‘Dead Curious’ Man Fakes Own Death To See Who Attends Funeral

By Danial Martinus  •  23 Oct 2025 in News

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We all have intrusive thoughts that never get to see the light of day. After all, most of the time they’re not exactly things that are socially acceptable.

But one man in India’s Gaya district, retired Air Force veteran Mohan Lal, decided to take things a step further (some might say a little too far) by faking his own death, just to see who’d show up at his funeral.

A morbid curiosity

The morning of 13 October was a sombre one, with friends, family, and neighbours gathered for what they thought was Lal’s final farewell. His “body” was wrapped in a white shroud and surrounded by flowers, before being carried on a bamboo bier up to the local temple.

But just before he could be cremated, the dearly departed sat up, looking very much alive. If anything, it looked like he had just woken up from a really good nap.

The veteran later admitted it wasn’t divine intervention but pure curiosity.

“After death, people carry the bier, but I wanted to witness it myself and know how much respect and affection people give me,” he says.

Once everyone at the funeral had calmed down, the crowd decided to finish the ritual anyway, swapping Lal’s body for an effigy before proceeding to the cremation and feast. Because, really, why waste good food?

To his credit, however, Mohan Lal isn’t just a prankster with too much time on his hands. The man’s got a solid track record of generosity, having used his retirement years (and funds) to improve village life for everyone.

This includes building a well-equipped crematorium so others could have smoother final send-offs. It’s poetic in a way: he built the very place where he nearly cremated himself.

Reactions to Lal’s stunt are mixed, with some calling him an absolute madman, while others applaud him for actually letting one of his intrusive thoughts win.

Still, locals insist he meant absolutely no harm. Plus, he’s “been engaged in social work and will continue working for people till my last breath.”

If nothing else, Mohan Lal has given us all a sobering and slightly unhinged reminder: you only die once, but you can test your popularity anytime.

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