Sir Sachin Tendulkar - The Greatest Cricketer Ever

[littlemaster1982]

Sachin Tendulkar - The God Of Big Things

### I first visited the Tendulkar residence when Sachin was still creating waves as a schoolboy. The visit was to get inputs for what was among the first feature articles written on Sachin. The abiding memory of that visit was the image of the family remaining completely unaffected and showing no visible trace of excitement that parents normally betray when they see a media person wanting to write about their young child.

### The Tendulkars have remained conscious of their middle class values and their middle class friends who have been friends long before Sachin became “Richie Rich”. Though the family opted for a very private wedding ceremony for Sachin (the reception was a public affair), they ensured that there was an exclusive celebration reserved for the Sahawas inhabitants and close friends. These were the people with whom they bonded emotionally when they fame and fortune was still to knock at their doors and they decided to treat them in a special manner.

### I cannot recollect a single instance when he hurt a kid by refusing an autograph asked at an appropriate time. In fact, I recall an instance when we were both talking while awaiting a flight when a father butted in with his child and interrupted us. Any other person would have expressed his displeasure at the intruding gentleman, but Tendulkar shook hands with the child, gave his autograph and genuinely made him feel good by telling him to study well and obey his parents. It was a humbling moment. His love for kids has meant they have often left his room with cakes, pastries and fruits.

### I had once requested Tendulkar for an interview after he had returned from a long tour. The request was made at night while the following morning he was heading for a spending some quiet couple of days with his wife outside the state before heading to play a benefit match. Yet, he was gracious enough to say that he would do a long-distance telephone interview for me. I just did not have the heart to take advantage of his niceness. I told him that he deserved his rest and the little moment of privacy he got with his wife and decided not to trouble him. Was I unprofessional? Maybe. But I felt good that I was able to project a human face to a good gesture.

### Former ICC panel umpire VK Ramaswamy told me a story which underlines Tendulkar’s commitment. Sometime in the early 90s, the organisers of a tournament in Meerut were worried that Tendulkar may not turn up as he was playing a benefit match the previous day at Silchar. “But he took a flight from Silchar to Delhi, covered the two and half hour distance from Delhi to Agra by road, reached around 3.00 am and was there at the match, looking as fresh and enthusiastic as ever to play for his office (Sun-Grace Mafatlal)!”

### Hemant Kenkre, a dear friend of mine, recollects the time Tendulkar refused to accept money for an ad he did for Anja San. The exclusive men’s boutique in Mumbai is owned by singer Asha Bhosle' s son, who wanted to pay Tendulkar his price. But Tendulkar would not accept it. Says Kenkre: ``Frankly I would have taken money in Sachin's place. I can understand him refusing the money today, but at that early point of his career he was not making the kind of money he is making today. It truly showed the character in him.”