From Telegraph.co.uk
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.
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