Amou Haji World’s Dirtiest Man

It’s common to miss a shower or two due to time constraints, forgetfulness or lack of access to bathing facilities. However, if you go for more than a week without bathing, things can become a bit worrisome and smelly. Can you imagine not taking a bath for a year? Or even for 67 long years? Well, this was the reality for an Iranian man known as Amou Haji, who was famously referred to as the “World’s Dirtiest Man”. For more than half a century, Amou Haji lived a solitary life as a hermit, never bathing, consuming roadkill, and smoking animal dung from a pipe. Although he may sound like a mythical creature, Amou Haji was indeed a real person. 

Amou Haji, the World’s Dirtiest Man 

Amou Haji, a man born on August 20, 1928, spent his entire life in the Iranian village of Dez Gah. Despite being known by his nickname, “Old Timer,” his real name remains unknown. Haji lived in a cinder block shack located on the outskirts of the village, and his presence was well-known by locals, despite his reclusive nature. Haji became a hermit after suffering from heartbreak, and his aversion to bathing was so strong that he avoided it for over 60 years, believing that using soap and water could cause illness. This left his skin caked in dirt, dust, and pus, making him a unique and interesting figure in local lore.

Amou Haji, a resident of a village in Iran, gained notoriety for his peculiar lifestyle. He had not taken a bath in decades and his skin had turned into an almost uniform gray-brown shade. To maintain his grooming, he used to burn off his head and beard hair with fire. Despite his unhygienic lifestyle, he lived to an incredible 94 years old, and surprisingly, it was reported that he was in good health. Once, some younger men tried to force him to bathe, but Haji managed to escape without any water touching him. His life and unique habits have garnered attention and curiosity from many people around the world.

What Did He Eat and Drink?

Amou Haji was a man who stood out from the rest of society due to his peculiar habits. He was known for his fear of water and bathing, but he consumed large quantities of unwashed water from a filthy tin can to stay hydrated, often drinking up to 5 liters a day. He refused fresh food and water and instead preferred to find his own food, which usually took the form of raw roadkill, with his favorite being porcupine. In addition to this, he had the unusual habit of smoking animal dung in his old pipe or multiple cigarettes at a time. Despite his unhygienic and unhealthy habits, he remained healthy until his death, which could be attributed to his first bath in ages and not his eating or smoking habits.

Did Bathing Kill Amou Haji?

Amou Haji was a man from Iran who became famous for not bathing for 67 years. Despite many attempts by his fellow villagers to persuade him to bathe, he refused to do so. However, at the age of 94, some villagers managed to convince him to take a proper bath. Unfortunately, his health began to decline soon after, and a few months later, Amou Haji passed away in his home at the age of 94.

Amou Haji’s longevity and good health despite his unsanitary living conditions attracted the attention of medical professionals. Tests were carried out by Dr. Gholamreza Molavi, a professor of parasitology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Public Health, to discover the secret to his good health. The doctor concluded that Amou Haji’s immune system could have become very strong after living under such unhygienic conditions for years. This could be the reason behind his good health.

However, Amou Haji had acquired a parasitic food-borne disease called trichinosis, probably from eating uncooked meat. This disease did not seem to affect his health in any meaningful way.

Overall, Amou Haji lived an interesting life. He was a harmless man who preferred not to take a bath. Although it is unclear whether his first bath in 67 years was the cause of his death, it is certain that he lived a long and unusual life.