Sachin Tendulkar is a
much loved public figure. He must have
something going for him if even people like me (with zero understanding of
cricket) are die hard fans ;) No seriously, I love Sachin. He’s almost like
Marmite, you can love him or hate him…but not ignore him! Even as a child, I
thought of him as a powerful figure. Every time he got out, my brother would switch
off the TV. In my house (and I’m guessing mine’s not the only one), the match
ended when Sachin left the crease.
He’s an admirable sportsperson.
But more than that, I love him for the way he has handled himself in public.
With all the adulation and attention he has gotten over the years, AND all the
criticism, any person could have lost their head. The current breed of ‘young
celebrities’ (in sports and otherwise), more than prove my point! In a time
when we see stars being created overnight, only to be forgotten in a fortnight,
this man has maintained his position and dignity for almost two and a half
decades. If that’s not admirable, what is?
Thank you Sachin, for
raising the bar. Thank you for teaching a whole generation of Indians to dream
and to strive to achieve that dream. And most of all, thank you for giving us a
role model who showed us how to remain grounded in the face of the massive ups
and downs!
