"I lead a simple and disciplined life."
Airport staff were left stunned after an Indian man showed them a passport that claimed he is 123-years-old.
Swami Sivananda had walked through the terminal at Abu Dhabi airport when he showed airport staff the travel document.
Mr Sivananda had been travelling back to Kolkata from London and stopped off in Abu Dhabi to change planes.
His passport states that he was born on August 8, 1896, in Behala, India.
If the date on his passport is correct, Mr Sivananda would be the oldest person to have ever lived.
The elderly man has been trying to have his age and status confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records for three years but he is yet to enter the book.
It has been difficult proving his age because the only record of his age comes from a temple register.
Mr Sivananda lost both of his parents before he was six and was given away by his relatives to a spiritual leader. They travelled together around India before settling in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Even though he claims to be 123, Mr Sivananda is in good health and looks decades younger which he puts down to yoga, discipline and celibacy.
In 2016, he spoke about the lifestyle he leads:
“I lead a simple and disciplined life. I eat very simply – only boiled food without oil or spices, rice and boiled daal (lentil stew) with a couple of green chillies.”
At five foot two inches, Mr Sivananda explained that he sleeps on a mat on the floor and his pillow is a wooden slab.
He said:
“I avoid taking milk or fruits because I think these are fancy foods.”
“In my childhood, I slept many days on an empty stomach.
“Discipline is the most important thing is life. One can conquer anything with discipline in food habits, exercise and sexual desires.”
Mr Sivananda was born in colonial-era India where there was no electricity, cars or telephones. On modern-day innovations, he said he is not interested in new technology and prefers to be independent.
He added: “Earlier people were happy with fewer things. Nowadays people are unhappy, unhealthy and have become dishonest, which pains me a lot.
“I just want people to be happy, healthy and peaceful.”
Although it is possible that Mr Sivananda is the oldest person ever, so far the oldest recognised person was Jeanne Louise Calment of France, who reached 122 years and 164 days old.
The Daily Mail reported that the oldest living person who is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records is Kane Tanaka from Japan, aged 116 years and 278 days.
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