Most Fingers and Toes-world record set
by Haramb Ashok Kumthekar
GOA, India --
Haramb Ashok Kumthekar, a 22 year old marketing student from
Pune was born with 12 fingers and 14 toes-setting the world
record for the Most Fingers and Toes-Living person.
Photo: Heramb Ashok Kumthekar, a 22
year old marketing student from Pune was born with 12 fingers
and 14 toes Photo: BARCROFT MEDIA (enlarge
photo)
Pianists, typists and tailors might all look on
green with envy at Haramb, but for him it means he cannot
even wear a pair of simple flip-flops, nor can he find a pair
of gloves that fit his hands in the winter.
Heramb,
who is currently studying for a Masters in Business Management
at his college in the western Indian town of Pune, has always
seen his extra digits as something to be proud of.
"I am happy about it because I have something
that others don't have," says Heramb. And showing a full understanding
of that old maxim 'Use what you've got' , Heramb goes on to
say, "I never had a problem with it and after I get publicity
I will be famous because of it." Photo: BARCROFT
MEDIA (enlarge
photo)
Heramb's extra digits are caused by the medical
condition polydactlyism, which translates from the Greek for
"many fingers".
The congenital condition occurs in one in every
500 births and famous holders of extra digits include the
beheaded ex-wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, who was rumoured
to have an extra finger on her left hand.
Indeed, Heramb shares the condition with one
of his idols, the Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan. Roshan,
34, who is one of Indian cinema's rising stars, boasts one
extra digit on each hand.
Because of the sheer number of digits he has
Heramb does not have the requisite amount of nerve endings
available to feel all his fingers and toes.
Aware of his extra digits, but unable to move
them, the awkwardness this causes has led to some friendly
jibes from his friends. "My friends sometimes kiddingly say
that my hands and feet resemble that of an alien," he laughs.
Regardless, Heramb, who lives with his mother
Seeta, 49, clearly sees his oddity as a gift rather than a
curse.
Monday,
August 4, 2008
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