Man, 31, trapped in baby’s body stopped growing before turned one – people travel from across the world for his blessing

PEOPLE from across the world have flocked to a remote village in northern India to seek blessings from a man whose parents say is the “incarnation of God”. At first glance, Manpreet Singh looks like a happy toddler who responds to his mother’s words with a wide smile. Manpreet Singh (centre) with his parents Jagtar Singh (L) and Manjeet Kaur (R) Credit: Taniya Dutta Manpreet stands just 23 inches tall and weighs 7.5kg Credit: Taniya Dutta But a closer look reveals he is an adult trapped inside a pint-size body. Manpreet, from Ramdittewala Village in Punjab, northern India, is a 31-year-old man. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! He stands just 23 inches tall and weighs 7.5kg. He cannot talk or walk. He suffers from an unknown condition that stunted his growth both physically and mentally a year after his birth, but his parents believe that Singh is gift from God. A family photograph shows Manpreet, his parents and his two siblings Credit: Taniya Dutta Manpreet suffers from an unknown condition that stunted his growth a year after birth Credit: Taniya Dutta “We had never heard of a child like him before or had seen anyone like him but we have accepted him as a God’s gift…he is a Sant (saint), an incarnation of God,” Manjeet Kaur, his mother, told The Sun. Manpreet was born to Jagtar Singh, 54, a private driver and Manjeet, 50, in 1995, four years after their marriage. Manpreet’s unique appearance initially drew taunts by villagers who would look down at him and his parents. But over the years, he has become famous in the region. People from far and wide visit the family to seek his blessings, Jagtar said, adding that because of Manpreet, the family has flourished. Most read in The Sun He said: “We receive calls and messages from people from around the world. They come to see him and seek his blessings. “They believe that he fulfils their wishes. They give him donations, sweets, and fruits. Wherever he goes, he gets love from people.” The parents also take Manpreet to religious congregations where devotees stand in long queues to seek his blessings. Manjeet said: “At gatherings, he gets so many donations that we have to get security. Manpreet cannot walk or talk so his parents carry him around Credit: Taniya Dutta The family say their son has changed their lives in remarkable ways Credit: Taniya Dutta “People stand in special queues to get his blessings. He enjoys meeting them, he smiles and waves at them.” Manjeet said she was unable to conceive and had sought medical help but “their little miracle” arrived after visiting a Hindu temple where she prayed for a child. Manpreet was born a healthy 3.5 kg baby at home and had a normal growth until 10 months. “The pregnancy was perfectly normal. I did not undergo an ultrasound and gave birth at home. For the first ten months, his growth was normal,” Jagtar said. “But after that he suddenly stopped growing. His skin was translucent and red just like a newborn baby, we could see blood flowing through his veins and his limbs were squashy,” he added. The parents say they consulted about a dozen doctors across the state but none could diagnose their son’s condition. When medicines did not work, the couple, who are Sikhs but are devout devotees of Hindu gods, took him to several temples and religious figures seeking a miracle but they were told that he is special. “The doctors said he might have hormonal issues. They gave medicines but he did not respond to them. Instead, he would fall sick every time we gave him medicines,” Jagtar said. The parents say they consulted about a dozen doctors but none could diagnose their son’s condition Credit: Taniya Dutta Manpreet requires round-the-clock care which his doting family happily provide Credit: Taniya Dutta As he cannot walk or move on his own, Manpreet is mostly held in the arms of his parents like a toddler, or left on the bed where he plays with tiny musical instruments. He requires round-the-clock care which his two younger siblings, sister Jaspreet Kaur, 28, and brother Mangaldeep Singh, 16, help with. “We have dedicated our lives to taking care of him. There is one person devoted to him at all times,” Jaspreet said. “His needs are like a baby. We feed him, change his clothes, bathe him. We don’t go anywhere without him. We have been doing this for the last three decades and will do it forever.” “He cannot speak but he makes signs with his fingers…he tells us how many chapatis (flat bread) he wants to eat,” Jaspreet said, adding, “he doesn’t talk but I understand his language.” His tiny size means that the parents have to customise his clothes. “We buy 7.5m cloth for his tunics. He mostly wears black and red,” Jagtar said. But the parents say their son has changed their lives dramatically. “Ever since he has come into our lives, we have flourished,” Jagtar Singh said. He added: “We have got this big house, a car all because of him. “I had been working for 30 years but we had only a one-room house, not even a kitchen. “I had a bicycle but because of him, we now have a two-storey house and own a car. “We believe that he is a form of Lord Shiva and we have dedicated our lives to take care of him.” The parents, who have made peace with his rare health condition, wish to build a prayer hall for him. Manjeet said: “We have accepted his condition, we are not hoping for any medical miracle. “We rather want people to come forward and help us build a dedicated prayer hall for him where his devotees could come, sit and meet him.” Comment now