“The 12-year-old conjoined twins, Shivanath and Shivram Sahukar, made a solemn commitment to each other, vowing, ‘We will stay united as we age.’ These extraordinary twins, born in India, caused quite a sensation in their village, with some locals even considering them divine incarnations. Despite a doctor suggesting the possibility of separating them, the twins, joined at the waist, remain steadfast in their decision to stay together. Shivram asserted, ‘We have no desire to be separated. We will remain together as we grow old. We want to live as we are.'”

“Before heading to school in Chhattisgarh, India, Shivram and Shivanath posed for a photo.”

“Descending the staircase with their schoolbags, Shivram and Shivanath, hailing from a small village near Raipur in central India, demonstrated their remarkable collaboration. Sharing two legs and four arms, they surprised medical professionals with their ability to independently perform daily tasks. Despite a local doctor affirming their overall health, the separation remains impossible. The twins are believed to share a common stomach while having separate lungs, hearts, and brains, being entirely conjoined at the hip.”

“Shivanath and Shivram joyfully engage with friends in their neighborhood. Through self-taught routines, they seamlessly navigate daily activities like bathing, eating, dressing, and even assisting each other with hair combing. Confidently managing the stairs in their modest split-level home, they showcase their ability to run on all six limbs while participating in games with neighboring children. Shivanath, seemingly the more delicate of the two, remarked, ‘We’ve taught ourselves everything. Riding our bicycle to school and playing cricket pose no challenge for us.’ Accomplished students, they are top performers in their local school, much to the pride of their devoted father, Raj Kumar.”

“The twins getting ready for school, where they excel as top pupils.”

“Raj Kumar, their father, expressed, ‘For everyone, it is good to watch my children, but only I understand all the problems they have. During the rainy season, it becomes difficult for them to walk, and when one wants to sit, the other has to lie down. But they don’t fight. They have similar opinions, and if one says he wants to play, the other one agrees.’ Raj Kumar, a laborer and father of five daughters, is fiercely protective, stating that even if doctors recommend separation, he won’t allow it, emphasizing his commitment to working hard to support and nourish them.”

“Srimati Sahukar, the twins’ mother, and Raj Kumar Sahukar at their family home in Balodabazar Lavan, about 100 miles from Raipur.”

“The twins’ mother, Srimati, and their two sisters are pictured in their family home. Raj Kumar added, ‘God has created them like this, so they have to walk like they do. They will remain like this. I don’t want anything else. Even if doctors say so, I won’t get my children separated. I have no interest in money. I’m the one who will work hard to nourish them. I don’t need any help.’ Conjoined twins occur when the zygote, the initial cell formed by sexual reproduction, fails to completely separate. While separation is technically possible, it raises questions about what would be gained and lost, considering the family’s wishes, societal perceptions, and the twins’ well-being.”

“The twins use their hands to walk on the village road.”

“The twins use their hands to walk on the village road. While the operation is possible, it would be expensive and require long-term rehabilitation, both physically and psychologically. Dr. Krishan Chugh, head of pediatrics at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute near Delhi, acknowledges the potential for separation but warns of drastic consequences for Shivanath. While Shivram could lead a more normal life with both legs, Shivanath would be left with no legs and needing full-time care. Dr. Chugh emphasizes the importance of considering the twins’ current well-adjusted state and their potential for financial, economic, and physical independence.”

“The twins studying on a mat at their home.”

“While the twins and their father remain adamant about not being separated, Dr. Chugh suggests that their mindset may change over time as they observe others leading individual lives. He states, ‘They are 12 years old now, and they must see others running around as individuals and being separate mentally and physically. How much they are motivated to be like the others is what we would have to try and assist.’ The case of Shivanath and Shivram bears similarities to the famous conjoined twins Ganga and Jamuna Mondal from West Bengal, India, who made a living performing as The Spider Sisters in the Dreamland Circus, earning £26 a night. The Mondal twins, now in their mid-40s, are both married to a carnival worker named Gadadhar.”