Decades ago it was still common the existence of very large families in our towns and cities. Having 10 or more children was relatively normal and, unfortunately in many cases, less than half of them reached adulthood. The improvement of sanitary conditions and of contraceptive methods , which are available to almost everyone, have caused the number of children per family unit to fall drastically and despite this, the world population is increasing day by day. In many countries governments have reduced the number of children needed to be considered a "large family" that has been established in 3 children. The family we are going to talk about breaks all the schemes. It's l the largest family in the world: 39 wives and 94 children .
The existence of such a large family based on polygamy would not be possible in most countries of the world. India It seems to be more tolerant and permissive in this aspect since the family lives in the Indian state of Mizaram, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The largest family in the world
The head of this extended family is called Ziona and was born in Baktawng, a village in the district of Serchip in the state of Mizaram in India on July 21, 1945. His father was expelled from the village where he lived, Hmawngkawn, along with other people for following religious precepts that were considered wrong and dangerous. In 1942, the leader of this group founded a sect that at first was called "Khuangtuaha Pawl", as its founder, and later took the name of "Chana Pawl." They settled in the town of Baktawng Tlangnuam where the 2,000 members of the sect currently reside.
It is a basically Christian sect, but it has the peculiarity of practicing polygamy. Ziona inherited from his father the leadership of this religious group and following his doctrine has contracted marriage on 39 occasions. He was married for the first time at age 17 with a woman three years older who is the one who currently directs all the "home" affairs of this great family. The woman is very proud of her position and of the respect that all the members of the family group have for her. Between the ages of 17 and 60 she contracted successive marriages, becoming curious that in one of those years she married 10 times! Their wives, in the interviews that they have done, seem happy with the situation and one of their children has explained that Ziona has married the poorest women of the town to have a decent exit.
The largest family in the world It is self-sufficient and does not receive state aid. Women, as is often the case in rural areas of India, are engaged in housework and childcare, while men in the family work the fields, take care of the animals, are carpenters, blacksmiths or some cases teach at the school where the children go. Schooling is equal to that of any public school in the country with the particularity that they spend a few hours studying subjects related to the beliefs of their sect.
Most members of the largest family in the world they live in a four-story building, in the mountainous village of Baktawng Tlangnuam, which has more than 100 rooms. The house is called "Chhuan Thar Run" or "House of the New Generation". On the ground floor, the leader of the sect and family boss, Ziona, has his fourth. Their younger wives live in that plant and the older ones in the upper floor. Ziona spends time with each of the wives who claim not to have problems between them since their relationship is based on love and mutual respect.
Everyday life seems very difficult for such a large family, but apparently they are perfectly organized. Before 6 in the morning all meet to pray and once the sentences are completed, each member is assigned the tasks that correspond to him that day. They eat in the great hall of the house, which is the same place that serves to pray. They eat between 4 and 6 per age and before 9 o'clock at night the whole family has retired to sleep.
The largest family in the world She has continued to reproduce and her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and many grandchildren have joined her. Mr. Ziona said a few years ago that he was interested in continuing to contract marriages because the purpose of these is to spread the doctrines of his sect to more people. They rose to fame when they were named one of the 11 strangest stories of 2011 published by "De Ripley, believe it or not!" ( Ripley's Believe It or Not! ).
What do you think of this family, the sect and Mr. Ziona? Do you think that it is absolutely aberrant or simply the fruit of an education that makes women little more than an object in the service of the male? We look forward to your opinion! And if you have grown up in a very large family, let us have your experience! Do you think it is positive or negative? If you want to know other cases of different marriages, we invite you to read the post: 4 Societies that practiced polyandry, have more than one husband.