Tuesday, February 28, 2012

He's a little wonder: 21-inch man confirmed as smallest on the planet

Measuring up: Chandra Bahadur Dangi has his height verified
A 72-year-old man from a remote valley in southwestern Nepal has been confirmed as the world’s shortest man by Guinness World Records.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi stands just 21.5 inches tall - dimensions carefully measured by officials.
His height is two inches shorter than Filipino Junrey Balawing, the previous holder of the “world’s shortest man” title.
“I’m continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken,” Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said, in the Nepali capital Kathmandu.
“Just when you think it’s impossible for the record to get any smaller, Mr Dangi comes along and astonishes us all."
Chandra Bahadur Dangi who claims to be the world's shortest man 
Big read: Chandra will be in the record books himself nowChandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali who claims to be the world's shortest man at 56 centimetres (22 inches) in height
Rural life: Chandra lives in a remote valley in NepaChandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali who claims to be the world's shortest man at 56 centimetres (22 inches) in height
Little and large: How Chandra measures upChandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali who claims to be the world's shortest man at 56 centimetres (22 inches) in height
Things are looking up: Chandra's life is set to change immeasurably
Weighing 26.5lbs, he was brought to the attention of the world only three weeks after he was discovered by researchers studying the Dangi people.
Mr Dangi, who was orphaned at 12, said relatives used to display him at freak shows to make money for themselves.
He considered his height a curse after a lifetime of being ridiculed by neighbours and laughed at in the freak shows.
But life is set to change immeasurably for Mr Dangi, who lives alone in a remote valley in the Midwestern hills of the Jhapa district.

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