Ziona
Indian sect leader (1945–2021) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ziona (born Zionnghaka; 21 July 1945 – 13 June 2021)[1] was the leader of Lalpa Kohhran Thar (meaning "The Lord's New Church"), informally referred to as Chana Pâwl or Chhuanthar Kohhran ("The Church of New Generation"), a polygamy-practising Christian sect in Mizoram, India.[2][3] He was often referred to as a world record holder for being the head of the "world's largest existing family"[4][5] or the "world's biggest family".[6] In 2011, as officials of the Guinness World Records made verification, he refused the world record title as he shunned publicity.[7] His family was nonetheless listed as the "Biggest Family" in the world in 2011 by the World Record Academy,[8] and The Wall Street Journal in 2011,[9] and then by the London World Records in 2019.[10]
Ziona | |
---|---|
Born | Zionnghaka (1945-07-21)21 July 1945 Baktawng village, Assam Province, British India |
Died | 13 June 2021(2021-06-13) (aged 75) |
Known for | Fathering the largest living family |
Spouses | 39 |
Children | 94 |
The religious sect he led was formed by his uncle Khuangtuaha in 1942 as a millennialist denomination, which survives in Serchhip district in Mizoram state of India, sharing borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.[11] After migration from Hmawngkawn village, the sect settled in Baktawng village Mizoram, India.[12] In 1997, Ziona succeeded his father Chana, who in turn had succeeded Khuangtuaha in 1966. He had 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law, 33 grandchildren and one great grandchild; 181 family members in total and counting. His family and their four-story residence are one of the major tourist attractions in Mizoram.[13][14] He was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! top 11 strangest stories for the year 2011,[15] and in 2013's Ripley Believe It or Not book 9.[16][17][18]