World’s shortest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi’s home in Nepal was so remote that it wasn’t until a forest contractor cutting wood in the village met him and informed local media that his incredible size came to light.
Guinness World Records arranged for Turkey’s Sultan Kosen to meet Nepal’s Chandra Bahadur Dangi in London, in 2014. (Image credit: GWR)
The tallest man in the world, Sultan Kosen, turned 41 on December 10, and to celebrate his birthday, the Guinness World Records shared a video from 2014 when Kosen met Chandra Dangi — the world’s shortest man — in London.
“A very happy birthday to the tallest living man, Sultan Kosen,” the organisation shared on Instagram. “In 2014, Sultan (251 cm/8 ft 2.8 in) met the shortest man ever, Chandra Dangi on Guinness World Records Day. They were joined by GWR’s Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday.”
Kosen has a condition called pituitary gigantism, which made him 8 feet 2.8 inches tall.
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While talking to the Guinness Book of World Records, Kosen shared how he could never attend school properly and was signed to the Galatasaray basketball team. But he could not continue with the sport as he was deemed too tall to play it. Kosen then went on to help his family with farming.
In 2009, he made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s tallest man and was the first over 8 feet to hold the title.
Kosen has travelled to more than a hundred countries, appeared on television, and is now a cultural ambassador for Turkey.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal was in 2012 verified as the shortest man. His height was only 21.5 inches.
The Nepalese record holder died in 2015, aged 75. Dangi was a primordial dwarf, a condition that rarely sees people survive past 30.
Until his recognition by Guinness World Records, Dangi had spent his entire life in the remote Nepalese mountain village of Rhimkholi, about 560 km west of Kathmandu. He lived there with his five brothers (all of an average height) and made his living weaving traditional Nepalese garments.
Dangi’s home was so remote that it wasn’t until a forest contractor cutting wood in the village met him and informed local media that his incredible size came to light, the Guinness World Records stated on its website.
Remembering Chandra Dangi – the world’s shortest man ever
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, one of the most iconic record holders to have graced the pages of the Guinness World Records book, sadly passed away earlier this month.
The Nepalese record holder was a primordial dwarf, a condition that rarely sees people survive past thirty, but Mr Dangi remarkably lived for 75 years and touched the world with his strength and spirit.
At 54.6 cm (21.5 in) tall, and weighing just 14.5 kg (31 lb 15.52 oz), Chandra held the prestigious title of Shortest man living, and remains the Shortest man ever following an official measurement at the CIWEC Clinic Travel Medicine Center in Lainchaur, Kathmandu, Nepal on 26 February 2012.
Until his recognition by Guinness World Records, Chandra had spent his entire life in the remote Nepalese mountain village of Rhimkholi, about 250 miles west of Kathmandu. He lived there with his five brothers (all of an average height) and made his living weaving traditional Nepalese garments.
Chandra’s home was so remote that it wasn’t until a forest contractor cutting timber in the village met him and informed local media that his incredible size came to light.
Recalling the historic moment Chandra was recognised as the shortest man on record, Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records says:
“I had the honour of accepting Mr Dangi’s invite to Kathmandu in 2012 to oversee his official measurements. It was there that we stood in front of the world’s press and announced his position as not only the shortest man living but the shortest man ever measured in the 60-year history of Guinness World Records.
Speaking this week from his home in Turkey, Sultan told of his sorrow upon learning of Chandra’s passing. “The news of Chandra’s death saddens me deeply, may my fellow world record holder rest in peace”.
He may now no longer be with us, but Craig says Chandra certainly made a huge impact around the world.
“Mr Dangi was the perfect ambassador for his country, always gracious and dignified, and happy to pose for photographs and share anecdotes about living his life at half a metre tall. Everyone at GWR is terribly sad to hear of his passing and sent our heartfelt condolences to Mr Dangi’s family.”
