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Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, who says he's only 56cm tall arrives at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. Guinness World Records officials will be in Nepal this weekend to measure Dangi, who hopes to be named the world's shortest man. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi) |
He has never worked outside the home or seen a doctor, and
until yesterday he had never left his remote mountain village
in western Nepal. So 72-year-old Chandra Bahadur Dangi only
recently learned he might be the world's shortest man.
Dangi says he's only 56cm tall - about the size of a toddler
- and he's hoping to claim the title. Guinness World Records
said in an email yesterday its officials would arrive
in Nepal's capital on Sunday to measure Dangi.
Dangi took his first trip outside his village and his first
trip on a plane to reach Kathmandu on Wednesday.
"I am very happy to be in Kathmandu for the first time in my
life. I am here so I can take the Guinness title," Dangi told
reporters at the airport.
Dangi, who has never been married, lives with his eldest
brother and his family in Rhimkholi village, 400km west of
Kathmandu. Because of his height, he has never worked outside
the house, doing only household chores. His five brothers are
of average size.
His family is not sure when he stopped growing, and Dangi
said he has never been checked by a medical doctor. He
attended a few classes in the village school, but soon
dropped out.
Dangi eats mainly rice and vegetables, and occasionally meat,
but in small portions.
Since the village is so remote, it was only recently that
Dangi gained notice. A forest contractor cutting timber in
the village met him and informed local media after Dangi's
height was measured.
Dangi's nephew, Dolak Dangi, said that before the
contractor's visit, the family did not know his uncle's exact
height, and that he was shorter than the world's shortest
man.
Guinness currently recognizes Junrey Balawing of the
Philippines, who is 60cm tall.
Another Nepalese man, Khagendra Thapa Magar, was known as the
world's shortest man, at 67cm, before Balawing took over the
title on his 18th birthday in June.
In December, Guinness recognized an Indian teenager as the
world's shortest woman. Jyoti Amge is 62.8cm tall and wants
to attend university and become a Bollywood star.
Aside from a Guinness certificate, the titles do not come
with any cash award.
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