Meet Mr Dangi, world’s shortest man

A 72-year-old man from a remote valley in southwestern Nepal was on Sunday declared the shortest man ever documented after being measured by Guinness World Records officials. Utpal Parashar reports. All about Chandra Bahadur Dangi

Updated on: Feb 26, 2012, 23:48:43 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old from a remote village in Dang district of south-western Nepal was on Sunday crowned the shortest man ever by Guinness World Records.

Guinness officials who took Dangi’s measurement at CIWEC Clinic Travel Medicine Centre in Kathmandu found that the septuagenarian measures just 54.6 cm (21.5 inches). He was measured thrice in 24 hours.

Following reports of Dangi’s claim barely three weeks ago, a team of Guinness officials led by Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday had arrived in Kathmandu from London to officially verify the record.

Dangi ousted current record holder Junrey Balawing of Philipines who measures 59.9 cm in height. Interestingly, Balawing had secured the title from another Nepali, Khagendra Thapa Magar (67 cm).

“I am continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken. Just when you think it’s impossible for the record to get any smaller, Mr Dangi comes along and astonishes us all,” said Glenday in a statement.

The confirmed measurement makes Dangi the shortest adult human ever, beating India’s Gul Mohammed’s earlier record height of 57 cm (22.5 in).

“What I find equally remarkable is his age—if he really is 72, he is by far the oldest person to be awarded the shortest man record n Guinness World Records 57 year history,” said Glenday.

Till coming to Kathmandu last week, Dangi had spent his entire life in the remote village of Rimkholi, 250 miles south-west of Kathmandu with his five brothers and made a living by weaving garments.

Dangi’s height became news in Nepal when a forest contractor met him in his village a few weeks ago and informed local media. Due to his height, Dangi had not married or traveled outside his village.

“I want to visit foreign countries and meet people around the world,” said an elated Dangi after getting official recognition.

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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