Mr Sardesai’s question set off a train of thoughts that is
yet to show signs of slowing down…
Why Indeed Is He The Most Loved Sportsman of Our Time ?
I humbly tried :
Brevity may be the
Soul of Wit, but I do not think my remark even scratched the surface of what I
was trying to say…so here I go again...
What
Was It about Sachin that made him so loved, so dear to us ?
A line comes to mind – “The greatness of this man was his
simplicity” – used to describe another similarly built, giant of a man, who
strangely as it may seem, may have more in common with ST than what would seem
at first glance.
But No. That’s not it.
His “middle class” values, the unaffected, neighbourly
manner with which he conducted himself ?
Nah – too simplistic an answer – not well thought of enough.
So, what was it ?
The whole of yesterday passed by in a blur – I do recall
some moments though .
Yes, Mr Bhogle, I did have tickets to the match – and no, I
do not regret seeing it on TV – because I don’t think I could have handled so
much emotion live. TV provided me the opportunity to live, digest, break away, relive
and remember. And to listen to you guys !
But this is not about me.
This is about the Great Man.
Watching the Heroes programme on Star provided some clues.
It was interesting, because Sachin was relaxed, his
guard was down – and he was at his spontaneous best. I think he was enjoying it
because the smile never left his face.
This was not like the Sachin of other interviews - efficient
and honest, but with a protective ring, a defence mechanism around him.
This was Sachin, the person, the father - interacting with a
group of kids, who were seemingly asking him innocuous, even inane questions
like “Which is your favourite song ?” – the answer to that one is also very interesting,
by the way.
His replies provided lots of insight - They were consistent
with what he said in his farewell speech as well.
He said he got nervous before matches – just like any good
student with get nervous before examinations – he also added that since he was
never a good student, he would not know the feeling !
No one caught on to the fact that he was probably the best
student of the game – and he was modest enough not to say it.
He said that Dedication, Discipline, Determination and Focus
were all that one needed to do well.
(My mother has been saying that for the last 30 years)
He said that when he had started playing for India, his
father had told him that one day, when all this was over, and he would not play
anymore, the only thing he would have left would be his own self. He told him never
to stop working towards being a good human being, because that was of utmost
importance, even more important than excelling in the game he had chosen to be
part of.
Did he not say most of this in his farewell speech ?
I was struck by the sheer consistency and wording of the
thoughts.
Which brings me now to why he is special to all of us, and
why we love him.
In only 5 years of training, he sharpened, honed and built the
foundations of his 24 year old career – remember he went to Shri Achrekar when
he was 11.
That speaks to me of passion, in addition to the Dedication, Discipline, Determination and Focus.
He found an enduring passion, and nurtured it to perfection -
Nurtured it to the point where he was confident of facing
the West Indies at age 15, and treating it as a learning experience. No
arrogance, no braggadocio – just confidence.
Faced his fears – injury, death, scandals – and went on to
overcome them.
Was always aware that he was not bigger than the game – respected
seniors, supported juniors – His accessibility to juniors would surely have
been the single most sign of relief to them, and would have given them freedom
to express themselves.
Did I miss something out ?
He’s lived a fairy tale life - Don’t we all dream of doing all of this?
I think I now finally understand why my father says : “Beta,
agar kuch ban na hai to Sachin Tendulkar jaise bano”…..
The day ended with a phone call from a friend.
AP : “I can’t believe how the day went. It was so emotional.
What a player – why can’t we try to become just 1% like him ?”
Friend : “If I could become 1% of him, I would become a
super – rockstar in my career!”
And I believe, so would our nation. In not just our careers.
As citizens. As people.
Because he has brought to life all of what our mums and dads knew since forever - what was
common wisdom.
What Baba Ranchhod Das said : “ Beta Excellence ke peeche
bhaago, kaamyabi jhak maar kar peeche aayegi ”
He’s showed us that it can be done. That it is possible.
He has inspired us, and I think now he’s challenging us – to
be better, to be good, to be human, and superhuman at the same time.
And to top it off, he went and did this :
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He gave us happiness, when there was none. He gave us hope, joy and confidence.
He lived Life like Rudyard Kipling said it should be.
He's given us the template for excellence, and really defined what that word stands for - not the 2 minute, instant noodle version that the internet and other media have made mediocrity out to be.
He's the real hero, in a sea of photoshopped, steroid pumped, surgically enhanced fakes around.
Why won’t he be so near, and so dear to all of us ? Why not so loved, indeed ?
PS : His – and his fathers’ - favourite song is “Main
zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya..”
