At just 1 foot, 9.5 inches (54.6 cm) tall, Chandra Bahadur Dangi was a man of small stature with a big heart and an even bigger dream. The Nepalese farmer, who was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in 2012 as the shortest man in history, leveraged his newfound fame to travel the world and inspire countless people.
Before his record-breaking title, Dangi spent his life in the remote village of Rhimkholi, about 250 miles west of Kathmandu, with his five brothers and two sisters. He worked as a farmer and weaver, and his small stature meant he was often carried by family members to get around. He was initially discovered when a wood contractor visited his village and informed Guinness World Records.
His official anointment as the world’s shortest man in 2012 at the age of 72 changed his life forever. When asked what he wanted to do with his fame, Dangi said his lifelong dream was to travel. He was then invited to fly to London, where he met the world’s tallest man, Sultan Kösen of Turkey, as part of the Guinness World Records’ 60th-anniversary celebrations in 2014. The meeting of the two men, who had a size difference of more than six feet, became an iconic image.
Dangi’s travels also took him to California, where he made a special appearance at a circus, and to Italy, where he was a guest on a TV show. Despite his global adventures, he always maintained a sense of humility and a deep connection to his rural roots. “I am very happy with my life,” he once said. “I am a simple man, and I have always been happy.”
Chandra Bahadur Dangi died in September 2015 at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy that transcended his size. His journey from a remote Nepalese village to a global celebrity is a testament to the fact that even the smallest person can make a giant impact on the world.
