Big little people: Height is just a number

I. The long of it
If looks could kill, Fazil Shaikh would've ceased to exist a long time ago. The 42-year-old is a bona fide head turner. People often leave their own conversations behind to whisper about him. Some whip out their mobile phones to capture for posterity the man who merits their awed gazes. Some walk up to him and ask for selfies. And Shaikh usually obliges.

"Except while working. Even then, a few hang around," he laughs, a hint of resignation in his voice.

At 6'10", Shaikh — senior ticket collector (TC) for Mumbai's Central Railway line — is one of Indian Railways' tallest employees. Considering the average height of the Indian male is 5'5" (as per a decade-old study by Indian Council of Medical Research), Shaikh's stature makes him a near-celebrity.

The attention is magnified considerably for Sim Bhullar, who, at 7'5", finds himself in the news as much for his height as for being the first Indian-Canadian to be drafted in the NBA. "People crowded around me at the Golden Temple just because I was tall," says the Toronto native. "This was when I was 6'7"-6'8". It would've never happened back in Canada."

For Bhullar, questions about the length of his bed or whether he bumps into doorways or finds clothes and shoes his size are de rigueur. During his India trip last month, he was even asked whether his height made it easy to bully kids in school.
"It was weird initially, but I ignored it and focused on what I was doing," he says of the often-undue attention. "Now I'm conditioned. It is what it is, and I'm okay with that."

Public gaze
Bhullar says he had to "grow into his body" and slog to become fit and agile – a greater challenge for large-framed players. So it is with younger brother Tanveer, also a basketball player, who's 7'3". But having rock-solid support systems (such as his high school coach Paul Melnik) helped significantly. Not to mention being in a profession where towering people are welcomed with open arms.

Like Bhullar, Shaikh channelled the advantages of his height into basketball before becoming a Railways employee. But he vividly recollects lending a shoulder to a fellow player who was 6'7": "He was very conscious of his height because people would leave whatever they were doing just to look at him. He'd feel like their eyes were singeing him. Which is why he hated being in public."

Shaikh, however, is comfortable in his skin. Post the basketball years, he used his height to bolster his current job. "I nab two-three times more ticketless travellers than other TCs because I detect who's trying to run away from a distance," he grins. "But now people who spot me from far off can avoid coming in our direction."

It's problematic for Shaikh to use public transport and wear readymade garments. All his clothes have to be tailored. But so normal is this way of life for him that he doesn't see these as impediments. His eighth grader son, Abdul Sami Shaikh, stands 5'11" tall, and Shaikh's focused on gearing him up for a lifetime of stares and wonderment. "These things will happen. But it's important to go out in society rather than avoid it, because you feel worse if you isolate yourself," he reasons.

Social anxiety, even depression, can rear its head if the 'abnormally tall' are unable to cope with such attention, says psychiatrist and therapist Dr Anjali Chhabria. And one unwritten rule in particular – that men should be taller than women – makes matters worse for Indian women of considerable height.

Gender games
"One of my clients, a schoolgirl, lost all self-confidence as she had a tough time due to her height," says Chhabria. "She'd slouch and shun socialising because she perennially feared she'd be made fun of. As it is, every girl is body-conscious at a point. When kids make fun of you at this juncture, it can scar."

Goregaon resident Vijaya Pawar has been witness to this. She stands 5'10" tall and is hardly what one would insensitively call a 'giant'. But she grew up at a time when the average Indian height was less than what it is today. "In my village, people would say things like 'Tu bahut jaldi budhdhi ho jayegi', or 'You're so big now, why aren't you married yet?' This was when I was still in school," she says, and admits the pressure to fit in led to the drooping of the shoulders and consequently, a slight but lifelong hunch.

"I've seen mothers of girls who are 5'9"-5'10" encouraging them to stoop because they 'won't get boys who'll marry them'," shares orthopaedist Dr Neeraj Bijlani. Public infrastructure is also not adjusted for tall Indians, leave alone 'abnormally tall' ones, he adds. So having to constantly bend or sit uncomfortably in seats that are ergonomic only for the majority can predispose one to joint problems.

Then there's Scheuermann's Disease, a classic example of a socio-cultural phenomenon leading to a medical issue. Bijlani explains: "This condition is caused due to constant slouching, which affects the growth of the vertebrae and creates a hunchback. In my practice, the male-female prevalence is 1:10."

There's more. "If those affected are still growing, belts, braces and posture correction can be undertaken. The condition can't be reversed for adults. Their only option is corrective surgery," he says.

Citing numerous studies, The Atlantic's Joe Pinsker said in a May 2015 article titled 'The Financial Perks of Being Tall', "…an extra inch is worth almost $800 a year in elevated earnings." Meaning the taller you are, the more you'll earn – if you're in a 'Western' country.

Former I Am She Miss Universe India runner-up Reha Sukheja is yet to have a level playing field, leave alone get a fatter paycheck than peers. At 6'1", this 24-year-old is often rejected at auditions for commercials due to her height. "People say, 'Sorry, you're too tall'. If I'm auditioning for 10 ads, I'll go beyond step one in maybe two-three. Mostly since those will be 'solo girl' ads with no men," she says.

