World’s Smallest Gita in Pendant set Limca Book of Records

World’s smallest Bhagwad Gita in the form of a pendant and containing 18 chapters and 700 shlokas in 24 carat gold letters is available for sale in select Ludhiana jewellery stores.

The product has been created by Pawan Sinha, an associate professor of neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Sinha had entered the Limca Book of Records in 2008 for his creation. The product had been available at Tanishq stores for the last one year; but now, it is available for sale in Ludhiana with a new brand name, Dijyo, said Rajiv Arora, CEO of Dijyo. It was formally launched in the city on Friday evening.

The price of this spiritual pendant ranges from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 and it can be worn in a gold chain or mangal sutra, Arora added. The Bhagwad Gita on pendent has been made using nanotechnology and it can be read using a microscope, said Vikas Vashisht, regional manager of Dijyo, adding that so far, more than 15,000 pieces have already been sold off in the last one year. The money raised in selling these pendants will go into the treatment of congenitally blind children whose families are too poor to afford medical help.

12 Fingers and 14 Toes Guinness World Record

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.

6000 feet long banner enters Limca Book of Records

A 6000-feet-long banner painted by around 5000 children of various schools in Puducherry has entered the Limca Book of World Records, Education Minister of the Union Territory M O H F Shahjahan said on Thursday.

The banner which was displayed at the week-long 34th Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Fair for Children-2007 here, projected the theme `Science and Mankind`. The children were let to use their imagination to bring about the theme.

Students from standard VI onwards started painting images from December 9 on the banner which was displayed at the fair, Director of Education, G Ragesh Chandra told PTI. The fair which started on Dec 21 ended on Thurday.

A digital banner running to 5000 feet, prepared by science teachers of all the schools, also was displayed at the fair.