Ziona Chana Indian man with 39 wives Country: India

1. An Indian man with 39 wives
2. A life of abundance and hierarchy
3. The life of Ziona Chana
4. A family built on love and respect

An Indian man with 39 wives

Despite the fact that the civilized world has mostly abandoned the practice of polygamy, there are still places where men easily and simply take two, three, or even ten wives. In most cases, this tradition can be traced back to Mormonism, which has spread widely across the world. However, the family we are talking about goes beyond that norm. Ziona Chana lives in the Indian state of Mizoram and having more than one wife is not considered unusual in his village. In fact, Mr. Chana has taken 39 wives, a scale of polygamy that is unparalleled even in his community. Together, they have given birth to 94 children and now have 39 grandchildren. They live in a four-story, 22-bedroom house painted in bright purple called Chhuanthar Run, which translates to "New Generation".

A life of abundance and hierarchy

With simple arithmetic, it becomes clear that the 22 rooms in the house are not enough for each individual to have their own private space. Therefore, several people, sometimes 9-10, share a room. The younger children and women live more closely together. For dinner, the family consumes 30 chickens and 60 kg of potatoes, while lunch consists of 50 kg of rice. An additional 40 kg of rice is consumed for dinner, resulting in a daily total of up to 100 kg of rice. Mr. Chana is the spiritual leader of a religious sect that embraces polygamy, allowing men to take as many wives as they desire without any restrictions. In one year, he once married ten new wives, but that was in his youth. He is now in his seventies and believes his family will continue to expand as long as he has the strength to do so.

The life of Ziona Chana

Ziona Chana himself sleeps in his own large bed, while his wives live in a sort of dormitory. The older wives are occupied solely in the kitchen, while the younger women have a different role in his life. Mr. Chana has his own system for the women to visit him in his bedroom. He is seen as the head of the family and the most respected person in the village. Most of the property in the settlement belongs to him, and the main source of income comes from a furniture factory that he established, creating job opportunities for locals. He works every day, starting early in the morning, not only for business purposes but also due to religious beliefs that emphasize the importance of hard work. The village thrives in comparison to other Indian villages, as the locals also engage in vegetable farming and pig farming. Mr. Chana is respected not only within his household but also beyond its walls, making him the most esteemed person in the village.

A family built on love and respect

All of Mr. Chana's wives claim that the family lives in love and mutual respect. They consider their position honorable, as being married to him means taking responsibility and caring for others. They adore and deeply respect their benefactor, viewing him as the first and foremost person in their lives. In this monogamy-dominated world, such a family evokes not only curiosity but also confusion and irritation. To accept the fact that a man can set aside his "old" wife at any moment and take a younger one requires a certain mindset, like that of a Mormon or a similar belief system. Nevertheless, the largest family in the world, the Chana family, lives happily in their cheerful, purple house in the remote village of Mizoram, India.