When she was in school, her PT teacher pushed her into the basketball queue even though she wanted to play volleyball. And having to cock her ear to hear what people around are saying is routine. "It's awkward posing for pictures. And yes, people look me up and down – first to see my height, then at my feet to check if I'm wearing heels and then back up again for confirmation," she laughs. But all this, she adds, isn't a bugbear like
the professional constraints she faces.

In an atmosphere where significantly tall women condition themselves to bending, slouching and feeling overtly conscious of their heights, Sukheja is an exception. It helps that her father and mother – former model Renu Sukheja, herself 5'10" – never made her feel small about her height. Reha always maintained a straight posture, basically flipping the bird to all those who encourage 'lambus' to do otherwise or say things like tall girls don't 'need' to wear heels. She also has no qualms dating shorter men – her current boyfriend is a few inches shorter. "If both of us are okay with it, I don't see why anyone else should care," she underlines.

This is the attitude parents, teachers and guardians should foster in the considerably tall instead of alienating them further, says Anjali Chhabria. Society will keep projecting its anxieties on anyone with a different body. The antidote is to be accept and be comfortable in your own skin.

How long, then, before those like Sukheja – and others of varying body types – get to play in a level field? One can only hope it won't be a wait for eternity.

Giants in history
- At 8'3", Turkish part-time farm labourer Sultan Kösen is the tallest living man in the world
- Born in 1918, Robert Wadlow, better known as 'The Giant of Illinois', is the tallest confirmed person to have ever lived. He reached a height of 8'11"
- Chinese Zeng Jinlian was the tallest woman verified in medical history. When she died at 17, she was 8'1". She could not stand straight because of a severely-deformed spine

II. The short of it
Being built to a different scale has not stopped Juli Windsor, Zahra Khumri, Jyoti Amge or Zeenat Bi from living life to the fullest. From Boston and Dubai, Nagpur and Bhopal, they are feisty women who refuse to be bracketed and dismissed as the 'little people'.

Spanning the ages of 21 to 114, their stories are dramatically different but one thread binds them all — how to battle the odds and make the best of adversity.

Declared the 'World's Shortest Woman' by Guinness World Records in 2011, 21-year-old, 24.72-inch (1'8") tall Jyoti Amge of Nagpur has earned quite a fan following as Ma Petite on American Horror Story Season 4 and is waiting for Hollywood to come calling. Then there is 27-year-old, 3'9" tall Juli Windsor, who became the first little person to complete the Boston Marathon in 2014. Her story was captured in the BBC documentary, Undaunted: Chasing History at the Boston Marathon.
Dubai-based Indian engineer Zahra Khumri, 36, is 4' tall and chose to have a child of her own despite knowing that her daughter had a 50% chance of being achondroplastic — the medical term for congenital dwarfism — and might face the rejection that society often metes out to people who don't fit its definition of normal. And Zeenat Bi from Bhopal is all of 114 years old. At 3' tall, she could well be the world's oldest, short woman. Having outlived her family, which lived in Pakistan, this centenarian is blessed that her landlord's family considers her their own and holds no grudge against life or god. Family matters

"Koi kisi ka nahi hai (no one belongs to anyone)," says Raza, a social worker, on Zeenat's behalf. Her family refused to support her and she has been staying with Abrar Muhammed Khan and his family in Bhopal for over a decade. "She is fearless," says Raza. "Achha mahaul, insaan ko mazboot banata hai (a positive environment makes a person strong)". Others have been luckier. "My greatest assets have been my parents and sisters, who never ever let me feel different. If not for them, I couldn't have faced the world with confidence," believes Zahra. "My parents pampered me whilst teaching me to be independent."

Zahra, who grew up in Mumbai, started to believe it herself when she topped the handicap category of the state-level school examinations in 1996 and 1998. Her support structure also gave her the confidence to have a baby. Her daughter Zoya was born on June 27, 2008.

Zahra anticipates the question her daughter will ask one day — "Mama, when you knew that society will harbor bias, distrust and ill will, then why did you give birth to me?" But, she's also confident that Zoya will deal with life's troubles with the same grace that her parents have. Growing up in the US, Juli, who is happily married and is expecting a baby in October, says her family was equally accepting. "I was fortunate that my family did not coddle me or treat me differently simply because I'm small. They raised me to be independent and to seek out opportunities that matched my passions". Jyoti, who loves attending college whenever she can and has completed her first year of BA through GMV Mahavidyalaya Nagpur, too credits her family for all the fame that has come her way.

