Ziona was often referred to as a world record holder for being the head of the "world's largest existing family" or the "world's biggest family".
21 Facts About Ziona
1.
2.
Ziona's family was nonetheless listed as the "Biggest Family" in the world in 2011 by the World Record Academy, and The Wall Street Journal in 2011, and then by the London World Records in 2019.
3.
In 1997, Ziona succeeded his father Chana, who in turn had succeeded Khuangtuaha in 1966.
4.
Ziona had 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law, 33 grandchildren and one great grandchild; 181 family members in total and counting.
5.
Ziona was born Zionnghaka on 21 July 1945 at Hmawngkawn village in Serchhip district, which is 100 kilometres to the south of Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.
6.
Ziona's father was Challianchana, leader of the Christian sect, Chana Pawl.
7.
Ziona married his first wife Zathiangi, who is older than him by three years, at the age of 17.
8.
Ziona married ten of his wives in the span of one year.
9.
Ziona built a four-storied mansion, which appears like a boarding house, to accommodate his large family.
10.
Ziona had a double bedroom in the ground floor of this mansion and his wives took turns to sleep with him according to a roster.
11.
Ziona has 26 sons-in-law and his daughters live separately with their families.
12.
Ziona said that he has named all his children and grandchildren and he remembered the names of every member of his family.
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Ziona's family is self-reliant, growing crops for their food requirements.
14.
Ziona has established a school for his children, and his younger brother looks after its functioning.
15.
Ziona's wives do the cooking, and his daughters attend to cleaning of the house and take care of washing laundry.
16.
At age 75, Ziona was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
17.
Ziona is survived by 38 wives, 89 children and 33 grandchildren.
18.
Ziona was chief of the group known as Chana Pawl, a Christian sect that practices polygamy.
19.
Ziona's family is recorded by the World Record Academy as setting the world record for the "Biggest Family".
20.
At the time of the record entry in 2011, Ziona had 39 wives, 94 children, 14-daughters-in-laws and 33 grandchildren.
21.
Ziona was listed as "head of the world's biggest family" in the London World Records in 2019.