The Worlds Largest Polygamous Family
Ziona Chana
Ziona Chana was born on July 21, 1945, in the Baktawng village located in the state of Mizoram, Northeast India. Chana was born into a poor family and grew up in a remote and isolated village. He belonged to a religious sect called the Chana Pawl, which practices a form of Christianity known as the "Brethren," combined with local tribal customs and traditions. His father, Khuangtuaha Chana, was the founder of this sect. Ziona Chana, like other members of his sect, followed a polygamous lifestyle. He married his first wife, Zathiangi, in 1959 when he was just 14 years old. Over the years, he continued to marry more women from the same village, some of whom were sisters or cousins. The marriages were typically arranged by the sect's elders, and each new wife was given her own separate dwelling within the family's compound. Chana was the father of numerous children, with the number still growing at the time of his death. He had set several records with his large family, including the world record for the largest living individual family. The household was organized hierarchically, with Chana being the head of the family and his wives abiding by a rotational system for spending time with him. Despite the size of his family, Chana managed his household efficiently. He created jobs within his community to sustain the family's needs and earn a living. The family owned a large plot of land where they practiced agriculture, primarily cultivating crops such as soybeans, bananas, and rice. They also reared livestock and ran a small local school. The family's income was supplemented through donations from followers of their religious sect.