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After gays, will short men be heard?

Silence pervaded the otherwise noisy Kerala legislative assembly as nominated member Simon Britto Rodrigues introduced a submission presenting the plight of short men (dwarfs). Perhaps this is the first time someone has raised a voice for them in a legislative body. Ramesh Babu reports.

Updated on: Jul 08, 2009 11:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By , Thiru'puram
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They might not have the height, but they stand tall.

HT Image
HT Image

Silence pervaded the otherwise noisy Kerala legislative assembly as nominated member Simon Britto Rodrigues introduced a submission presenting the plight of short men (dwarfs). Perhaps this is the first time someone has raised a voice for them in a legislative body.

Demanding that short men be treated as physically challenged and made liable for reservation under the category, the legislator reeled out their woes. Most of them, 3 to 4-feet-tall, perched atop the assembly visitors’ gallery, were seen wiping their tears.

“Small is beautiful but not in their case,” Rodrigues said, pointing at the men standing quietly on the visitors’ bench.

“They are always a subject of ridicule. Their plight should be addressed immediately,” Rodrigues, who was crippled during student violence in the 80s’, said.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ramesh Babu

Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.

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