Anatomically challenged
Jyoti is prone to accidents and needs constant chaperoning. She can't talk for very long over the phone either. "Her hands are so small, she gets tired and can't talk continuously," explains her sister Archana. In far away Boston, Juli joined the track team in the eighth grade and found herself beating runners with nearly double her leg-length. "I do not think I necessarily have to train harder compared to an average size runner, but I have to train smarter to prevent injury, given I have a skeletal frame that some may argue is at greater risk of injury. For someone with dwarfism, running a marathon is closer to running 50 miles than 21." Adds Zahra: "Reaching out to things at a height, carrying heavy weights, jumping and climbing high stairs is a daily challenge. However, with the use of gadgets and step stools, nothing is impossible." Recently operated for spinal stenosis—a potentially serious complication of achondroplasia, involving a narrowing of the spinal canal—her biggest challenge now is not being able to carry her daughter.

While Dubai caters to special needs requirements, it's not the same in India, she says. It's difficult to travel in local trains and buses, shop in the malls/stores (where most merchandise is placed at a height) and use washrooms that have high latches.

Careerwise
"Little people across the globe have made a mark in every arena," points out Zahra. "Knowledge is our greatest asset. Unfortunately, our society tends to associate height with knowledge, competence and ability. People with short stature have to strive harder to prove themselves to gain acceptance in professional fields. Sometimes despite their calibre, they are denied opportunities to progress".

The computer engineer, currently a homemaker, manages the Facebook page of the Little People of UAE, a support group for little people of all ages, religions and ethnicities and their families. Juli, who works in the paediatrics department of the East Boston Neighbourhood Health Centre, faced discrimination in nursing school. "They made multiple false assumptions regarding my abilities without giving me a chance to demonstrate my skills." But she was undeterred and is today a physician assistant, licensed to diagnose, treat, and manage disease.

Jyoti is waiting to do another season of American Horror Story. "I had a good experience working with celebrities like Jessica Lange. I was never treated differently. I miss everyone and I want to do another season." Jyoti, who has also been the subject of a National Geographic documentary, always wanted to be an actor and is loving the attention.

At 114, Zeenat's only source of income is a meagre government pension. At times, well-wishers donate money.

Social pariahs
Jyoti was three when she realised that she was different. "I wanted to grow bigger like others, but that never happened," she says. "People always click my picture and ask embarrassing questions," she says.

Juli has had similar experiences, "There are times people stare, laugh, or take a picture of me with their camera phones. I try not to let it bother me and turn it into a teaching moment by pointing out to the person that it is rude and that I find it offensive".

Zahra's parents were introduced to the term achondroplasia when she was one. Living in a joint family with normal kids around, meant her parents were pitied for having a handicapped child. "Our society has always treated people with height disabilities with awkwardness and unjustly set them apart for the normal population. My biggest achievement till date is to not lose hope. I wish to create my own little legacy to inspire people. I do not want our society to trample on the rights of little people and force them to become clowns to be laughed at and pitied," she says forcefully.

She recounts an incident at a wedding when a guest refused to let either her or her daughter Zoya talk or shake hands with a pregnant woman for fear that her child would be short too.

"Dekho, kitni kam height hai (look how short she is), tumhari shaadi hui ki nahi (are you married or not)?" were among the many barbs Zeenat Bi grew up listening to. Her response has always been, "Jo bhi kehna hai, uparwale se kaho, hamara kya dosh hai? (Say what you want to, to God. It's not my fault)".

Living life queen size
"I love life and try to live each day to its full potential. Life is not easy, but that's the point. It's by accepting challenges and embracing the highs and lows that we discover the richness of life," notes Juli, who loves travelling.

Not one to minimise her dreams, Juli says she always imagined that she would fall in love and get married. "I got especially lucky with Blake," she notes.

Zahra found love too. With beautiful girls always in the limelight in college, she had come to accept that she may never find love and was not afraid to live life without a partner. But fate had other plans and a proposal from Mufaddal Khumri, a banker, made its way into her inbox. "Life has turned out better than I ever hoped it would. I have a wonderful husband, parents, in-laws, siblings and daughter; friends who accept me as I am…"

While love and marriage don't feature on Jyoti's wish list, her extensive travels have made her bolder. "Ab main nahi sochti ki main choti hoon (I don't think of myself as small anymore)," says the young woman, who is a fan of Salman Khan and is thrilled to have featured in the sixth season of Bigg Boss.

The Dabangg actor figures in Zeenat Bi's wish list too along with a Haj pilgrimage. Zeenat Bi, whose black hair defies ageing stereotypes, often visits the market and, like most women, she loves to dress up. Her almirah is brimming over with gifts from loved ones—bangles, slippers and clothes.

No labels please
"We don't need labels such as 'shorty' and 'midget'. We have names and would prefer being addressed by them," says Zahra. Juli echoes the sentiment, preferring to be known as a runner, a woman or a person with dwarfism.

Will tomorrow be better than yesterday for the little people with their big messages of hope and courage?

Famous little people
- Nepalese Chandra Bahadur Dangi is 1'9" making him the world's shortest man
- At 4'5", Emmy-winning American actor Peter Dinklage is among the world's most recognisable little people having starred in The Station Agent and Game of Thrones
- With 12 members, the Ovitz was the largest family of dwarves ever recorded. They survived the WWII imprisonment at the Auschwitz concentration camp