Be inspired by Anthony Das, Deaf, Award-Winning Master of Craftsman, Royal Selangor!

Copyright image by Thestar.com

 Many Deaf community talked about Anthony Das! Until my friend posted the link from Thestar.com on my Deaf Boleh! group Facebook which have more than 400 Deaf members.

I still remembered this place when my classmates and I visited the Royal Selangor on my primary school trip, maybe during my age, 8-10 years old. I went there on three times, when with my family and friends on YMCA trip, when I was teenager. I learned that few Deaf people joined the Royal Selangor to learn new opportunity skill of art craft.

I am admired that Anthony Das still working there for 30 years! His skill are very great when he are focusing on his metal trophies with his hardworking! Congratulation to Anthony Das who earned new title, "Special Master Craftsman" award of Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on this year! Sure, we are proud of him!

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KUALA LUMPUR: He doesn't speak nor hear but his work ends up being the objects of conversation exquisite trophies that are held aloft by champions and hailed by royalty.

Anthony Das, 48, an award-winning master craftsman of Royal Selangor has won numerous awards for his pewter creations.

Among the trophies that he has designed and produced so far are the Shanghai Rolex Masters ATP 2012 trophy and those for Moto3, Sime Darby LPGA and the Asean Tour.

Anthony's work earned him the Tukang Ulung Khas (Master Craftsman) award from the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah earlier this year. The jovial craftsman has also designed maces, university plaques and the notable Royal Selangor 125th anniversary tea set.

Two years ago, he won the company's Yong Kai Peng award for exemplary behaviour.
His story is one of true grit. He joined Royal Selangor (then called Selangor Pewter) as an 18-year-old apprentice after leaving school 30 years ago.

Being deaf-mute, Anthony had to rely on sign language for communication.

“I took a year to learn the trade skills and was assigned to the special order's section where customised products are made.

“My colleagues later picked up sign language so they could talk' to me,” recalled Anthony, through an interpreter at the Royal Selangor factory in Setapak.

He soon rose up the ranks to become an artisan with a magic touch.

“I love the challenge of designing each product because I have to imagine it, sketch it on paper and make it come to life while I work,” he said, pointing to a replica of the Shanghai Rolex Masters ATP 2012, one of the most challenging products that he had ever designed.

Temerloh-born Anthony was the only one of his parents' seven children who was born deaf and mute. His father T. Sundararajah enrolled him in a special school in Kuala Lumpur.

“My parents wanted to prove that people with disabilities could lead normal lives. They encouraged me, helping me get married to start a family of my own,” he added.

He spends his free time going on family trips or church visits with his wife Yogulamary, 45 and their daughters Katrina, 13, and Jessica, 10.

By: Loshana K Shagar
The Star/Asia News Network
Source: Thestar, December 6, 2012