‘Height is my curse’

Gentle giant Jinnat Ali’s tale of woe

Ilias Ali remembers his little brother, Jinnat Ali, as a tiny boy when he was born. After 11 years, however, the little boy began to shoot up and he has not stopped growing ever since.

Standing 8 feet 2 inches, Jinnat Ali, 22, is believed to be the world's second tallest living man. But His height hasn’t yet been verified by any of the Bangladeshi or international authorities like the Guinness Book of Records.

The soft-spoken giant is just a little less than an inch short of Sultan Kosen, who currently holds the record of being the world’s tallest man. But while Kosen, a resident of Turkey, revels in his international celebrity status, Jinnat makes a reluctant record-holder.

“This is my punishment from God,” he told this correspondent at a ward of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where he recently got admitted.

“I don't know what sin had I committed to deserve this. All my life I have dreamed of being just like everyone else. My height is my curse,” he said.

Jinnat lives in abject poverty with his parents, one sister and two brothers in Barbali village of Gorjania union under Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazaar district.

In his village, Jinnat is, quite simply, a staggering sight. His head grazes the branches of tall trees. His family members barely come up to his waist. According to Dr Md Farid Uddin, Jinnat suffers from acromegalic gigantism—a condition caused by a tumour on his pituitary gland which makes it produce too much growth hormone.

If his condition is not treated, Jinnat is likely to become the tallest man in recorded history, beating Robert Pershing Wadlow from Illinois, who was 8 feet 11 inches tall by the time he died in 1940 at the age of 22. But it is not a milestone that Jinnat craves and prefers to be left alone.  Already self-conscious about his appearance, Jinnat rarely leaves his home village for fear of being ridiculed. “I don't really have any friends,” he said with a sigh.

“I'm just a day labourer and my father a farmer. Every doctor prescribes a number of medicines and vitamins for Jinnat. We can’t afford those,” said Ilias, the elder brother of Jinnat.

“Jinnat’s health condition is deteriorating,” he added. Jinnat said he doesn’t find any balance in his feet. “I fall down and then get up again. It's very hard for me, but I have no choice,” he added.

Dr Farid told The Independent that Jinnat’s condition will deteriorate rapidly and that he needs urgent surgery.

SR

 

 

Height is my curse

Gentle giant Jinnat Alis tale of woe

Ilias Ali remembers his little brother, Jinnat Ali, as a tiny boy when he was born. After 11 years, however, the little boy began to shoot up and he has not stopped growing ever since. Standing 8 feet 2 inches, Jinnat Ali, 22, is believed to be the worlds second tallest living man. But His height hasnt yet been verified by any of the Bangladeshi or international authorities like the Guinness Book of Records. The soft-spoken giant is just a little less than an inch short of Sultan Kosen, who currently holds the record of being the worlds tallest man. But while Kosen, a resident of Turkey, revels in his international celebrity status, Jinnat makes a reluctant record-holder. This is my punishment from God, he told this correspondent at a ward of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where he recently got admitted. I dont know what sin had I committed to deserve this. All my life I have dreamed of being just like everyone else. My height is my curse, he said. Jinnat lives in abject poverty with his parents, one sister and two brothers in Barbali village of Gorjania union under Ramu upazila in Coxs Bazaar district. In his village, Jinnat is, quite simply, a staggering sight. His head grazes the branches of tall trees. His family members barely come up to his waist. According to Dr Md Farid Uddin, Jinnat suffers from acromegalic gigantisma condition caused by a tumour on his pituitary gland which makes it produce too much growth hormone. If his condition is not treated, Jinnat is likely to become the tallest man in recorded history, beating Robert Pershing Wadlow from Illinois, who was 8 feet 11 inches tall by the time he died in 1940 at the age of 22. But it is not a milestone that Jinnat craves and prefers to be left alone. Already self-conscious about his appearance, Jinnat rarely leaves his home village for fear of being ridiculed. I dont really have any friends, he said with a sigh. Im just a day labourer and my father a farmer. Every doctor prescribes a number of medicines and vitamins for Jinnat. We cant afford those, said Ilias, the elder brother of Jinnat. Jinnats health condition is deteriorating, he added. Jinnat said he doesnt find any balance in his feet. I fall down and then get up again. Its very hard for me, but I have no choice, he added. Dr Farid told The Independent that Jinnats condition will deteriorate rapidly and that he needs urgent surgery. SR