FOR SOME PEOPLE, SACHIN IS MORE THAN WHAT WE KNOW AS SACHIN!!! Sachin Bids Adieu to Cricket Finally the God of Cricket, otherwise addressed as Sachin Tendulkar is retiring from the world of cricket. What does one say about the man who has created a history and is soon going to become a history himself? While the world is reeling under the deadliest Philippines cyclone, and back home under the impact of ongoing slugfest among political heavyweights including Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi et al, they have all been relegated to the background for a while, for Sachin has decided to call it a day. Having contributed substantially to the world of cricket for close to a quarter-century, the master blaster is finally hanging up the boots. So much has been written about the cricketing genius that by now we know everything there is to know about him. However, Chitralekha this week is paying tributes to Sachin Tendulkar by lending voice to a select few, who have watched Sachin play and grow into the finest batsman he eventually became So, the cover story (penned by Hiren Mehta, Ketan Mistry and Devanshu Desai) carries personal accounts of people who have seen Sachin from very close quarters. Obviously their take on the legendary cricketer would be totally different from the done-to-death stories we have come across so far. We have the views of the likes of Ashish Chauhan (former CEO of MI), Ragini Desai, (PT Teacher and Cricket in Charge of Sachin’s alma mater), Niranjan Shah (former BCCI senior official), Nagjibhai Sakaria (Sachin’s old friend), Vijaya Rajadhyaksh (Sachin’s littérateur Neighbour), Sudhir Gautam (Sachin’s self-confessed disciple) and Kantilal Desai alias Kanti Kaka Most of us may not have heard about the people named above, but they are all tied by a common bond called Sachin. Each has a unique and never-heard-before account that reveals the unknown aspects of the star cricketer. Knowing Sachin beyond the cricketing arena, these people can add a thing or two and enrich your knowledge about the cricketer whom even Bradman described as his closest replica. Throwing light on the human aspect of this diminutive batsman, Ashish Chauhan narrates an incident of how an Indian origin family had landed at the hotel Sachin had put up so that their daughter who was paralyzed waist down because of an accident could meet Sachin and have her photographed with him. When Sachin returned, which was pretty late, he agreed to meet the family, spent one hour with them and even volunteered to offer passes of any match in South Africa. Passionate about wildlife, Sachin makes no bones about his being a strong believer, says Ashishbhai and adds that he displays his perfectionist attitude in everything he does, be it kit packing or ensuring his attendance at practice sessions etc. Ragini Desai, PT teacher and Cricket in Charge of Shardashram School, Sachin’s school recounts the unique record partnership Sachin shared with Vinod Kambli and scored mammoth 664 runs. Sachin’s coach Achrekar was livid when he learnt that the team did not declare as advised by him, but his anger soon melted away when he came to know that the duo had created a record. The BCCI veteran Niranjanbhai shares about how Sachin would be an ideal guest at his Rajkot house and gorge on the Kathiavadi food offered to him. Once while bantering with Sharad Pawar and Niranjan Shah after Dravid had tendered his resignation, Sachin suggested that Dhoni be made the captain. This shows that the living legend was a great judge of his contemporaries. Nagjibhai Sakaria of HVK International diamond company recalls (by Faysal Bakili) how friendly, meticulous, unassuming and down-to-earth Sachin has been as his friend. The best part about him is that he carries no baggage and presents himself as an ordinary mortal. Vijaya Rajadhyaksh shares some personal moments as she has been close to the Sachin’s family knowing the cricketer since his birth. Once when Sachin attended a programme at his building, he went to first pay respects to two ailing elderly men and also enquired about condition of a young man who met with an accident. Vijaya who herself is a Marathi littérateur describes how immaculate Sachin has always been, be it his behavior or his outfit. The way he scored a century immediately after his father’s demise was quite commendable. There are a few more who reveal anecdotes about the man who has done the country proud. Now when the god of cricket is all set to walk into the sunset, the whole country is applauding in unison and saying: ‘Thank you Sachin…’
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:52:18 +0000
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