A story from the hills of Meghalaya has once again captured the internet’s attention. Ram Pirtuh, a farmer from Bataw village in East Jaintia Hills district, has become famous for his astonishing ability to eat chillies without showing pain.
In a resurfaced viral video, Ram is seen consuming more than 10 kilograms of hot dried chillies in one sitting — without shedding a tear or even breaking a sweat.
Viral claims about Ram say that he even washes his private parts with chilli powder without reacting. While these sensational claims are widely shared, there is no verified evidence to confirm them.
How the chilli-man became famous
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Ram’s unusual ability first gained attention in 2021, when local videos showed him eating bags of chillies with ease. A video titled “This man from Meghalaya can eat 10 kilograms of hot chillies at a time” went up on Facebook and YouTube, where it quickly gained millions of views.
Speaking about his lifestyle, the farmer told reporters, “Chilli is a part of my life. I’ve been eating it since childhood and now I don’t feel any spiciness.”
Locals say Ram eats chillies with every meal — whether it’s rice, vegetables or meat curries. He even starts his day with chilli tea. “Chilli is my medicine—nothing seems to make me sick,” Ram claims.
As his fame spread, people began testing his tolerance. During one show, he was bathed in chilli paste and even had chilli smeared on his private parts. To everyone’s shock, he remained unaffected.
Chilli cultivation is common in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, but no one comes close to Ram’s fiery endurance. His diet, locals say, is almost entirely chilli-based. He drinks chilli tea in morning, eats chilli-mutton curry for lunch and consumes raw chillies in the evening.