Man 'proud' of his 12 fingers and 14 toes

(Somalia, August  06,  2008 Ceegaag Online)

Holding the record for the most recorded number of fingers and toes in a living person might be seen as a blessing to some people.

Pianists, typists and tailors might all look on green with envy at Haramb Ashok Kumthekar, of Goa in India, who has six digits on each hand and seven digits on each feet.

But for Heramb, 22, 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.

Even more frustrating is the fact that Heramb does not even hold the official Guinness world record for most digits on a person because some of his fingers are technically attached, even though they have separate bones.

The official Guinness honour belongs to his fellow countryman Devendra Harne, a 13 year old boy from Kolkota, who has 12 fingers and 13 toes on his feet.

However, there is some consolation for Heramb as he is included in the Indian equivalent of the Guinness Book of Records, the Limca Book of Records.

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."

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.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

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