While many are remembered for things they have done to distinguish themselves, Chandra Bahadur Dangi is remembered for a condition he did not choose but which brought him immense fame. He is fondly remembered as the shortest man who ever lived as is evidenced by the entries in Guinness worlds. His fame began to spread in 2012 when Guinness Word Records confirmed his 1 feet 9.5 inches height as the shortest they had ever recorded. He automatically claimed the title of the shortest man in the world which was initially held by Gul Muhammed from New Delhi, India.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi is a Nepalese born on the 30th of November 1939. He became very popular in 2012 when he was dubbed the shortest man in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. His celebrity status took him to various countries in the world and Chandra is remembered today as a great ambassador of his country, Nepal. From what we gathered, he was never married nor does he have kids of his own. The closest family members that have been connected to Chandra are his mother and his siblings whom he lived with in his small village of Reemkholi, Nepal.
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Chandra Bahadur Dangi, World’s Shortest Man in History
1. He was Afflicted with a Rare Case of Primordial Dwarfism
During his formative years, Chandra’s mother noticed that her son was not growing like kids of his age. When he attained the age of a full-grown adult, his height was a meager 1 ft 9.5 inches with a weight of 15 kg. This confirmed that he was a primordial dwarf however unlike many who had this rare abnormality, Chandra Bahadur Dangi was able to live above thirty years which is the life expectancy of such persons.
It was also recorded that among his 7 siblings, 3 of his brothers had heights that were below 4 feet and they were categorized as midgets. However, there was no one whose case was as extreme as that of Chandra Bangi’s.
2. Chandra Bahadur had never Left his Village Until his World Record Fame
It is on record that Chandra Bahadur Dangi spent all his life in his village, Reemkholi, Nepal which makes the day he traveled to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal – to register with Guinness World Record officials, the first time he has ever left his village. This event took place in 2012 and Chandra’s prominence came about thanks to a timber contractor who saw him in the remote village of Reemekholi. Dangi’s height was unique and strange at the same time which made him a possible world record-breaker.
3. He Earned a Living as a Weaver
It is known that Chandra Bahadur Dangi was a very industrious man. In his little village of Reemkhloi, he worked as a weaver and proved to be very skillful in the making of Napalese traditional garments.
4. He Toured the South Pacific with the Magic Circus
Soaring on the wings of his fame, the Guinness record holder embarked on a tour of the South Pacific. Chandra Bahadur Dangi joined the magic circus, Tupa’s Bruno and went with them to different places around the South Pacific.
5. Chandra Dangi Met the Smallest Woman in the World
The shortest man in the world in 2012 had the privilege to meet a follow world record holder, Jyoti Amge from Nagpur, India – the smallest woman in the world. Chandra Bahadur Dangi and Jyoti took a picture together the next year for The Guinness Book of Records’ 57th edition. The picture sparked interest from fans who thought there was more to it.
6. He was Good Friends with Sultan Kösen
Chandra Bahadur Dangi met the world’s tallest man Sultan Kösen on the 13th of November 2013 when the pair were guests at an event which was organized in London. From the time they met, the two became fast friends to the surprise of many. When Chandra died, Sultan shared his condolence online and mourned his friend along with the rest of the world.
7. Chandra Dangi Died at 75
Chandra who contracted pneumonia while he was on his tour with the magic circus died on September 3rd 2015. This sad incident occurred in Pago Pago, in American Samoa where he was admitted at Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center. Chandra Bahadur Bangi’s body was taken to his home country of Nepal where he was laid to rest.