Man proud of his 12 fingers and 14 toes

Heramb Ashok Kumthekar, a 22 year old marketing student from Pune was born with 12 fingers and 14 toes Photo: BARCROFT MEDIA

Heramb's extra digits are caused by the medical condition polydactlyism Photo: BARCROFT MEDIA

... 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.

... 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. - telegraph