ISLAMABAD: The first day of August is the most special day of the year for Ameer Ali Mangi, his wife and their seven children: it's when all nine of them celebrate their birthday, which has recently given them entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Certified in July this year, the Mangis are now featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as "most family members born on the same day."
It took the family form Larkana, Sindh province, three years to finally be recognized and dethrone American citizens Carolyn and Ralph Cummins, who had held the Guinness record since 1966 with their five children born on Feb. 20.
"It was a hard fight. I applied for this record in 2018, when a friend told me to do so as it’s a unique that nine members of a family shared the same birthday,” Mangi, a 53-year-old schoolteacher, told Arab News on Saturday.
"After more than a year of follow ups, Guinness Book accepted my application on Aug. 1, 2019. Then it was a long journey of verifications and investigation. I provided each and every document they asked from me."
Nine members of the Mangi family celebrate their birthday in Larkana, Sindh on August 1, 2008. (Photo courtesy: Amir Ali Mangi)
Mangi was born on Aug. 1, 1968, his wife Khadija on Aug. 1, 1973, their first daughter Sindhu on Aug. 1, 1992, twin daughters Sassi and Sapna on Aug. 1, 1998, first son Amir on Aug. 1, 2001, second son Ambar on Aug. 1, 2002, and twin sons Amar and Ahmer on Aug. 1, 2003.
In December 2020, the Guinness Book of World Records informed the family that the verification was complete.
"They processed the certificate in March this year, which I received in July," Mangi said.
The first day of August, he says, is his luckiest date.
"I joined government education department and also got married on Aug. 1," he said, adding that at that time he did not know that Khadija was also born on the same day.
"The births of all my sons and daughters on the same date was also not planned rather it was from Allah."
Ameer Ali Mangi's daughters Sindhu, Sapna Ameer and Sasui pose for a photo with their school principal Rubina Naru at the Physical Education College in Sukkur on April 15, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Amir Ali Mangi)
The children not only share their birthday with Mangi but also his love of learning. All of them have been enrolled in higher education institutes, mainly in engineering and science.
While it is almost impossible for all family members to be born on the same day, Mian Naeem, an astrologist, told Arab News the date being the first day of the month is additionally auspicious.
“(Number) 'one' is the universe's starting number," he said. "If it is your lucky number, it repeats in your life’s successful events.”
