‘Little Buddha’ goes to Big Apple

Guess which Nepali was the toast of New York last week? None other than ‘Little Buddha’ Khagendra Thapa Magar, a 17 year old from a remote village in Baglung district, nearly 160 km west of Kathmandu.

Updated on: Sep 13, 2010, 24:11:42 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Guess which Nepali was the toast of New York last week? None other than ‘Little Buddha’ Khagendra Thapa Magar, a 17 year old from a remote village in Baglung district, nearly 160 km west of Kathmandu.

Standing a mere 22 inches small (smaller than a paper masala dosa), and weighing 5 kg, Khagendra is set to become the world’s smallest man next month. And Big Apple seems to have fallen in love with him.

Here are some headlines. ‘NYC loves the ‘Little Buddha’ (New York Daily), ‘World’s smallest teen tours Manhattan, draws smiles and crowds’ (New York Post), ‘World’s smallest man attracted to tall blondes’ (Gawker).

Donning traditional Nepali daura suruwal and topi, Khagendra, a guest of Ripley’s Believe it or Not, took a tour of Empire State Building, posed for photos at Times Square, and tasted salamis at Katz’s Deli.

While Ripley’s has already declared him the world’s smallest person in its Enter if you Dare, the Guinness Book of World Records is waiting for him to turn an adult on October 4.

Khagendra has been trying for years to enter the record books without success.

His hopes were raised in March when He Pingping (21), the Guinness record holder from Mongolia at 29 inches died due to health problems.

But again his age became the hurdle. This month Guinness awarded the title to Edward Nino, a 24-year-old from Colombia, who is more than five inches taller than Khagendra.

Unlike Nino, who prefers curvy brunettes, Khagendra has developed an interest in leggy blondes. Nino will however have to relinquish the title next month when the Nepali turns 18.

Born to average sized parents, Khagendra suffers from primordial dwarfism that could shorten his life span. But the teen is not worried.

The last time I met him in February, he was more concerned about finding a girlfriend. Ladies, he’s still waiting.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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