Mizoram’s Man With World’s Largest Family Dies

Ziona Chana, believed to head the world's largest family -- with 38 wives, 89 children and 33 grandchildren -- dies at the age of 76 in Mizoram.

Ziona Chana is from Mizoram. He has the world’s largest family with 38 wives, 89 children and 33 grandchildren.  Ziona died on 13th June at the age of 76 in Mizoram. He was born on July 21, 1945. Ziona Chana was the head of a religious community called 'Chana's sect' in his village. Around 400 families are members of the sect that allows polygamy for its male members. Ziona married his first wife when he was 17. He married his last wife in 2004. Ziona built a four-storied house with hundred rooms in his village. In this house all his family including all wives, his sons and their families stayed together. His daughters stayed separately with their husbands and their families.

Ziona Chana's sons and their wives, and all their children, live in different rooms while his wives shared a dormitory near his private bedroom. But they all share a common kitchen. The family, which has over 180 members, attracts a number of tourists from across India. The family was featured twice by "Ripley's Believe it or not" in 2011 and 2013. In 2014, they even featured in an advertisement of a leading dishwashing brand.

Ziona was suffering from diabetes and hypertension. He was undergoing treatment at his residence for three days. But his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the hospital. He died at 3 PM at Trinity hospital in Aizawl.

Advertisement