2017-05-29 Mon

A 30-year-old executive in a public sector enterprise, Manish Dhameja entered the Guinness Book of World Records for collecting more than a million bi-metallic coins over a period of several years. Manish also has coins of a single metal and some coins in his collection date back to the 16th century.

Manish was born in Bahraich and brought up in Lakhimpur Kheri in his joint middle-class family. His father and great-grandfather also used to collect coins and Manish fell in love with coins when he was 5 years old. He once broke his father’s piggy bank and hid the coins in a store room. He then used those coins in his craft file for which he received a lot of appreciation from his school teachers and friends. His guardians inspired and encouraged him to pursue his hobby dedicatedly.

Dhameja is currently pursuing PhD in coin and museum management and wants to set up a coin museum. He is also seeking Government’s help to promote the hobby among kids.

Dhameja is also passionate about education. He has eight Master’s degrees, 2 bachelor’s degrees and six certificates from top universities of India and abroad, making him the youngest person with the most number of degrees. He has also got 25 national and international awards for achievements in social work. They include Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Awards (All India Human Welfare), Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Awards (Pehchan), ministry of telecommunication (Madagascar), Golden Book of World Records (USA), World Record India (Genius Foundation), Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records, Limca Book of Records etc.