What no other Cricketer in the
world achieved, Sachin Tendulkar did achieve. Congratulations to him. I have no words to express my admiration for
his excellence in playing excellent Cricket during the last quarter of the century. However, my greatest admiration goes to his
cool and composed temperament on the field even though the decision of the
Umpire may be unpalatable for him to accept.
Even in his last inning he was declared out at
74 score, he was calm and very normal showing no regret, no anger nor frustration. While
leaving the field his body language showed that as a true sportsman having genuine sporting spirit, he accepted the fact and that
is, he was rightly declared as “Out”.
That he was a genius in Cricket
is correct and befitting his majesticity in playing majestic Cricket, the
custodian of Cricket in India gave him a fitting farewell, of course
deservingly, backed by the support of
his fans from inside and outside India, comprising ordinary and VIP’s. It is a very good gesture of acknowledging
his contribution not only for Indian Cricket but World Cricket as well. I don’t think we will be able to see another cricketer
Tendulkar in our lifetime because such a great sportsman comes to a nation only
once in centuries.
To describe his greatness many
persons showered many superlatives on him even calling him as a God thereby
diminishing the importance of God. This
is incorrect and sacrilegious. God is
God and Tendulkar is Tendulkar, a mortal creature. I feel sorry for such
ignorant people for equating God with human being.
Again, while showering praises on him, somebody
equated him with World renowned Boxer Muhammed Ali. That Tendular is the greatest Cricketer is a
hard fact but to equate him with Mohammed Ali is to lower the greatness of
Mohammed Ali. Mohammed Ali was not only the
greatest Boxer in the history of World but also a very strong activist who shook the USA by fighting against
its involvement in Vietnam War where
innumerable people died there.
It was Mohammed Ali who raised his strongest voice
against this ugly war while he was still ruling the World Boxing and demanded withdrawal of USA from this War
where thousands of American soldiers died. Earlier the entire world tried to do what Ali
did but America bent its knees when Mohammed Ali protested against this war and
then only USA decided to withdraw from Vietnam.
Till Mohammed Ali came on to the scene there was silence from
Americans on this war but when Ali raised his voice against American
involvement in this War, the entire American populace became alert and brought
pressure on USA government to stop this war. It all happened because the
Sportsman Boxer in Ali awakened the conscience of American citizens who along
with Ali brought pressure on the American administration to put an end to this
war.
What Mohammed Ali did Tendulkar
has never done because Tendulkar is just a soldier on the cricket field and not
the general. Even the captaincy of
Indian cricket team when given to Tendulkar he returned it back because
Tendulkar is either a coward or shy to give a lead as a leader. He lacked leadership
qualities. He is an individualistic minded person, interested only in doing his
job well.
Besides playing wonderful cricket
Tendulkar has not involved openly in any other activities or social causes for the benefit of the
society. Mohammed Ali has got Charitable Center to help people while Tendulkar
is not seen spending even a tiny portion
of his 50 plus millions he acquired thru cricket. Even the young Pakistani girl Malala
established her own Center to help the girls education.
With his money power Tendulkar
can help so many activities to help people especially poor as Mohammed Ali’s Centre
does in USA or he can emulate his counterpart in Pakistan who constructed a
huge Cancer hospital. Mohammed Ali used
his Sports influence to influence the wrong deeds of his government while Tendulkar
does not raise his voice against the injustice done in India by the Government.
Tendulkar’s voice has weight but he is not using it while Mohammed Ali used his
voice and gained success.
Some people are telling that he
deserved “Bharat Ratna”. This is too much because Tendulkar as a Cricketer does
not merit this mighty Bharat Ratna. Bharat
Ratna is not meant for this puny man, he
got lot to do in the service of the
nation and its people. Giving Bharat
Ratna to Tendulkar means lowering the greatness of this Award.
Even the Seat given to Tendulkar in the Rajya
Sabah is too big for him. He will fail there and fail his fans also.
The game of Cricket is different from the game of Politics and to play
this game Tendulkar is still a raw child of India. To succeed in the Parliament,
Tendulkar has to become Brazilian ex soccer star Romario who is shaking not
only Brazilian parliament but also the mighty FIFA regarding the forthcoming
World Cup in Brazil.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
