5. He is head of the world's biggest family - and
says he is 'blessed' to have his 39 wives.
Ziona Chana also has 94 children
14-daughters-in-law
33 grandchildren.
They live in a 100-room, four storey house
set amidst the hills of Baktwang village in the
Indian state of Mizoram
6.
7. Ziona (born 1944/1945) is a head of Pu
Chana páwl, a Christian sect formed in June
1942, which survives in the mountains of
Mizoram state of India, sharing borders with
Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Ziona was featured in Ripley's Believe It or
Not! top 11 strangest stories for the year
2011 and in 2013's Ripley Believe It or Not
book 9
8.
9. Ziona's father Chana, who was said to have
married over 20 women died in 1997; after
him the legacy of 'Lalpa Kohhran' was carried
on by his eldest son Ziona.
Like his father Ziona is responsible for the
spiritual, social and economic welfare of all
his family members.
10. We built a society that is more tolerant of personal
differences in views and thoughts and where people
appreciate and carry forward the value of mutual
respect, love and co-operation," Ziona said.
11. The family is organised with almost military
discipline, with the oldest wife Zathiangi
organising her fellow partners to perform
household chores such as cleaning, washing
and preparing meals.
One evening meal can see them pluck 30
chickens, peel 132lb of potatoes and boil up
to 220lb of rice.
Coincidentally, Mr Chana is also head of a
sect that allows members to take as many
wives as he want
12.
13. The members of the cult do not mind being
called a religious sect because they take
pride in nurturing the legacy of 'Lalpa
Kohhran' (God's church) founded by their
'godfather' Chana in 1966
14. The administration of the settlement is so
complete that besides the religious aspect of
the unit, the Lalpa Kohhran family have their
own school called
Chhuanthar Students Home (Class V to Class
X)
a playground they call Chhuanthar Stadium,
carpentry workshops
piggery farm
poultry farm
paddy fields
a vegetable garden big enough to feed the
entire family.
15.
16. The sons and their wives, and all their
children, live in different rooms in the same
building, but share a common kitchen.
The wives take turns cooking,
while his daughters clean the house and do
washing.
The men do outdoor jobs like farming and
taking care of livestock.
17.
18. All the cooking is done over an open fire kept
burning throughout the day.
Ziona's eldest wife Zathiangi, 69, delegates
all the daily duties around the house to his
other wives, their daughters and the
daughters-in-law.
Every day there is a mountain of washing
to get through - all done by hand.
And how often does a wife get to sleep
with Chana? – A 'rotation system' is
maintained, he says.
19.
20. "Most of the women Ziona married were
poor and orphan women in the village.
By marrying them, he has set an example in
the history of mankind.
He is confident that he can remember all
their names, including those of his children's
spouses - 15 daughters-in-law and 26 sons-in-
law - and his 50 grandchildren.
21.
22. Surprisingly, all the wives get along very well
and there is hardly any infighting among
them.
One of her co-wives, Huntharn-ghaki,
insists all of Ziona's brides get along.
She says: "If a family system is laid on the
founding stone of mutual and genuine love
and respect for each and every member, then
the system is guaranteed to be a success
23. The family, consumes around 200 pounds of
rice a
nd more than 130 pounds of potatoes a day.
They are supported by their own resources
and occasional donations from followers.
"Even today, I am ready to expand my family
and willing to go to any extent to marry,"
Ziona said.
"I have so many people to care (for) and look
after, and I consider myself a lucky man."
Ziona met his oldest wife, who is three years
older than he is, when he was 17.
24.
25. Older and younger wives sleep in separate
dormetries.
Males with their Families on 2nd floor.
Ziona’s oldest son is 50 years old only one
with the separate appartment.
All the family members are engaged in
village social work including building of roads
and water tanks.
26. While Mr Chana sleeps in his own room with a
double bed, his wives share rooms that
resemble dormitories.
The rooms are sparsely furnished and each
wife is allocated one bed and a cupboard.
The younger wives are assigned rooms
nearer their husband's on the ground floor,
while the older ones get rooms on the upper
floor.
27. Another of his wives, Huntharnghanki, said
the entire family gets along well. The family
system is reportedly based on 'mutual love
and respect'
And Mr Chana, whose religious sect has 4,00
members, says he has not stopped looking for
new wives.
'To expand my sect, I am willing to go even
to the U.S. to marry,' he said.