Deaf SAfrican Indian youth wins national talent show

Miss-Delectable

Miss-Delectable

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Being deaf since birth did not deter 19-year-old South African Indian hip-hop dancer Darren Rajbal from beating hundreds of other contestants to win a three-month long TV contest to find the country's best talent.

He was named the winner of USD 33,000 at the finale of the show "SA's Got Talent" here and he promised to use part of his winnings to start a school for deaf students.

Rajbal, who also won the South African Mr Bollywood title in 2004, hopes the win would help him get more Bollywood movie roles after getting a small part in a locally-produced one.

A student of the Fulton School for the Deaf in Durban, he has a string of titles behind his name from competitions which he entered to show that even deaf people have talent.
 
Talent show winner is deaf icon

Talent show winner is deaf icon - Times LIVE

The winner of SA's Got Talent, Darren Rajbal, is an inspiration to deaf people, says his mother, Sheeren.

"He won a competition in which he had to compete against normal people. It wasn't a contest for only deaf people, so that is amazing," she said.

Fans of Rajbal, 19, have flooded the reality TV show's Facebook page since his victory on Thursday night. One said: "I'm glad I put my moola on you, it was worth it."

Another wrote: "Hey, Darren, you had me in tears, crossing fingers, biting my nails. It was all worth it to see you take the title. You certainly deserve it and I wish this will help you with exposure to accomplish more for the deaf."

The hip-hop dancer, who stole South Africa's hearts with his remarkable routines, walked away with R250000 in prize money. Using a sign-language interpreter, Rajbal said after his win: "I feel so happy. I'm overwhelmed. South Africa, thank you."

His proud mother said that hearing her son's name called out was a "mind-blowing experience".

"We were told that it was a landslide win and that this was the first time something like this has happened."

She said her son would use the money to study "and, of course, as he said, he wants to open a dance school for the deaf, and that will take time, but it is definitely a part of his future".

Rajbal's performance in Thursday night's final drew a resounding response from the audience.

Judge Randall Abrahams said: "We shouldn't even mention the fact that he has a hearing disability. The guy can dance."
 
*waving hands* that is an excellent role model for deaf students and against those who's still stuck about what the Deaf people cannot.
 
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