Meet the world’s smallest man: 72-year-old farmer is 21.5″ tall (PHOTOS)

A 72-year-old Nepalese man who made big claims to being the smallest man in the world has finally been confirmed as a record breaker.A doctor and Guinness World Records official headed to Nepal to measure Chandra Bahadur Dangi to confirm his height of 21.5 inches (54.6 centimeters), shorter than the length of a broadsheet newspaper, where they declared him the world’s shortest person.On Sunday, Guinness presented Dangi with two certificates for being the world’s shortest living man and the world’s shortest person ever recorded in Guinness’ 57-year history.

How low? A nurse crouches to the left and an official to the right as Chandra measures up... at just 22 inches tallHow low? A nurse crouches to the left and an official to the right as Chandra measures up… at just 22 inches tall

 

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, who says he's only 22 inches
Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, who says he's only 22 inches

Anxious wait: The ruler is placed against the old man’s head as officials confirm what he has always believed – that he is the smallest man on the planet

Official: Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali poses with his certificates after being declared the world's shortest man by Guinness World Records officials at 21.5 inchesOfficial: Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali poses with his certificates after being declared the world’s shortest man by Guinness World Records officials at 21.5 inches
A big achievement: Chandra poses proudly again with his certificates alongside his average-sized family members A big achievement: Chandra poses proudly again with his certificates alongside his average-sized family members

Dangi lives in a remote mountain village in Nepal and says he now wants to travel across the country and abroad.

He overtook the previous shortest man Junrey Balawing of the Philippines, who is 23.5 inches (60 centimeters) tall.

He had claimed the title last year from Khagendra Thapa Magar, 18, whose height is 26 inches tall.

Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, reads the Guinness World Records 2012 after officially becoming the world's shortest man The book’s bigger than me! Nepal’s Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, reads the Guinness World Records 2012 after officially becoming the world’s shortest man

 

Chandra Bahadur Dangi walks with his nephew
Chandra Bahadur Dangi walks with his nephew

Chandra has his hat adjusted as he walks with his far taller nephew Dolakh Dangi on the way to the hospital before being measured

Dangi, who wears a traditional hat and tailor-made clothing, was looking forward to receiving the accolade after remaining out of the media spotlight all his life.

He said: ‘I feel good that I will be declared the world’s shortest man.’Dangi claims he has never taken any kind of medication or been examined by a doctor.

He admits he suffers the odd cold, but revealed he has a home remedy, saying: ‘At such times I drink hot water and have tumeric power dissolved in water. The fever lasts for two to three days.

‘I haven’t been ill probably because my body is good.’

Big appetite: Chandra tucks into a meal of curry and naan bread to celebrate being crowned the world's smallest manBig appetite: Chandra tucks into a meal of curry and naan bread to celebrate being crowned the world’s smallest man
Chairs are no uses to Chandra... he scampers across the table to reach the dishes Chairs are no uses to Chandra… he scampers across the table to reach the dishes

Dangi, the seventh sibling of a family of six brothers and two sisters, does not remember his father and his mother, who died when he was 16-years-old. His immediate older brother and family have looked after him.

Three of his five brothers were less than four feet tall, while his two sisters and two brothers are of average height.

Dangi only left his village, Reemkholi in Dang district, about 217 miles from Kathmandu, for the first time five years ago and this is his first visit to the Himalayan capital.

Asked why he did not stake a claim earlier to be declared the shortest man, he said his family was unaware of such a record, because they are uneducated.

In the spotlight: Chandra Bahadur Dangi,who has broken the record as the world's smallest man today, goes for a stroll near his home in Reemkholi village in Dang district, some 540 kilometres southwest of KathmanduIn the spotlight: Chandra Bahadur Dangi,who has broken the record as the world’s smallest man today, goes for a stroll near his home in Reemkholi village in Dang district, some 540 kilometres southwest of Kathmandu

 

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, poses with a local newspaper to show his tiny frameChandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, poses with a local newspaper to show his tiny frame
Home sweet home: Chandra Bahadur Dangi has to climb a ladder to get in to his home in the remote Reemkholi village in Dang district, 540 kilometres southwest of KathmanduHome sweet home: Chandra Bahadur Dangi has to climb a ladder to get in to his home in the remote Reemkholi village in Dang district, 540 kilometres southwest of Kathmandu
Chandra Bahadur Dangi's claims to be the world's shortest man were made official by Guinness World Record experts todayChandra Bahadur Dangi’s claims to be the world’s shortest man were made official by Guinness World Record experts today
Dangi left his tiny village for the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, to meet Guinness World Records experts Dangi left his tiny village for the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, to meet Guinness World Records experts
Flying high: Chandra Bahadur Dangi prepares for landing in Kathmandu where he discovered he is in fact the world's smallest manFlying high: Chandra Bahadur Dangi prepares for landing in Kathmandu where he discovered he is in fact the world’s smallest man

Dangi spends his days making placemats and head straps for villagers to carry heavy loads on their backs.

His nephew, Dolak Dangi, said: ‘He would also look after the buffalos and cows.

 ‘Although he could not chase them or tie them – he would call us if they strayed.’

Dangi hopes to use his new found fame to travel, admitting: ‘I think things will be better now. I hope that I will be famous all over the world:

‘I want to visit foreign countries and meet people from around the world.’

The cause of Mr Dangi’s height problem has not been diagnosed but it is suspected that he suffers primordial dwarfism which begins in the womb.
Daily Mail UK

Comments (2)

  1. That's a very stupid question! Of course he had family who took care of him all this while. Except u read d article with cataract in ur eyes, it waz stated that he lived with his immediate elder sibling. It means he had a family! That's more than a zillion friends, Amigo.

  2. Mine Question is how did he ruin hiS life for all this wild did he have friends?

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