The Man With 39 Wives: Inside the World’s Largest Family of 181 People

In a distant village tucked away within the hills of Mizoram, India, lived a person who constructed not only a residence, however a legacy that shocked the world. Ziona Chana wasn’t a star or a royal king. He was merely the patriarch of what’s broadly thought to be the biggest household on this planet, and the numbers don’t lie.

Ziona married 39 wives, fathered 94 kids, had 14 daughters-in-law, and welcomed 33 grandchildren earlier than his demise in 2021. That introduced his whole household dimension to 181 folks, all dwelling below one roof.

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The place all of it started

Ziona was born in 1945 and led a Christian sect referred to as Chana Pawl, which promotes polygamy. The group was based by his father in 1942 and reportedly has a whole bunch of members. Within the sect, males are allowed to marry a number of wives so long as they will present for them.

His first marriage was on the age of 17. From there, the household tree exploded like wildfire.

Life inside a 4-storey household mansion

You’d suppose such a big household can be scattered throughout villages, however nope. All of them lived collectively in a four-storey, 100-room home referred to as “Chuuar Than Run”, which interprets to “The Home of the New Technology.”

Situated within the Baktawng village of Mizoram, the mansion is so large it has change into a vacationer attraction. The home consists of:

• Dormitory-style rooms for the wives

• Separate quarters for the kids

• A large kitchen that feeds dozens at each mealtime

It reportedly takes 30 entire chickens, 132 kilos of potatoes, and 220 kilos of rice to make only one meal. Think about cooking that thrice a day!

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How the household operated

Regardless of how chaotic this would possibly sound, all the things ran like clockwork. Ziona’s first spouse, Zathiangi, acted because the “supervisor” of the family. She organised chores, meal planning, and scheduling, ensuring the household functioned as a unit.

Every spouse had a particular position, from cleansing to farming to child-rearing. The kids additionally pitched in, attending college and serving to with each day duties.

Ziona himself was recognized to rotate which spouse he spent the evening with, following a schedule in order that none felt not noted.

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Was it authorized?

Whereas polygamy is illegitimate in most elements of India, Mizoram has extra lenient customs in sure rural areas, particularly amongst tribal communities. The Chana sect’s polygamous practices are protected below spiritual and tribal autonomy.

Nonetheless, the household was typically within the highlight, dealing with each admiration and criticism for its dimension and setup.

When the world took discover

Ziona and his household have been featured in numerous documentaries and worldwide media. In 2011, he made headlines globally when “Ripley’s Imagine It or Not” named him as having the biggest household on this planet.

From the BBC to Reuters to the Guinness World Data neighborhood (although by no means formally recorded as a result of technicalities), the Chana household turned international celebrities.

Vacationers began visiting their village simply to catch a glimpse of the person with 39 wives and his seemingly countless line of kids.

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Ziona’s demise and legacy

Ziona Chana handed away on June 13, 2021, on the age of 76, after battling well being problems. His demise made nationwide headlines in India and stirred a wave of tributes and curiosity on-line.

His son has since taken over some management tasks inside the sect, and the household continues to stay collectively, preserving Ziona’s legacy.

Whereas critics questioned the morality or sustainability of such a way of life, one factor’s for positive: Ziona Chana left behind a dwelling, respiration legacy of affection, religion, and excessive household values.

So why did he do it?

In interviews earlier than his demise, Ziona expressed that he felt “blessed to have so many individuals to take care of and who take care of me.” He believed that having a big household was his calling and a solution to honour his spiritual beliefs.

To some, it was a weird social experiment. To others, a wonderful, if overwhelming, image of unity and devotion. However for Ziona, it was simply household.

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