The “breaking news” of Sachin Tendulkar reaching the stupendous milestone of a hundred 100’s left me overjoyed. At the same time, I was overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions remembering my late father.
You see, my father was a State Bank of India lifer and a sworn workaholic. If there was one thing that he loved, it was immersing himself in work and activities for the Bank. While he liked cricket and enjoyed watching the game, it was definitely not high on his priorities. In fact, as I was growing up, very often he would frown at my “bad habits” – that of continually listening to cricket commentary. He could never comprehend how one could get up in the middle of the night to listen to cricket commentary of our Indian team being mauled by Andy Roberts, Michael Holding et al in the Caribbean!!
Yet something changed as Sachin started playing. It had a mystical effect on him and he would look forward to watching the cricket tests or one day matches. Gradually, his love for cricket kept increasing. Initially, we attributed this as being his new found past time. But we soon realized that it was largely driven by his adulation towards Sachin and his game. A vociferous reader, he would read every single cricketing column. And if any cricketing columnist was critical about Sachin – he was straight on my father’s “black list”.
And then one day, at the breakfast table, my mother broke the news. She said that she was hoping that Sachin would score a century today. C’mon, now you too are going to get on to this Sachin bandwagon said I in disbelief. She soon subtly clarified – saying that the mood is not so great in the house if Sachin does not score a century. Sachin is now an obsession! Yes, it was true. If there was anything that would spoil my dad’s mood – it would be Sachin getting out. Of course in his lingo, Sachin was never Out. He was only given out. There wasn’t a nick at all, it was not a clean catch and how could they have given him out lbw etc etc. And what if he was clean bowled? Well, the English are unfair in making pitches that suit their bowlers OR he was distracted – you know Calcutta crowd – they are too loud etc etc. There was always a very logical explanation and Sachin was never to be faulted. And Run out? Oh! The likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhoni, Rahul Dravid etc have all been amply blamed for not “sacrificing” their wicket for Sachin!
Such was his adoration for Sachin. And when my father was posted in Chandigarh, he went out of the way to invite the Indian team (playing one day match in Chandigarh in late 1990 or maybe early 1991) at our residence. (See photograph below). My wife Maya ended up having a good chat with Sachin in Marathi - shy as he was in those days – along with my father.
Last year, a day after Sachin hit his 99th hundred, my father called up Maya. It was not usual for him to call in the afternoon. His usual time was in the night around 9 pm. But this was an important call. He asked Maya to make sure that she does reprints of the above photo. He said that Sachin will now reach his 100 hundred mark any day. And as he reaches that milestone, both of us will go to Sachin’s house and request him to autograph this photograph.
It is unfortunate that my father could not survive till Sachin reached this milestone. Yet, I think Sachin has given a great gift to one of his greatest admirers. Not only to him but to millions of other people who adore him. He has given his heart and soul to the game of cricket and with that he has drawn millions around the world to this game. Through his humility, he has amply shown that the milestones don’t count! What matters is the love for the game!
