From behind, Basori Lal could be mistaken for a child – standing at just 29 inches tall. But in fact he is 50 years old, and has become a celebrity in his village, located in Madhya Pradesh province, India, because of his short stature.
Basori says he was not always celebrated for his short stature – and had to overcome bullying in his younger years – but has now been dubbed a ‘hero’ by his proud family.
His brother, Gopi Lal, 55, who is of average height and lives with Basori, explained that the family feel blessed to have him .
He said: ‘People from different villages come to our house to see my brother. That’s a blessing for us. We feel proud that people love and care for Basori.’
And Basori himself is quite happy with his unusual stature.
He said: ‘I don’t have a problem with my height. I work, live and sleep like other people. I also eat like normal people.
‘Whatever I am is okay. I don’t face any problems because of my height.’
But Basori had faced prejudice over his height earlier on in life.
As a toddler there was nothing to distinguish Basouri from his peers, and it was only around age five that his family started to notice he wasn’t growing.
The family’s economic situation meant that Basori was never given a medical diagnosis, and to this day his relatives have no idea what caused him to be so short.
Gopi said: ‘Nobody was able to take him to a doctor. We are poor people, I am a labourer. Where would I take him?’
As Basori grew older, he encountered some tough times and experienced some bullying in his village, but thankfully those days are past.
He said: ‘People used to bully me a lot. They used to call me an alien. But that time is gone now. I am the only one who is being loved by the villagers.’
Now, at the age of 50, Basori lives with his brother Gopi and Gopi’s wife Satia.
He also works with his sister-in-law in a local factory, and she is keen to pay tribute to her tiny brother-in-law.
Satia, also aged 50, said: ‘Basori is a man with positive thinking. He doesn’t have any regret of being short. It doesn’t bother him.
‘All he needs is happiness, good people around him, and a good whiskey!’
Now, Basori is content to spend his life living with his brother and working in the factory to earn more money for the family.
He said: ‘I don’t want to get married. I want to work like I am doing right now. I always want to live with my brother.’
Indeed, Basori is so happy with his height that he drinks a special toast to it each evening before bed.
He said: ‘I need a glass of whiskey before I go to sleep. That’s my way of celebration.’
Daily Mail
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