A 76-year-old man believed to be the head of the world’s largest family has died in India’s Mizoram state.
Ziona Chana, the head of a religious sect that practiced polygamy, died on Sunday, leaving behind 38 wives and 89 children and 36 grandchildren.
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The news was confirmed by Mizoram’s chief minister, Zoramthanga, who offered is condolences on Twitter, mourning the
Chana reportedly suffered from diabetes and hypertension.
Doctors told the PTI news agency that Chana’s condition deteriorated after being treated at his home in his village. He was rushed to hospital on Sunday evening, where he was declared dead on arrival.
It’s hard to say if he was indeed the head of the world’s largest family since there are others who claim the title.
It’s also hard to estimate the exact size of Chana’s family. At least one report claims Chana had 39 wives, 94 children, 33 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, which adds up to 181 people.
While various local news reports have referred to him as holding the ‘world record’ for such a large family, it’s unclear which global record it is. It has also been widely reported that the family has been featured twice on the popular TV show Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
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But world record or not, Chana and his family are a local sensation of sorts, attracting tourists to their village in India’s north-east.
And Chana’s fascinating life has continued to grab headlines over the years.
The enormous family lives together in a four-storied house called “Chuuar Than Run” or New generation House, with 100 rooms. His wives share a dormitory near Chana’s private bedroom, according to local media.
The mansion is a major tourist attraction in the state, with people from around the world thronging the village to get a peek into the Chana’s lifestyle.
According to Reuters, Chana was born in 1945. He met his oldest wife, who is three years older than him, when he was 17.
The family belongs to a Christian sect – Chana Pawl – that has around 2,000 followers. They all live around Chana’s house in Baktawng village, about 34 miles (55km) from Mizoram’s capital city, Aizawl.
The sect, which allows polygamy for men, was founded by Chana’s grandfather in 1942
