Husband with 38 Wives... Indian Man Who Led the 'World's Largest Family' Dies at 76

Husband of 38 Wives... Indian Man Who Led the 'World's Largest Family' Dies at 76

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Sion-a Chana, an Indian man known as the head of the "world's largest family" with 38 wives, 89 children, and 33 grandchildren, passed away on the 13th at the age of 76.

According to local Indian media including The Hindu on the 14th, Sion-a passed away at a hospital in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.

Sion-a, who had been suffering from diabetes and hypertension, recently deteriorated and became unconscious on the 11th, The Hindu reported.

Dr. Lalintruangza Jahau told Indian local media NDTV, "Sion-a was receiving treatment at home but his condition worsened and he was urgently transferred to the hospital, but he was already deceased upon arrival."

On the same day, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga wrote on his Twitter, "Mizoram bids farewell to Mr. Sion-a with a heavy heart."

Chief Minister Zoramthanga said, "He led the world's largest family with 38 wives and 89 children."

He added that thanks to Sion-a's family, the village became an important tourist attraction.

Sion-a was the leader of a religious group called the "Chana sect." This sect was founded by his father in 1942 and consists of about 400 families, allowing polygamy.

He married his first wife, who was three years older, at the age of 17, and the family size rapidly increased thereafter.

Sion-a's family lived in a four-story building with about 100 rooms. The building was known as the "New Generation Home."

Some media reported that the number of Sion-a's family members was even larger than what Chief Minister Zoramthanga stated.

The Hindu reported, "The number of Sion-a's wives and children were 39 and 94 respectively, with 33 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild," adding, "A total of 181 family members lived under one roof."

Sion-a's wives and children lived in separate rooms but shared the kitchen.

The building where they lived also became a major tourist attraction in Mizoram.

Sion-a's family was featured twice on the TV program "Ripley's Believe It or Not" in 2011 and 2013.