotions.
Lemos first posted a photo outside a hospital in Sao Paulo on Facebook, followed by an announcement of his demise on social media the next day. This news shocked friends and family who were unaware of his alleged illness. He then arranged a service at a chapel in Curitiba, Brazil, on January 18, publicizing the details on his social media platform.