Scary living for India's ghost man

From Agence France-Presse:

Mothers use his name to scare their children while even adults hope they don't bump into him in the dark -- for more than 40 years Gopal Haldar has been making his living in India's Sunderbans mangrove region as a ghost. snip Because of his poor health and stick-like physique, he added, neighbours had said he was "born to play a ghost". He took to the idea and his reputation began to spread through the myriad islands that make up the Sunderbans. "Wherever I go children call me 'Uncle Ghost' and peep at me through windows," a smiling Haldar said. "Women and children are even scared of going out at night in case they meet me." (I get the same reaction: Carnacki.) snip He mainly does his shows during the festive seasons and earns 40 to 50 rupees (about a dollar) a time, said his wife Malati, adding resignedly, "But he is addicted to smoking hemp and spends all his money on this habit." Lighting up a hemp cigarette in front of his wife, Haldar acknowledged his love of the herb. "(But) when I indulge myself in smoking hemp and playing chess, I wonder if I am a real ghost or a human being," he said philosophically.

Hat tip to dirtroad for emailing me the link.